Remona Pack remembers what it was like growing up in Mount Airy during tight money times.

Her mom was a single mother who sometimes worked three jobs to take care of Remona and her two sisters. Still, there were instances when the family needed more than it had.

“There was a time when my mom had to go in front of the church and ask for school uniforms or other things for us,” Remona told me recently. “It became something that always stayed with me. If I ever became successful, I would try to help someone who was definitely in need. I have been there and know what it’s like.”

Today, Remona and her husband Larry, who is from LaPlace, live in Prairieville with their two sons — 9-year-old Romell and 1-year-old Romelo. Their St. John the Baptist Parish roots are not forgotten.

In fact, it was just a week ago Larry and Remona led a toy giveaway, dubbed  “Pack 4 Giving Back,” where more than 50 children in LaPlace’s Belle Pointe community received gifts.

“It was exciting,” Remona said. “I’m hoping to do it bigger every year on out. It turned out great.”

Larry agreed, saying Dec. 19’s event was truly a blessing. “My wife and I are blessed, and we want to be a blessing,” he added. “God has been good to us.”

Children received free toys, as well as hot dogs, chips and juice. The event also featured a drawing where two children — a boy and girl — each won a bicycle and seven girls won mini scooters.

Remona said one special young girl who took home a scooter captured her heart.

“We didn’t start until 2 p.m. and I noticed one little girl had been there since noon focused on a scooter,” according to Remona. “I said, ‘Baby, you have been riding since noon, you don’t have to worry about getting a scooter, or wishing you can win one.’ I don’t believe she ate the hot dogs because she was focused on this one thing, which was a scooter. Her grandmother was like, ‘What does she have to do to win it?’ We were giving out tickets, but I said, ‘She doesn’t have to worry about it. She has been riding since 12 o’clock. She’s going to get one.’ It was awesome.”

The gratitude from the community was also heart warming, even if momentarily painful, Remona joked: “One of the parents gave me a hug so tight that I told my husband, ‘If she would have hugged me any longer, I may have cried.’ She kept thanking me.”

Larry and Remona Pack started their business, Larry R. Pack Enterprises, locally and Remona said the home-based business includes several delivery trucks.

“My husband has a contract with Mattress Firm,” Remona said. “He’s the only contractor in the region from Louisiana and Mississippi. If you see a Mattress Firm truck, that’s me and my husband.”

The children’s toy giveaway was the final act of this year’s donation effort that included toys for three local churches and donated supplies for a shelter in New Orleans.

My admiration goes to Larry and Remona for creating their own successful business, reaching back out to their community and bringing up their children in a household of giving. Romell already seems to understand the Christmas season well. Remona said she asked him what he wanted for Christmas, and he said, “’Ma, I don’t want anything. Christmas is about giving to those who don’t have.’ He is 9 years old and he wants to give for someone that doesn’t have.’”

I have a feeling he’ll keep that passion for others for years to come.

Stephen Hemelt is publisher and editor of L’OBSERVATEUR. He can be reached at 985-652-9545 or stephen.hemelt@lobservateur.com.