The Pay-It-Forward House, 719 Somonauk St., has received a $6,500 grant from the Monsanto Fund in July and expects to use it to help fix general wear and tear from over the years.

The House has been in service for the last seven years and has been committed to helping families ever since. The guests can be accommodated for up to three weeks and will have the option to receive 24-hour emotional and physical support from volunteers emotionally and physically all for $5 per day.

“We provide a home away from home for families who need a home to stay in while their family member is in a medical treatment center in DeKalb,” said Jea Nae Remala, executive director for the Pay-It-Forward House. “We have a 150-year-old house that needs renovation so that our guests have a safe, clean and comfortable living area. The grant will help us fix things up.”

Volunteer coordinator Dixie Zander said the grant the house received will also help replace old linens with new ones as well as provide new comforters and window dressings.

“It’s a very nice grant that they gave,” Zander said.

Zander has been a volunteer at the Pay-It-Forward House for five years and said it has been a great experience.

“It’s a wonderful feeling to know that you have helped someone who is maybe stressed or in a time of need,” Zander said.

Remala said the House is almost 100 percent run and funded by volunteers. The house accepts monetary donations, food donations and paper good donations from the community.