A nice story for the season…
The CBS Sunday Morning program had another great segment last week.
It told the story of an anonymous benefactor in Canton, OH back in the 1930's during the depression.
This man gave away $750, $5 at a time to people who had been hit hard by the depression. That is the equivalent of $100 today.
Samuel Stone was the benefactor and his grandson recently was given a suitcase filled with letters from the people asking for the money and thank you letters.
The grandson, Ted Gup, has now written a book about this called "A Secret Gift: How One Man's Kindness--and a Trove of Letters--Revealed the Hidden History of the Great Depression"
It's really a nice story, particularly this time of year, and in this economy.
Most of us can't help 150 people, but we could help 1, no matter our situation. Do it and tell your story in the comments below.
Here is the segment below.
My BF’s best friend back in July lost his job and GF of 18 years in one day. She called to say she was not coming back and thus he was fired from his job as they were a team for a property management company as manager and maintenance. He was devastated and came to us very distraught of what he would do. We did not hesitate for him to move in with us until he could get back on his feet. After several months of job hunting and on the last day of his unemployment running out, he was hired and now is working and is starting to pay us rent. I just believe we are here on this earth to help eachother no matter what our situation may be.
I agree with Annie. I am retired and I volunteer once a month for a non-profit organization that gives FREE mammograms to those who are either underinsured or have no health insurance. It makes me feel good whenever someone I talk to on the phone tells me how much they appreciate our help. We have been able to help women who were diagnosed with having lumps in their breasts get follow-up treatment. Who knows??? We may have saved their lives!!! I certainly hope so.
Friends of ours are going thru a rough time; one of them is on soc sec, the other has been unemployed for a long time (almost two years). The latter had to have surgery; right after that their car got totalled. And now the one who had surgery has to have another surgery.
We helped them out financially over the last few months; other people have helped as well, including paying for the health ins. premium of the one who is unemployed.
I can’t help everyone. I can’t get this economy jump-started. But glad I was able to help out a couple friends.
Hi Leo,
There is an excellent article in the current Smithsonian magazine detailing this story. Perhaps you and your readers would like to check it out. I’m sure you could find it on their website. Sadly there simply are not enough B. Virdots in the world today. Happy Holidays!
Glen
[Thanks Gary… Here is that article… http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/A-Yuletide-Gift-of-Kindness.html ]