Posted on 11/23/2016 3:38:19 PM PST by Ennis85
An online campaign to raise money for a US man trying to pay his late wife's medical bills by selling wood on the side of the road has raised almost $20,000 (£16,136) in just three days. Kenneth Smith, 80, spends hours a day standing on the roadside in Mississippi, selling bags of kindling. Last year, he was joined by Helen, his wife of more than 30 years, as they struggled to pay her medical expenses. After she died in October Mr Smith was left to raise the money by himself. Her two-year battle with lung cancer not only took large chunks of their monthly income, but also wiped out their savings. But then Jessica Pittman spotted the elderly gentleman's mark of respect for a passing funeral cortege - taking his straw hat off as it passed - and she decided to act. "My heart breaks every time I pass him," Ms Pittman wrote in a Facebook post which has since been shared 9,000 times as she appealed for people to go and buy a bag from Mr Smith.
But they went one step further. A GoFundMe page was set up by Mr Smith's son, Leslie, to help with the expenses, with donations flooding in from as far afield as Australia. Ms Pittman told the BBC that she posted the photo "just thinking it would prompt some of my neighbours to stop and buy some wood to help him". She said she had "no clue" the response would be so overwhelming. "Although it will not lessen the heartache of losing his wife, I am thankful it will at least take a little worry off of his plate and help him make ends meet," she said.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
Our nation is a good nation. Mr. Smith could have easily not paid the medical bills and declared bankruptcy instead of using all his financial assets and then still be in debt. He is a man of honor.
He is a good man and wants to pay his debts and due to the kindness of our great nation he will.
This is the America that I knew in the past. I pray it will be the America of the future.
Wow, contrast this GOOD man struggling to pay his wife’s medical bills with the MILLIONS of illegal aliens in our midst who believe they are entitled to have quality medical care and make ZERO effort to pay a penny of the cost.
His intentions ended up getting the kindness of donations.
I forgot to add, I will put a few dollars in Mr. Smith’s Go fund me site. I suggest other’s do the same.
Indeed their attitudes often seem to be “screw you.”
They would be tolerated a lot better if they somehow were adding to the benefit of the society in some way. Even TRYING to add, so as to express some kind of humility. People will be very forgiving to humility.
But they want their pride and their free lunch ticket too. Heaven itself says sorry, that don’t fly.
Just did it, sent a few dollars his way. This is the first time I have ever used a “Go Fund Me” for anything. He touched a heart string in me. He is a good man. I know well the people that grew up where he is.
Totally tasteless but not surprising..........
Thanks, Obama!
I might send him a donation...
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