I have happened to meet a family who needs everything...

[Contrary1]

I don't know the circumstances, I didn't ask. She told me that they are trying to rebuild their lives.

I had posted a few items on the local Freecycle. She contacted me, apologizing, that she could use everything I posted, especially the sewing machine. She felt bad that she was asking for all.

We are getting ready to move, so I asked if there was anything else she might need. After a few days she replied with her "wish list".

We took the items to them. The home was probably less than 800 square foot. The windows had newspaper taped to them. Three children, 9 year old twin boys, and a 16 year old daughter, who has some sort of developemental problems.

Drinking glasses...I had a set I did not use. She emailed me later to tell me they had forgotten how much better drinks were with glass. They had been using plastic for quite a while.

Her husband has been having seizures. Last time we spoke, she couldn't get him in to see a doctor. Their insurance didn't want to cover it.

She is using my old sewing machine to make curtains.

I will do my best to help this family without offending them.

These are the folks that Romney isn't concerned about. How many more out there like them?

[niyad]

1. even one family is too many, but we all know that there are many, many out there.

so glad that you were able to help out.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. I fear there are too many more like them...

Blessings on you for helping this desperate family!

Their lives would be so much worse without your help.

[Booster]

3. Offer her whatever you don't want. Maybe she can at least sell it for milk money. You're a good

person for even caring - a whole lot of people wouldn't. Bless you.

[southernyankeebelle]

4. I tell you the seizures are scarey. I know my husband went through them. Fortunately we

have insurance. But I tell you he has had every test and everything comes back normal. He does have problems with low sugar and I think that is what was causing his problems. But seizures wow. Maybe you can tell her to go the get some government help. What about medicaid? Food stamps? Surely she can get some help. Maybe a local church can help her.

[snacker]

5. Thank you for your kindness...

we should all follow your example.

[midnight]

6. Contrary1 thank you for helping.

I'm wondering if you can indicate what congressional district they live in and if someone could help match this family to some medical clinic...

[Care Acutely]

7. maybe you could make arrangements with someone

to deliver everything of even marginal value to them after you've moved with a note. "I had no place to put these things. Keep what you want, sell the rest or pass it on."

[Contrary1]

10. I have already talked to her about that...

And she said that she can find a place for anything I have no longer a need for.

I hope she can make some money, because I will have quite a bit.

[Aerows]

8. One Christmas

A woman stopped me in the grocery store and mentioned that she knew I had some "computer knowledge" and wondered if I could find something for her developmentally disabled relative.

I built him a nice "lunchbox" pc from leftover parts, then scrounged up a monitor, keyboard and mouse to go with it. I also made everything the same color of bright yellow through tape and paint, and it looked pretty good. The entire family cried when I gave it to them, and I still see them, and they give me a hug.

I'll be damned if I can't use my skill to help someone by building something. You build a community a person at a time, and you help people one at a time.

Mountains are only overcome by moving one stone at a time. I firmly believe that.

[siligut]

12. You did a wonderful thing

You gave of your time and skills . . . and old parts, this is just so kind.

[Contrary1]

13. "Mountains are only overcome by moving one stone at a time. I firmly believe that."

Me too, Aerows.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

9. What state? I have too much. Could easily give stuff to those who have less.

[a la izquierda]

23. Me too. So much I'd part with and...

If it helps someone else, all the better.

[limpyhobbler]

11. I've noticed the crowd at the thrift stores has been changing...

It's getting whiter, more middle class looking. Just my informal observation, not an official study.

[Loudestlib]

14. You have a big heart

On a side note.

Drinking glasses

I buy my spaghetti sauce jars and just wash them. They are really hard break and you can recap them. I keep a few nice glasses for guests.

[classof56]

15. Bless you for all you're doing for this family, and special blessings for caring.

The lack of compassion and concern we see around us is appalling these days. I dread to think what it will be like if R&R are elected. What a bleak world this will be.

Thank you again for what you're doing!

OBAMA/BIDEN 2012

[spooky3]

16. If I could give you a valentine heart, I would.

[Marie Marie]

17. Can we change the world? Maybe not but you can do what you can do.

You are a perfect example of that. Such a sad story made better with a small act of random kindness. Bless you and everyone out there like you.

[MrMickeysMom]

18. Jesus wept, right?

My... I don't even wish to predict how many more there are...

[Contrary1]

19. And here is what I find the most sad about my own post...

That these folks didn't work hard enough...That they are relying upon the govenment to support them.

What utter bullshit. When the Repubs use the excuse that charities will take care of them, they are refering to Liberals, because they don't really give a damn.

[defacto7]

20. One of the most telling things to me is

looking at the garbage and the waste. Does anyone realize how much wasted food, computer equipment, building supplies, furniture, automotive parts, the list goes on and on... how much of this waste is discarded by the "people of the money"? I know one lady who rebuilds her kitchen whenever she wants it to be a different color, maybe every year. To her it's nothing to spend $90,000 for that redo. I know someone else who remodelled one of their homes and upon visiting the construction, decided he wanted it completely torn out because the marble floor was not the right tint. All these things were THROWN IN THE GARBAGE! Let me rephrase that, they insisted that these thing be thrown away because the help would take advantage.

Has anyone noticed how much food... excellent food... unused food gets trashed at fancy restaurants? I have pulled out whole uncut fillet Mignon from the garbage that would cost $50 a slice.

I offered my time to a private school as a computer tech. who had just thrown out 40 complete fully functional P4 PC's so they could replace them with another more "prestigious" brand, donated by a wealthy family who preferred it... They threw those PCs in the garbage dumpster! Not to mention the fact that the data on those drives were not wiped, these were fine $400 machines. I changed my mind and said no, BTW.

This is what makes stories like Contrary1 has posted very difficult for me. The extremes of poverty vs. the waste of privileged, apathetic affluence is appalling. It just hurts.

Many these days are not aware of the needs of the impoverished nor aware of their careless wastefulness. Sometimes even being reminded, they still simply don't want to be bothered with the burden of helping the less fortunate. It's much easier to write a check and forget about it than to really be responsible.

Thanks for helping these people! But most of all, thanks for being aware.

[former-republican]

21. no good reason it should be like that

[montana_hazeleyes]

22. It really does make one feel good to give or to help.

I wonder a lot why the right wingers claim to be the righteous ones. It's mostly people like the people on here who have the good hearts and do the good deeds and fight for all to have a happy, full life with what they need.

Not to be rich in possessions, but comfortable, and rich in love and compassion.

Sounds just like the man they claim to follow, but he said he would denounce them as hypocrites.