Community rallies around disabled purple heart veteran

[Baz]

Saw this in the news and thought it worth sharing....wow....talk about a lump in my throat.....

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MINERAL SPRINGS, NC - Marine Corps Sergeant Addison Barber, 76, is a Vietnam veteran. He was awarded a Purple Heart and is as tough as they come, but when temperatures fell below freezing in his home, it was almost too much to withstand.

Barber, who is partially paralyzed after a stroke, hasn't had heat since last June.

"I've been using the stove in the kitchen,” he told FOX 46, “and that kept the house warm enough so I don't get really, really cold.”

His stove and wool blankets were all he had until his community stepped in.



Holly Schmitt, Barber’s former caretaker, shared his story on Facebook and started a GoFundMe. They raised more than $2,000 and within hours someone paid the oil company enough to keep his house heated through the winter.

FOX 46 made a call to the grocery chain Publix, which donated food to fill his empty fridge.

Kimberly Reynolds with Publix helped deliver the groceries.

“It means a lot to us and it's really just what we needed to do to give back,” Reynolds said. “He served our country so this is an honor.”

It shows the power of community when we stand together to say “thank you” to someone who has given so much.

Watch video HERE

[asphaltgambler]

Restores your faith; at least for now, in humanity............................

[sammyg2]

He could afford his salem cigarettes but not heating oil.

[asphaltgambler]

Well - there are times when - like this - when you choose to help someone meet their basic needs regardless of what appears to be............... poor choices.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by asphaltgambler

Well - there are times when - like this - when you choose to help someone meet their basic needs regardless of what appears to be............... poor choices.

Hold on there quick to judge, I have done volunteer work with the elderly and shut-ins.

But instead of knee-jerking into an emotional response I analyze the situation.
Lots of questions come up unless we're just shopping for a feel good moment without investing any real effort to understand or care:


Why can't he afford his basic necessities?
How much does he have coming in and what does he spend it on?

He should be getting social security and medicare, right?
What about his wounds from the military, wouldn't he be entitled to any compensation from the military after loosing a kidney?

Did he go through life with no savings, no pension?
What does he REALLY need?

Maybe what he needs more than temporary free stuff is a little guidance, financial assistance, prioritization.

[Baz]

He suffered a stroke.

That type of thing has a way of changing a whole lot of how you look at and cope with things.

Thanks God he received some help from the community.