An elderly lady named Gloria from Woburn, Massachusetts has lived in her house on Lillian Street since 1969. Her only company is Choo Choo, her dog. It’s not easy being alone at her age.
In September of 2020, the power in her home went out after sparks suddenly flew from the fixtures. Gloria needed help.
A neighbor referred Gloria to electrician John Kinney of Kinney Electric.
John is used to making assessments once he enters a customer’s home but nothing prepared him for the state of Gloria’s house.
“When I arrived at her house, I discovered that the electrical was in very bad shape.”
The electrician wrote on Facebook.
“Half her lights were out, she had no stove, and her refrigerator was plugged into an extension cord. I fixed her immediate electrical hazards and got her lights and air conditioning on.”
Kinney fixed the lighting but he knew the house needed way more work.
Gloria had little money and no family so she had no way of dealing with the necessary repairs.
John was an electrician but the thought of Gloria living in such a state bothered him so he went ahead and searched his contacts for anyone willing to help fix up the house.
Volunteers arrived with John, and together, they cleaned out the yard and all the junk. John turned his attention to the inside of Gloria’s home.
“She has some serious plumbing issues that need to be corrected. There is extensive drywall repair to be done. A massive amount of painting. Her front porch brick steps are an accident waiting to happen,” John added.
John had the team but not the money.
On August 16, John launched a fundraiser on Facebook, collecting over $63,000. Way above the $75,000 he was targeting.
“We knew she needed help, it was apparent,” John’s brother, Dan, said. “But she’s so kindhearted and good-natured that she wouldn’t ever want to impose on anybody to ask for it.”
The next weekend, a team composed of plumbers, landscapers, and carpenters arrived ready to redo Gloria’s crumbling home. They cleared her yard, rebuilt her porch and made sure every corner was clean. The Kinney brothers even installed a new electrical system.
Local restaurants provided food while neighbors donated cash and sent her gifts.
“I couldn’t possibly afford to pay for this kind of help,” Gloria told WHDH. “I am so grateful that you can’t imagine.”
John started a Facebook group called Gloria’s Gladiators, “a group of professional tradesmen and volunteers that can be called upon to help out any elderly person in need.”
The outpouring of love and support was incredible!
John’s efforts combined with Woburn’s community made sure Gloria would now live in a safe and comfortable home. Now we can’t wait to see whose home the Gladiators will fix up next!
Source: ronproject.com
Post a Comment