Jessica message on Facebook:
“If y’all need any kindling wood, please come buy from this precious 80-year-old elderly man. His name is Kenneth. He parks on the corner of Carl leggett and west Taylor Rd. In Gulfport Right near bayou bluff. He is there every day for hours. Selling for $5 a bag.
Background story: Last year he was there selling as well, but he had his sweet little wife, Helen, with him. He was selling to help pay for his wife’s doctor visits and bills.
This year he is alone.”
“He said his wife, Helen, lost her battle to cancer a few weeks ago and he is still selling to cover pay for her doctor bills.
My heart breaks every time I pass him. He waves at every single car that passes.
Friday I was at the stop sign as a funeral procession was passing by. And he was standing alert with his straw hat over his heart. Precious man.
I can’t buy it all!! Anyway… We can all spare $5 to help this sweet man.”
“After I posted this, a GoFundMe account was created by Kenneth’s son Leslie. Not by me. Here is the link if you aren’t able to go buy kindling from him.
I don’t know the extent of his bills, but have been told that he and his wife spent all of their life savings to cover doctor bills over the last few years of her treatment and he is having a hard time making ends meet,” wrote Jessica.
And her message moved people all around the country. Soon, strangers flocked to Gulfport to buy firewood from Kenneth.
So far his GoFundMe has raised an incredible $100,000 in about a week! Isn’t it amazing what humans can do when we work together?
Although I think there’s something wrong with the US healthcare system that cancer treatments leave people in financial ruin, I choose to emphasize the positive in this story.
We humans can move mountains when we choose to help each other. Please share Kenneth’s story with your friends on Facebook.
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