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Subscribe to RSSHere's an update on a story that a lot of you wrote to us about, concerning a family like too many others these days: hit hard by the recession and about to lose their home. A Nightly News viewer was determined to help. NBC's Chris Jansing has more.
By Chris Jansing, NBC News
As a reporter you never know which story or which person will strike a chord with viewers. In the case of last week’s devastating numbers on poverty in America – it was both.
We profiled a Florida family caught in an economic vise: parents who lost their jobs, a home in foreclosure, two teenagers wondering if they’d be able to stay in Florida, not knowing if they’d graduate with their friends. With tears streaming down her face, 15-year-old Gavi described how hard it is, at such a young age, to be dealing with so much stress.
Thirteen hundred miles away, another American family was watching – deeply affected by what they saw.
On the surface, the families seemed to have nothing in common.
John Vann went to Wharton Business School and owns a successful financial services company. His four children are college graduates who own their homes. Angel and Anairis Hidalgo both lost their jobs almost three years ago: he, as a building maintenance manager, she as a bank teller.
John and Dessi Vann’s neighborhood is populated with beautiful stone houses, manicured lawns and impeccable landscaping. The Hidalgos' is small and simple.
What John Vann saw, though, was similarity. A home, like his, filled with a loving family. And Gavi made him think of his own daughters – and he believed that she deserved a future like theirs. So he emailed his girls, talked with Dessi and his son Aaron and decided as a family to reach out. They wanted to help.
There is something about John Vann that is authentic. I sensed it first in his emails, in phone calls, and then meeting him and his wonderful family. When he talks about living the American Dream, it sounds like an imperative, never corny or overdone. What started as a vague idea was soon taking shape in the mind of a goal-oriented businessman. John developed a six-point plan to help the Hidalgos. And by the time I arrived in Texas to meet the Vanns, he had already made contact with his office in Florida.
What happened next John calls "divine coincidence." It turns out that one of his employees drives by the Hidalgos' neighborhood every day on her way to work. With her as an intermediary, John would get his plan moving.
Step one: Find firm financial footing. The Hidalgos have been living on $189 a week. The Vann family is pledging $2,000 a month to help them get back on their feet.
Step two: Use John’s network of contacts to find them jobs.
Step three: Help them save their home. A steady job will be critical, and while the Hidalgos have had the help of a foreclosure lawyer, John is offering additional, expert help.
John Vann put his objectives in writing. Number six? To restore belief in the American Dream.
A generous Nightly News viewer, John Vann, a businessman from Plano, Texas stepped up to help after seeing a family hit hard by the recession.
When I went to the Hidalgos' home on Sunday, they had been to Mass. The kids were hungry, mom was cooking and they were going to sit down to a Sunday meal. John’s employee in Florida, Margarita, came over with a check, a first installment on what Angel believes will be renewing his family’s American Dream.
They’re all really great people. When I talked with Angelo, 13, and Gavi they told me how hard it is to see their parents struggling. But I wanted to know what had been hardest for THEM. Gavi told me that when her mom and dad lost their jobs, she went to put in applications. But she wasn’t 16 and couldn’t get a job. She wanted so desperately to help. Angelo said, almost reluctantly, that there are things he’d like to have. But for the last three years there have been no presents at Christmas, or on his birthday. But those concerns paled in comparison to leaving their home, which, as Gavi put it, "holds so many memories." And they didn’t want to leave their school and their friends.
Anairis and Gavi had tears streaming down their faces when we told them about the Vanns' offer to help. It seemed almost too good to be true, that a complete stranger on the other side of the country would care about them so much that they would reach out.
Just two days after getting in touch with the Hidalgos, John helped Angel update his resume. Angel’s already had an interview, and job prospects are promising.
Fourteen million Americans are out of work and 46 million now live below the poverty line. It’s overwhelming, and John Vann would be the first to say no one person can fix the problem. But any single person can be part of the solution. It may sound trite, like something on one of those motivational posters you buy at the mall. But if you stood as I did, next to the Hidalgo family in Florida, delivering a message of hope from the Vann family in Texas, you surely would have been – as I was - deeply moved by the unwavering generosity of the American people.
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during the revolutionary war, some jewish families gave their wealth to the 13 colonies so that we could fight the revolution against britain because they believed in the dream. without those $, the united states of america might not be. best, anna martina
What a piece of bull@!$%# story.....as middle America drops like flies with no livable wage jobs we get a story about a tooth-fairy helping one family. Don't get me wrong, wish there were more people willing to help another in need. But it does NOT change anything systemically. It is the Darwinian nature of capitalism combined with pure selfishness and greed that is killing this country. I'm tired of worthless dumbing down media for crap stories that do nothing toi educate what is ailing us!
Being required to compete with cheap international labor has killed our middle class and our economy. This is nothing to do with class warfare or taxes. It has to do with the fact companies are allowed to and encouraged to get work done in cheaper places. Labor in China will continue to be cheap and unless you are ready to work for a bowl of rice a day I suggest protectionist policy.
I had enough of the bull@!$%# of military families living above their means and crying for help... These non AMERICANS taking every thing we work so hard to get... My child is 10 yrs, never had a Christmas because I can not afford to give one... Birthdays never excese in this house... The country wants to get down on dead beat dads... But military disable do not have to pay child support... I don't see a penny... Texas can get dead beats in state and will not work to get those out of state... I love Brian Williams, yet this story is a slap in the face to real AMERICAN... Think I will have to watch Pelly on CBS
Where did it say these people were not Americans? I must have missed that part.
Citizen of the world. We can make a difference. One person, one family at a time. It may only be a smile for a child you don't know - that may be the only smile he sees today or you may be a gift of money. NOT all Americans are as self-centered as you seem to think. Take a look in the mirror and be honest with yourself.
hopefully Sisy no one here considers you a Real American. What a bitter creature you are. Pick the father of your children better (or better yet, marry them or stay married to them, put in a little effort) and don't take it out on happy families just because they're happy, married, and stable. How the hell do you know the Hidalgos aren't American? That name is older in North America than the United States is.
Hey Chris Jansing,
Apparently you need a proofreader (what the heck is an economic vice?) and I need some work because I am in an economic vise. Got grammar?
This is a nice story. However, we should try to also expose those that are even in worse condition than these families. Many people live now in homeless shelters, and many people with mental diseases are living in deplorable conditions.
It is nice to feature good healthy citizens that are struggling some for the first time getting help. How about the media reporting on the working poor, some disabled veterans that are having a hard time making ends meet, or people that can't afford their medications because they need to choose between food and medicines.
If the media really wants to serve the people, they need to show how not everybody on medicaida and medicare are "leeches", as some tea party and republicans make them look. Let's be fair and show how some people REALLY live in this country!
anna martina sodari post 1 I am ignorant to this, please post links.
Citizen: WOW- Really?? Its called a human interest story. Its good news. Not all news has to be bad.
And whether you believe it or not people all over this country ARE helping each other in whatever way they can. Can we all put up $2k a month like the Vanns? No, but we do our part. We donate food, we donate clothes. We offer job, resume, interview advice. We babysit for friends to run errands and go to interviews. We carpool. We tell each other about job openings. We share details of sales and good deals when found. We share coupons. We loan our tools or books. We lend an ear to listen and a shoulder to cry on. We DO help each other. Every day. All over the country. THAT is what WE do to help each other.
The Vanns did something a bit extraordinary and that's why they're in this article and ya know what, GOOD for them! Thank you to them for helping in a bigger way because they're able. That's fantastic. We each do what we can.
Those that whine about cheep labor crack me up. Post that kind of tripe on their way out the door to Walmart. If you buy cheep goods, you ARE THE PROBLEM. People want their cake and to eat it as well. Life doesn't work that way. It takes cheep labor to make cheep goods. If you buy cheep goods, you are cutting your own throat. Don't whine about it. What choice do you have? Live with a little less, and spend a little more to buy goods produced locally or at least in this country. Our country can come back if people take that sort of attitude.
The number of homeless kids at my children's high school has doubled this year...people are living in their cars...wages are flat...profits are up...the rich keep getting richer and the poor, well....
About a year after 9-11 I lost my job. I had to refinance my house in order to pay the bills. Jobs were few and far between and I couldn't find a job. I sold my stocks and sold stuff on eBay to help pay bills.
Finally in 2006 I got a job in a hardware store for about half of what I used to make. I was able to meet expenses, but just barely. I was laid off in 2008 and was able to get unemployment.
With health problems continuing to get worse, I tried to find another job, but the recession made it even harder to find a job. I was sending out multiple resumes weekly with no response. My resources were dwindling with no relief in sight. I had to file bankruptcy as health issues continued to plague me. I filed for disability and waited and waited. For about 7 of the last 9 years, I’ve been living in below poverty conditions and there are millions of Americans that have joined me as unemployment continues to rise.
I had to go in for colon surgery in May (2011) and had complications following the surgery that has left me disabled permanently. I spent nearly 2 months in the hospital, with several trips to the ER for infections and severe pain. I received a letter that said my home would be auctioned off in October-with no notice or communications from my mortgage company that they were foreclosing. So in less than a month I will be homeless, losing my home of 34 years, disabled with no income and in pain for the rest of my life from the surgery, and unable to work. I've tried to find some kind of temporary help to save my home and haven't been able to get anything; I can’t even get a mortgage modification since I have no income.
Maybe I should go camp out in front of the White House and see what our glorious leader can do for me.
Mr Cool, google 'haym solomon'. best, anna martina
I don't usually leave comments, but this story is so inspirational . . . especially as the final story on a pretty heavy newscast. Bravo to the family who saw in their hearts to give, and blessings to the Florida family! We may be neighbors! Thanks NBC Nightly News, for sharing!
Nice story but is not going to change what is going on. We need to revamp Nafta lie
I've never commented on a story before but I had the same desire to help this family when I saw the story originally. If those of us who buy discretionary "stuff" -- a pair of shoes we don't really need or a moisturizer that costs $250 instead of just a drug store brand -- donated that money to a family in need, what a difference it would make and obviously not change our style of living one bit.
I had this fantasy to start a non profit based on this story called something like, "Instead of another pair of shoes" and am continuing to think it over. With Manolo Blahnik and Leboutin shoes going for $700 imagine what a difference this check would make to a family.
thank you NBC Nightly News -- you are the only newscast I ever watch and for a good reason.
If we ALL did that ??the need would only grow which is why we are in this mess
We have become a "Give me "society just take a look at "Handicap parking "?
If you can drive you can pay the parking If you can walk and wait in line give the space to some who do need look around you people are taking instead of giving and when the givers get taken well noone gives anymore
Besty don't talk about what you should've done ...do it it's so lame to say "oh they beat me to it" no they didn't I can't stand people that say "I felt like doing the same thing" yet don't. don't talk about it and stop looking for recognition by posing as a wanna be philanthropist.
I am glad there are people like you and Mr. Vann out there!
Betsy Perry and others that would like to help others, there are two sites that I know that could use some help. www.modestneeds.org and 2hands.org
Who the hell can afford $700 for shoes? Not me...I am a retired teacher!!!
I donate regularly to modestneeds.org. You can allow them to distribute your donations, or you can choose the person you want to help. All the applicants are checked out, so you can be sure it's not just someone trying to scam honest people out of their money.
Thanks for the other site, Dot. I'll check it out, too.
Hey CHEAPSTER505 (so apt a name)--I am going to GUARANTEE you that you could not live the life my sister lives who is handicapped, working not 1 but 2 jobs, takes 1.5 hours to get dressed in the morning, requires a motorscooter. People like you in this world make it all the more unpleasant. What a loser you are. Hey--maybe you should change your tag line to loser505. I realize this is not a Christian comment but sometimes remarks like yours call for an un-Christian comment.
Wow! $700 for a pair of shoes. I've never even been in a store that sells $700 shoes. In fact, the total cost of ALL the shoes I currently own is less than $700!
@ CHEAPSTER505, The reason the meters are free for handicaped plates is because the person parking there is doing it out of neccessity not convienence. and yes, I have the ability to wait my turn in some lines, as long as its not too long, etc, but I can't walk more than 10 to 20 feet without my blood pressure dropping to dangerous levels, I live in constant pain that can no longer be controlled by pain medications as I have been on them long enough to have built up a tolerance, so I can only bring the pain levels down slightly. I am a married mother of four boys and I didnt ask to get sick and become disabled. I grew up in a poor family because my mother was a drug addict, and I vowed to do better for my family, and I did. Thankfully the company I worked for has great disability benefits and that along with my savings was enought to carry my family while waiting three years to get social security bennefits and medicare as I lost my private medical insurance after being out of work on disability for 6 months. I have never asked for a hand out from anyone, and SSD is not a hand out as I paid for that through taxes. I donate clothes, food, toys, and whatever else I am able to do to help others even though I myself struggles at times, but with four boys there are always clothing they have grown out of or toys etc that they dont need anymore. this news story was nice and inspiring, and instead of looking at what individuals can do to help others, people are looking at who to blame and attacking eachother. Please CHEAPSTER505 are you really saying that disability parking is to blame for the economic issues? You try waking up in the morning and having to wake your spouse to help you get out of bed, and in my case having him disconnect my IVs everymorning and help me with my meds. ( I am no longer able to eat solid foods so I have to connect to a IV called TPN at home through a central line called a picc line that runs from my left arm to my heart to provide the nutrients to survive) after I take my meds I have to wait 20-30 mins for them to start to work, and then my husband helps me get dressed and down the stairs were between the two of us we get the boys ready and out the door to school. I know even in my worst I am better off than some because of wise finacial decisions i made when I was young but we are still living with less than we were before I was sick and if I had known this was in my future we may have not had four kids, but we did, and we are dealing with it on our own. Medicare is also not a handout, its a part of SSD which I paid taxes for and I do pay a monthly premium for it. I think some get state medical help and medicare confused. Medical assistance is a state medical program for those who cant afford it, and is taken advantage of by those who dont want to work and prefer to live off of the government. it should only be available to those who are laid off or lost a job basically as it was intended to be, a saftey net for families going through a hard time, not as a way of life as some are using it as. Medicare is available to disabled or those above retiererment age, big difference. so instaed of attacking the sick and disabled look to those who are taking advantage of our system as a way of life.. Or read this story and smile because there are still people out there willing to help a fellow american.
Did we check to see if this family were legal or not. Florida is full of illegal immigrants who are filling up our schools and hospitals and not paying a penny in taxes. Bank of America set these families up in homes several years ago, which they cannot afford. An American citizen can get a job in Florida with no trouble. Florida's economy is very good and there are hundreds of jobs available. However, many people only want high-paying jobs whether or not they are qualified. There are two sides to every story.
What planet do you live on? That is total BS. Scott has completely gutted the economy of Florida, and if you'd get off your comfy couch and stop watching FAUX News, you'd see it.
70 year old Floridian---do you mean 70 year old displaced New Yorker? The senior set in Florida has got to be one of the most hated groups down there and yet you have the audacity to assume the Hidalgos are illegals? How dare you??? Do you know how many people in this country think the elderly are greedy, useless, and sucking off a system they in no way paid enough into to continue collecting? You're seventy, so what did you pay into Social Security when you began working? Like a dime a week? A quarter? A dollar?? What are you sucking out of the government on a monthly basis? Including Medicare??? Don't start something you can't finish, old man....Florida is also full of foul, greedy and inconsiderate old people who didn't work for what they are collecting from the same government these poor people aren't getting any help from at all. And they DO WORK for a living when they can. (and incidentally, you mean hateful useless old crone, the gentleman was working in cleaning, they have to be bonded, and she was a bank teller, so rest assured they are not only legal, but probably cleaner people record-wise than you are.)
Not saying they are but do you know fake papers is a big business in Florida
Florida's economy sucks, and has primarily had low paying service jobs - like for generations. I have a few family members there, without an education you are really sunk.
The elder Floridian needs to expand beyond Faux News.
Look, I am smelling the dissension stench and as always it stinks..If you can help...and want to ...Help..If you don't want to help don't..Why criticize the ones who do? Why ask are they Americans? Florida's economy sucks, one of the worst in the country..Full of what..service industry Jobs..that are filled...A lot of folks pay 700 for shoes...A lot of folks have no Xmas..big deal..You want better..make it better,,make your luck..good or bad...your choice..Cut the whaaa..poor woe is us Still the greatest country on Earth, no doubt...Bravo to the folks in Texas...Love to all..God is Great
70 must live in one of the upper-class retirement communities, because that's certainly the only place Florida looks that good. Even low-paying jobs are hard to come by.
70 Year old Floridian. That's all I had to read. Shut up. Just shut UP.
Sonata, who is greedy? I think YOU!!! You deride a senior who spend a lifetime working for benefits that were paid for and promised. What a self-righteous jerk you are! Alll gimmie mine, don't touch mine. Go smoke another bowl of Tea and have another line of Koch. Your ilk are the problem with this country. Until you experience a lifetime of working for something only to have some crank kid try and steal it you need to just STFU. Most of these posts do not get under my skin, but you are a class A selfish nut case.
I thought about doing exactly the same thing when I saw the original news story and I wondered if those of us with discretionary funds enough to buy a non essential pair of shoes or some expensive moisturizer instead of a drug store brand, might consider giving that amount to a family in need.
I actually thought about creating a non profit called something like "Instead of another pair of shoes" and since some of us spend as much as $700 on a pair of shoes, imagine giving that amount to a family.
These are families that want to work and have hit bumps in the road..We should help them and I applaud that family who did just that. Shame on me for not jumping in first.
thank you NBC NIghtly News -- I have been a fan forever.
Betsy
It's never too late to help someone out in the neighborhood or across the U.S. We should be helping those in our own backyards in the US. No matter if each of us lack in something, if one person would help another and on down the line, America would grow and people would communicate. We need to get back to basics and away from "what's in it for me". God provides for us; he's sending a message that we need to help each other. Blessings,
first of all, it was very nice for what that family has done for that ''poverty'' FL family. I am not talking down about that FL family an im sure there going threw there finacial issues because of this @!$%# hole of an economy but that is not poverty compared to what my family plus MANY other family have gone threw. My family isnt full of intelegent people but we are a VERY hard working family. My father had owned a successful construction business to where he didn't have to work nor my mother but it allowed my father to just be able to run the business w/o having to do labor himself befoe the recession came. When the recession had come, my father had to fire all his employees an my brother an I had dropped outta school to keep the business going to keep the money flowing threw are family to meet the monthly income to keep are beautiful house that my mother an dad had designed themselves as any other american getting there american dream of having a successfull business an there dream home.. But when it cam edown to where my brother an I not had to but did drop out to keep the business going so we could have are monthly income to keep the house an etc. The house eneded up in forecloser because the economy especially the construction industry took a huge @!$%# down here. We moved out in 2008 an from today we had moved 3 times. My father lost his business an couldnt find no work at ALL an now my mother had to find a low income job an we had to move into a small 2 br appartment with 4 people. I notice they still live in there house not saying there doing good finacially but they are doing 10 times better than my family an many other familys. My mother even had to do construction with us when my dad laid off all employees an made it a family construction business to keep the money in the family but it didn't last an had to get rid of the company an many other things/belongings. My dad an I (mostly I) suffer from depression because we have lost everything unlike the family shown that is being helped. I don't mean to criticize the family but there are way worse family situation than them but they do deserve the help they got along with MANY other familys. Sorry if my story jumps around so much but there is so much to say an so much more that america needs to see that they are not seeing especially congress inwhich I think they should all be fired for being so selfish.. I hate seeing my mother having to make income for us so that we don't end up on the streets an my parents divorcing cause my dad can't make an income... My mom is a hard working farm girl work 7 days a week an my dad is now a bum with heart problems sitting at home with decreasing health an just sicken to see how he an the family had ended up. I can't find a decent job nor can I get in the army cause of a simple posession misdemeanor that isn't suppose to be mine but it's on my record..... Congress is just tearing familys apart witht here terrible decisions they all need to be FIRED. WE DON'T NEED NO SYMPATHY!! WE JUST WANT TO ****IN WORK!!! an hope to live the american dream aswell as everyne else. My family went from middle class loving life to living by each penny an decreasing health. OPEN YOUR EYES PEOPLES QUIT BEING SO SELFISH AN GREEDY(THIS IS NOT TO THE FAMILYS OF THIS TOPIC- ALL TO CONGRESS)
don't worry the tax cuts are there to help just wait 5/10 more years you'll see
education at it;s best you proofed it and may I add SPELLCHECKER
"education at it;s best" Cheapster505 Please capitalize the first letter of a sentence and I'm sure that should be it's" not "it;s. BTW Dane-4141059 identified herself as a school dropout while you seem to be trying to impress us with your knowledge.
SCORE Dane: +1, Cheapster: -4
Actually, it should be its, no apostrophe. OK?
Not only the economy of FL bad, the schools are worse - underfunded BEFORE the recession hit.
@ Dane so sorry for what you and your family is going through, I understand what you are saying though and to me it seemed like you more or less were venting, that is a good thing to vent. I grew up working the family business as well since I could sit and poke a lei needle through a flower as a child till adult hood the work could be back breaking because we would have to go up into the mountains of Oahu and most times big Island. as I started into my thirties I looked at how things were going in this business and saw that there was much missing, so I went to college and changed careers. I am now a treatment counselor at the high schools. I love my Job because I am able to help youth make informed decisions when it comes to their lives. I know it isn't one size fits all for jobs. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to be intelligent, I know that all my hoping in the world won't help you, but you andyour are in my prayers. and I do hope that things get better for you all.
No offense intended but you sound sooo self centered and insensitive(especially sfter what you say your family has been through). To say this family is better off than many others just because they are still in their home is rediculous at the least. Your family was still in your home when your hardships began until,finally,you had to let the house,etc go. Your family is still doing better than so many others who have no where to live and nothing to eat. Someone has stepped up to help this family and you really do sound like you're disappointed by that. Hopefully this family will be able to get turned around with the help that's been offered to them. As for your parents divorcing,this is their fault,not the government,poverty,etc. It seems they did not take seriously their vows of until death do us part but rather a vow(in their hearts) of until adversity do us part. If this adversity has caused them to divorce,then they were never joined together in the first place and it is this fact that has caused separation. People are separating all the time for reasons other than death because they were never truly joined and their "playing love" has come to the end of the game.
It's whites helping out oh never mind who helps who
Yet it's the evil white man who needs to be discriminated against and excluded in society. I refuse to give to charity anymore until I see more images of Africans and Hispanics providing volunteer work and manning up the relief shelters and soup kitchens in midwest disaster areas. I'm sick of it.
Hey Cheapster505: You have received your 15 minutes in fame now. Go back to bed and wake up on the correct side. You are one negative individual and an a$$ to boot :)
I've never left comments before, but the follow up story on the Hidalgo's in Florida left me feeling that there may be hope yet. What the Vann family has done for the Florida family is simply amazing. My heart too went out to the Hidalgo's when I first saw the story. I know all to well how they feel. Although I did not end up quite as bad as they were, I was left unemployed after 18 years with a company and without a job for 10 months. I did finally find a job, but making 30 percent less than I was used to. I'm thankful to be employed. The Vann family is truly inspirational. It's nice to see that there are people out there willing to help others in this country. Maybe some day we will be able to make it on our own again.
It would be nice if people were willing to help an older person. We seniors have b een screwed. Our medical insurance which we have paid into all our working life is being taken from us, there are plenty of seniors like me who are trying to survive. Some seniors are having to choose between eating and their medications. Some seniors are even having to eat dog food. People think that seniors have it made because of Medicaid and Medicare. Well, I don't qualify for Medicaid and my Medicare is paid for out of my SS which I also have paid for all my working life. I would challenge any of you to try to live off of $700.00 a month like I do.
You are right.I'm 48,a home health RN.A lot of seniors are suffering,and most of them worked their butts off when younger.I like to help that generation.Kudos to all of our seniors,they deserve respect!
Ya know, if you had a million dollars, as do untold thousands and thousands of US citizens across this country, you wouldn't have to go through all this.
But you see, you didn't work hard enough. You didn't become one of the Koch brothers who inherited billions from their wealthy father. Or the wife of Sam Walton or his children, who toiled and sweat through their lives for the $20 billion dollars they each have.
So shame on you.
You are truly frightening. You attitude is that of a loser of almost biblical proportions. According to the Fed government's own calculations over 94% of households with accumulated assets of over $1 million are self made. Not Kennedys or Waltons or Kochs, but, rather Bill Gates'. You live long enough and work hard enough and you finally realize creating wealth is far superior to redistributing wealth. Work hard and be proud of what you do. Sometimes you need help and its nice when some one can step in with aid. You are a real downer. Go to bed early. Sorry your life has been such a big disappointment.
Bill Gate's grandfather owned a bank. Bill Gates dropped out of HARVARD. Not exactly the popular fantasy of the self-made little guy working his way up from nothing.
$1 million is top 1%. The other 99% never leave the socioeconomic class they were born into.
Oh right so since his grandfather had money that means all his accomplishments and earnings are nil and dont mean anything. right, check.
Remember that Bill Cosby episode where Rudy came home crying because the kids were picking on her calling her rich? Bill told her ' your mother and I are rich, you are poor."
Richard, There is no such thing as a self-made millionaire. More trolling from the right wing. Those people made their millions on the backs of hard working people, who sometimes, but rarely, they paid well for their help. Get a life bagger and quit spewing the nonsense. You're the one who is frightening that you actually bought into that garbage.
Maybe they should show this to John Boehner of Congress and Mitch McConnel of the Senate and tell them that this is what America is all about. Instead of lining their pockets the color green and being so greedy.
They don't care, and neither do most of their Democrat colleagues.
yeah, cause the republicans DO care - OH so very much *rolls eyes*
amen to that jpconti - those folks on the hill with their expensive suits, limousines, golden bennie packages AND dual residences and offices should have to live like the rest of us. The America I am proud of, lends a helping hand, donates food, clothing, time - unlike so much of the rest of the planet. We are the single most generous country on this planet; we do it because its the right thing to do.
Thank you for helping this family. Here is Florida there are thousands of families like those in the store. My family is one of them. With no jobs, we can't pay our bills,mortgage, etc. We are losing everything we ever worked for. 40yrs down the drain. The banks don't help, because the government doesn't require them to. So we lose everything. Especially hard when you don't have family to help you.
This is a simplified working example of what our president has been pushing since before he took office. Those who have need to find a way to assist those who have not. That is the ONLY way this country will survive. As humans, as people, it our responsibility to help our fellow man/woman. That's what we were put here for. Not to ravage the earth and take advantage of everything and everyone that we can. The world, this country is going to sh*t. And for all of those sitting in your mansions and gated communities, with thousands if not millions stuffed into your safe deposit boxes - those gates and alarm systems will only protect you from those willing to commit crimes to feed their families for not much longer. People are reaching the ends of their ropes. And to all of you poor to middle class white people yelling along with the tea party - it is NOT a racial thing any longer. That rich republican you're rooting for just to get the n*gger out of office would just as soon sh*t on you and step over you just as quickly as he/she would any person of color. Wake up people!
Got to love all the DUMBOCRATS who see this as political.
PeaceMan, well said! I agree with you wholeheartedly.
I agree with Allie~ VERY WELL SAID PeaceMan~ exactly what I was thinking....LYNNIAL really?? come on!! You really cannot sit there on your ass calling people with these opinions DUMBOCRATS...you point one finger REMEMBER you got 3 more pointing back at you.....THERE IS a somewhat political part in everything that HAS happened... so far.... you should wake up and come join the rest of us here on planet Earth....
peaceman, are you saying it is ok to break into someones house and rob them just because they are more successful than you ? you don't know what that person may give away to charity every year. Don't think that all rich people are greedy and selfish.
You are inviting a lot of people to die encouraging them to break into homes. Very bad idea.
BTW...put the blame where it belongs...on the government for uncontrolled spending, unnecessary wars, and for giving tax breaks to corporations who sent so many American jobs overseas. Don't blame rich people for being successful. BTW, I am not rich...just my opinion.
And of course, it never fails to have one rude and obnoxious republican to call names on each vine.
Peace Man you are promoting violence. Not very peaceful. So you think its just okay to break into people's houses and steal their stuff because they have it and you want it? You think you *deserve* it and they don't? How dare they study hard, go to school, work hard, save, and be smart with their money! You want what they've got so you're just gonna break in and take it? That's common thuggery, envy, and jealousy.
Steve, very naive. He is saying that the day is coming, not too far off, when people are going to be willing to risk it all just to put a meal on the table for their children. And yes, logically, the first people they are going to take it from are the ones who have it. Things are going to get real ugly if we cannot find a way to get greed under control. People do not learn from history.
So well said! The fools(caucasian American) who are still on that "this is our country" stupidity are being laughed at while,at the same time,being destroyed by the very ones they keep trying to put in charge. What this one family has done to help this other family is exactly what President Obama is talking about but foolish people don't really want that. Some really want that "old day" thing where a few prospered(off the backs of others) and the rest(with tired,worn backs) suffered day to day just to provide food for their families. Now we hear that the white male is the one most wracked by this country's greed,prejudice(it has gone from against "blacks" to against ALL who are not in a certain class).I,personally,don't feel a bit sorry because when the white male had many,many opportunities through hundreds of years to speak out against injustice aimed at a certain nationality of people,he did not but rather he sat back and lied,robbed,stole from that certain nationality. It is like Malcolm X said "the rooster has returned home". Evil ALWAYS turns on those who perpetrate it,whether by committing it,benefitting from it or just standing by and not speaking out against it. Now,they are simply experiencing what African Americans have been experiencing since being ILLEGALY brought into this country to be used,abused and discarded. Now,why won't they tell themselves to stop complaining,to work hard,to stop being lazy,to get that fine American education? Why won't they tell themselves that this plight,this terrible struggle to survive is just all in their heads?Why won't they say to themselves that America is a fair country that you can prosper in if you just get off your lazy xxx and make it happen?Why won't they tell themselves the lies they've spewed for years toward African Americans? Oh yeah,because the lies are laid at their doorsteps now,against their will,by those who are supposed to have their backs while they hang others out to be destroyed. A part of me did hope they would have put those two fools,McCain and Palin,into office because those two fools would have put a greater bend in their backs. They whine and cry because they don't have enough to eat now,losing their little homes and cars,their little retirement,etc. Well,though we feel the pressure also,its no BIG deal for us because we have learned,since being brought here,how to survive,make do and even be at peace in America's economy. So,let the fools vote this "@!$%#" out of office if they so want to(and if they can) and see just how great a friend they really have in that whole republican group;no, I don't feel sorry for a blatant fool.
The Tea Party started from that WHITE President Bush bailing out the banks instead of sending in the cops to haul their asses off to jail.
@ DIANE-4146236 : So lets get this straight. I am considered a caucasian American, But I am actually Irish, and my ancester were brought here illegally as slaves labled criminals because they were poor. No one learns about that in history class, they simply celebrate St. Patties day as a day to wear green and get drunk. Do you know who St. Patty was or why we celebrate him? No, cause your too caught up in your own history to notice. Oh Yeah, and are you forgetting that it was caucasians who helped to free the african slaves? not only the politicians who helped to change the laws and those caucasians that wrote the constitution but those who risked thier lives for the underground railroad. Oh Yeah, and how about in 1942 when Japanese Americans were rounded up and sent to live in internment camps because of the fear of spys after the pearl harbor attacks. Injustices occurred all throughout history not just in American and not just to Africans. I never owned slaves and neither did any American living today. Like me, many living caucasians imagrated here from other places and thier ancestors never owned slave either, so what exactly should caucasian americans be paying for?? This is my country as well as every americans country. I am proud of my ansestors who came here as slaves and fought for equil rights, which by the way african americans recieved many of thier rights before irish americans did. but we convienently forget about all of that. It is foolish to round up so many different nationalities into the same grouping as caucasians. there would be riots if they decided to put all other races in the same category such as "non-caucasians" etc. I thought the constitution said to make all men equill, not to boast on nationalities of non caucasians and scream when equality happens to make a caucasian advance. Great examples are: when a firstation did thier regular testing for advanced titles and pay grade and when the results came in and they realized that none of the minorities passed the test they decided not to advance anyone in fear that they would be accused of being racsist. In the end the supreme court rulled in favor of the fire fighters who had passed the test of course there were protests citing racisizm. Or the TV Channel BET (Black entertainment television) if there was a WET (white entertainment television) there would be lawsuits. Its getting rediculous. there should be no seperation by race. no little boxes to check when you fill out forms delairing whether you latino caucasian or african american, it shouldnt matter. what should matter is who you are and what you have done, not your ancestors, or you parents, but what you have done. I dont feel sorry for homeless whether its white or black. I have been down and had to pull myself out of it. I was in an abusive relationship with my oldest sons dad and litterally had to leave without him knowing it, and I left with what I could fit in the car with my son. and not only had to build a new life starting with nothing, but I had to stay in hiding and not have contact with family and friends cause if he had found me, I would be dead.. but I did it without handouts cause filling for welfare and childsupport meant him getting my address. I also had a battle with breast cancer, and had to stop working and because I am labled as caucasian there was no help for christmas for my kids, thankfully my mother in law stepped in and helped, but had she not breast cancer woulod have ruined christmas for my kids. so no matter what situation you end up in, you can get yourself out of it if you work hard. so you lose a job, and can only find ones that pay less than the one you lost, work two if you have to. I did, and then I saved instead of buying crap we didnt need, and now I have savings to fall back on. I accomplished that, Not My Race!!
And how does this stress affect people in their 50's and 60's. I can tell you first hand. My husband had a heart attack, and I had a stroke.
Congratulations to this family and God Bless their angels in Texas. I wish we could find an angel to help us. We are on the verge of being evicted if we do not come up with this months rent, then me and my husband and two daughters will have no place to go.
This story is a scam... ONLY the government can save you!! :-p
One more time, so you'll all understand it.
The rich don't care. The Republicans don't care. They are insulated and protected from the suffering the rest of us have to go through.
If you EVER hear a rich person or Republican say they care please remember George Bush's "compassionate conservative".
What's a compassionate conservative? Easy. How about s angelic satan? delicious dog sh*t? I could go on, but you get the idea.
It sounded good, And a whole huge number of not too bright people fell for it.
Think about it. If you had been raised your entire life in privilege would you give a flying you know what about others suffering? Well, maybe if you're a movie star trying to improve you image, but other than that, hell no.
So wake up to reality. These rich and their Republican servants will grind you into the ground without a second thought. Count on it.
Ah, a thousand points of light, or was that a thousand pints of light?
With the Bushes, it is ALWAYS 5 o'clock somewhere. Why do you think they always have that stupid grin pasted on their faces all the time?
70 year old Floridian-With all due respect Ma'am, you must be listening to the Rick Scott Channel, cause I don't know where you got any idea that jobs are no problem to get in Florida. We currently have one of the highest unemployment rates in the country! And the fact that they are legal or illegal is irrelevant. Now when it comes to Bank of America, I certainly don't have anything good to say about them, however I am pretty sure they didn't smuggle anyone in here and put them in homes, but......who knows, stranger things have happened. By the way, when you say American citizen, do you mean the Native Americans? Because there are no jobs on the Reservation either. I do agree that many people want high paying jobs too (you know, the ones where you almost make enough to pay your bills). Times are changing, you need to too! 56 year old Floridian
This is really a great gesture from these people. However, it is a REAL shame that the majority of severely overpaid actresses, "religious" fakes, entertainers and professional athletes give little or nothing to anybody but themselves. When our society starts paying teachers and law enforcement officers decent salaries and stops paying the above non contributors outrageous sums then maybe the world can heal.
ccipaul, another "expert" who doesn't bother to check facts. Too busy leaving comments to do a little research? Try googling celebrities who support causes and you will find a long list of links to sites naming celebrities and the causes they donate to.
I think the keyword there Allie, was "little". Most of them give nothing in comparison to what they make. It's stupid to pay an athlete 7 million a year to toss around a ball. What is even more stupid is the fan who will pay $100 for a ticket to watch him do it.
Amused, while I agree with you to a large extent I think there are many celebrities, athletes especially who do much more than we realize. Many times I have either googled a particular celebrity or athlete just because of some article regarding their latest movie or a big play they may have made in a game or, beings I'm a big Dancing With The Stars junkie, the various celebrities on that show just to find out more about them and have found that they are doing some amazing things with their off time and their money.
Inspirational, yes. But, I find it hard to see that Florida family as impoverished. That home is beautiful. As is their decor. my wife (she's in a wheel chair.) and I live on about $1400 a month, in a two bedroom apartment, in Albuquerque, NM. Neither of us has found steady work in almost 2 years. (She volenteers at an animal shelter, and I apply for jobs, and make art.) I have 30K+(mostly due to intrest charges) or so in student loan debt I can't currently HOPE to pay off. Neither us us can afford to go back to school, even for an associates degree. Our monthly entertainment budget doesn't even include television, much less eating out or going to movies. We have internet access and netflix. (And board games and library books.) Yet, we are not eligable for rent assistance, or 'food stamps'. Again, it's REALLY hard for me to see this family as portrayed in this video clip as 'poor'.
You have $1400.00 a month OK. Life in NM is cheaper than FL ,so you can't go out to eat or go to the movies those are not life necesities. What I don't understand is how you have $30 K in student loans but do not have a degree not even an associate degree. You have a 2 bedroom apt no kids.
I believe you have just made a lot a bad decisions in your life Matt.
@gelintor...I am so with you.
Matt please make me understand something. You have no kids and yet in still $1400 a month is not enough. How about this for a plan. Downsize into a one bedroom; this will save on the extra room price. Stop making art; that is taking away from your budget. Only create when it is being commissioned and price accordingly. and last but not least, why do you have a $30k student loan when you haven't even received your associates?
ohh and btw...$189 a week is not a lot for a family of 4. Kids are a walking and breathing bill. My husband and I have 4 kids and they are not cheap. And we are by no means rich. We live paycheck to paycheck.
Besty don't talk about what you should've done ...do it it's so lame to say "oh they beat me to it" no they didn't I can't stand people that say "I felt like doing the same thing" yet don't. don't talk about it and stop looking for recognition by posing as a wanna be philanthropist.
What a wonderful story! I am very touched that a comfortable family reached out to the poor family. Very refreshing! I want to share with everyone something that happened to me yesterday. My adult daughter is in renel failure and needed to use my car to get to dialyses because the brakes needed to be repaired on her car. While returning home from dropping her off at home, my car started to make a funny noise. I started to pull into the driveway of a business but my car stopped running. Out of no where, three young men offered to help me get my car into the parking lot. I used the phone inside the business to call my son for help. About a half hour later, one of the employees from the business came out and said that my son called to say that he could not get his car started. The employee offered to take me to a nearby store to get a quart of oil (my car is old and drinks oil like a drunk drinks alcohol). My car did start and I was able to get home. I am so very fortunate to learn first hand that in these tough economic and hate filled times, people are still there who really care. I don't care about some old car breaking down again. But I do care about people who have compassion and exert the effort to help someone in need. Thanks to all those people who are guilty of committing acts of kindness. May we each meet such a person and follow their examples!
Thanks for sharing your story. It was more touching than the article. What we need are more random acts of kindness. I work in home improvement and like working by myself but hired one nephew for a few days a week and I know it will make a difference in his life. Might even teach him a trade and might end up being his career. We all need to do the little things we can to help each other.
Those are the stories I love to hear. One act of kindness goes a long way. I don't want to dismiss some of the individuals who commented on how much worse their situation is but like this family..there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Lynn Mahalo for sharing your story, when I saw this story I just broke down in tears because this family now has hope and a hand up...I wish them well and I wish you and yours much Aloha and Blessings...
This is an inspiring story, it brought tears to my eyes, and a lump to my throat. It is exactly what we all should be doing on what ever level we can, whether it be one family to another, one individual to another, or a regular donation to your community food shelter, woman's half way house etc. At least these types of things are usually felt IMMEDIATELY, by those who are in need. For long term help and solutions, I'm afraid they would be dealt with politically, and would take longer to be realized on a whole. This family needed help right away, and another family felt the need and desire to reach out.
What's interesting to me, is the criticism and anger that's felt by some on this vine. If one family wants to help another family, is there a rule somewhere that says they can't help a family if they have an ethnic name, or that it's required that they were born in this country? THIS IS AN INDIVIDUAL TRANSACTION FROM ONE FAMILY TO ANOTHER. It is not a political ploy, it's nothing that's handled by 'welfare', and no one stole funds from a non profit in order to help this family.
Why be angry becuse one family chose to help another family that was in need? If it were YOUR FAMILY that was helped by a stranger, would you still be angry? Would you refuse the help? I think not! You would take the help, and you'd be grateful for it.
I say KUDOS to the family who helped (good Karma) and I hope the family who is receiving the help will be able to get back on their feet, and PAY IT FORWARD.
Handicap parking, Really? Hateful people like you are the reason this country is going down the toilet. All you think of is ME, ME, ME! Your hate for others comes through loud and clear in your words.
Two beautiful families, one fantastic America have we skipped over this, if you are reading this step up and be your goodness. Yeah America
Step up and buy American, just each of us spending five dollars on American products can create 200,000 jobs. Stop shopping at Wal Marts, shop local, and buy American. Go to Google and look up buy American.
This was a very moving story. I wish more people who have enough would share with those who are suffering.
Thank you for sharing NBC.