There is nothing quite like what happens when people come together to achieve a common goal. It doesn’t matter if you live in a large city or a small town, there is nothing quite like it.
For many people, they wouldn’t trade living in a strong community for anything. When times of trouble strike, you can be sure that others will care for your needs or the needs of others without thinking about it.
This is what recently happened in Pendleton, OR. A few heartless comments by some teenagers prompted a response from a man that has gone viral on Facebook. It brought the community together to do something fantastic.
The story began when Josh Cyganik, who works as a track inspector for Union Pacific, got in the habit of waving to an older gentleman who sat on his front porch. That porch overlooked the worksite where Josh worked. The silent greeting was all that was between these two gentlemen for a very long time.
In July, 2015, Cyganik overheard some teenagers making comments about the older gentlemen’s home.
A press release issued by Union Pacific tells the situation. The 75-year-old man who sat on the front porch was Leonard Bullock, and the two teenagers made the statement “Look at this crappy house. They just need to burn it down.”
Josh Cyganik was working across the street at the time and he saw the look on the older man’s face. He could tell that the comment bothered him and he thought that no elderly person should have to endure what was said.
It was then that Cyganik made up his mind that he would do something about the situation. Although it was just a cordial, yet distant relationship he had with Bullock, he was ready to step up to the plate to help that individual.
Cyganik posted a picture of the home on Facebook. It was a clapboard house covered in a mix of white and teal paint.
Along with posting the picture, he asked his Facebook friends to rally people in the community to help come fix Leonard’s house.
He also reached out to a friend who ran a local hardware and lumber store. An agreement was secured to donate house paint to this worthy cause.
In part, the post read “I’m asking if anyone that wants to help this Saturday to volunteer their time to help paint this gentleman’s house!” It went viral quickly and received more than 6000 shares.
It goes without saying that plenty of volunteers showed up for the project.
Though the volunteers and supplies were available, there was only one step remaining.
He approached the man on the porch, and and he was now able to call him by name. He asked if it would be okay for volunteers to come by to paint his house.
Leonard was ecstatic!
20 people showed up at the house that Saturday morning before Cyganik was even able to get there. More than 100 would eventually come through the project during the day.
Between refreshments and donated supplies, along with the help of those in the community, the volunteers quickly repainted the house. It is now a cozy color brown and volunteers are coming back to repair the roof and porch later.
Social media has a way of pulling people together when things like this take place. All it took was for one person to ask for help and the community jumped on board.
During the process, he was able to come to know Leonard and his wife Dorothy well. He found that they were unable to make the repairs themselves because they were living on a fixed income.
The house is now in good repair and it is not going to need any further work for a very long time.
Via: Little Things
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