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in public service,” he says. “My dad was a
minister, my mom is a nurse, my sister is a
school teacher, and my wife works in public
safety. I’m confident that’s why I’m wired
the way I am.”
On November 30th, Greg shared a post on
a Facebook community group page. It was a
simple but powerful idea to connect people
who had items or services to give away with
those who had need of them. The response
was overwhelming, with over 1,000 comments
as people shared what they had.
Clothes, furniture, toys, even help with
overdue bills and transportation, were just
a few of the things that community
members provided for each other. “I had
observed a few posts online stating people
were in need of certain things,” Greg says.
“I was inspired to write that post after
seeing a similar post online where other
communities were helping each other. It
was close to Christmas and so many people
were struggling financially due to COVID.
One of the most amazing things I noticed
was those willing to donate a kidney to
someone in need.” Greg adds, “I believe
everyone in the community has an obligation
to help one another when possible and not
just financially. You don’t realize how much
you have until you get a true understanding
of those in need in your own community.
Simple acts of kindness will lighten the
burdens of someone else as seen in the
Facebook post.”
Braxton resident Donovan Hulett, a
mechanic for Gray-Daniels Ford, and his
wife Kayla, marketing director for Adult
and Teen Challenge of the Greater South,
also believe in investing in others however
they can. Inspired to rally community
members to help each other, Donovan took
to social media to help families in a slightly
different way. “I love Christmas and seeing
the joy on my children’s faces when they
open their gifts.” Donovan says. “Growing
up, like most kids, I had a Christmas wish
list with the latest ‘cool’ toys, but it wasn’t
always possible for my parents to buy us
what we wanted,” Donovan says. “I would
never have shown disappointment because
I knew my parents worked hard and I didn’t
want to add to their burden.” Knowing the
financial struggles that many families were
going through as Christmas approached,
Donovan wanted to provide a way to help
fulfill some wish lists for those in need.
“My wife and I were very fortunate that
COVID did not impact us financially as it
did for so many others,” Donovan says.
“We wanted to share what we have and
bring some joy after such a difficult year.”
He decided to create a post inviting community
members to share their Amazon or
other wish lists so that others could fulfill
them. “I know 2020 has been rough to
some in our community,” his post read,
“People that have a little extra, let’s help
take some uncertainty away from others in
our community during these difficult times.”
Because of the kindness of generous
Facebook neighbors, parents were able to
experience the joy on their children’s faces at
Christmas, and Donovan hopes it can become
an annual event that grows each year.
The great thing about a “random act of
kindness” is that whether the act is big or
small, for the giver it’s intentional. He or
she intends to interject in someone’s life to
make it better, and the randomness of it
may be life changing for the receiver, like
the small child who forty years later still
remembers the intentional act of strangers
who stopped to help. l
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42 • MARCH 2021