This is just one of the many reasons I LOVE people.
After the second day, the donations for the family above me had slowed to a trickle, and then I opened my email this morning and saw this.
How amazing are you all? From those who gave a dollar that they didn’t really have to those who gave such large amounts. Thank you.
Dan Pearce, Single Dad Laughing
PS. The deadline to donate to this family is Friday afternoon. If you’d still like to donate, go to page 2 of the original post.
Now THAT is wonderful!!!
High five for finding the WIN in this situation! Happy to help, so thanks for sharing!!
^Mine too! :)
Act of kindness #1 in honor of Sandy Hook #26Acts
Thank goodness for nice stories to lighten things up this time of year. So many people focusing on the negative. We all need to hear some good things from time to time. I hope the money really makes a difference for the family.
Dan, I donated $50.00 a few days ago. That's all I can afford right now. But I would like you to keep it for yourself towards another pair of jeans. Please. I will send the rest in another week or two. I want to tell you how much I appreciate you for caring for others. Also, I want you to feel good in some "fabulous" jeans. I love you Dan :)
Behind Dan of course ;)
Ditto @Jessica Jaramillo! @Kara Winningham Doepker - most favorite person ever!
Doepker* auto correct got me again.
@Kara Winningham Speaker, you may be my new most favorite person ever. ;-)
I'm surprised you're surprised at how much you've raised for this family.
When you first posted, I KNEW it was going to turn out to be thousands of dollars and I was a little amused when you were shocked.
So many amazing people, giving what they might not even have, to help someone who has even less. I love the feeling and I'm so happy that I got to be a part of this, even if it was just $5.
Dan,
Thank you for showing the world what compassion is all about.
What an amazing ripple effect this has had!
How is your leg, Dan?
My husband was unemployed for most of the past 5 months. but just went back to work this week. We weren't going to be able to do Christmas. Then the other night some friends brought us a wreath decorated with bills of various denominations folded and tied to the wreath. There was nearly $500! They said they were just Santa's elves. We feel so blessed and humbled. This is why I LOVE people, too!
I can't donate, but I can pray. And prayers are sent. Merry Christmas and God Bless!
Joanne Holloran Bamgbose: Perhaps the dogs were pre-disability. Some who suffer Aspergers are extremely high functioning, only having issues in confrontational situations. Let's face it; ole boy was (rightfully) confrontational. And let's say they get $2000 per month in disability. Even in my fairly low cost city, a decent TWO bedroom will set you back a $1000. Well, ya know, if you want to live in a neighborhood safe for your disabled self, spouse, and child. Of course that doesn't begin to cover things like, oh I don't know, food, electricity, water, clothing, gas, insurance, car maintenance, incidental over the counter medical needs not covered by disability, well, you get the picture. And what it absolutely will NOT cover is a single pretty box to open up Christmas morning. I'm donating again.
This is what Love does...and Dan...YOU are LOVE :)
Totally amazing! I would not at all be surprised if this was an act of kindness for the Sandy Hook victims! 26 Acts of Kindness
Amazing! <3 As I donated my (much smaller) amount, I thought, how cool would it be if someone was able to donate $500! :) I knew that with your fan base you would easily get thousands of dollars though. Your a good man Dan!
So awesome
Better than taking pictures.....let Noah give the family the gift, and take a VIDEO of their reaction!
Wow, I hope I can learn from you and have the patience to see a situation and empathize more than I do ...there is always more to a story...wonderful ending coming from this, you really have done something amazing.
AMAZING
That is SO exciting!
Can't wait to read about the reaction!
I have no words but AWESOME :) Just, awesome!
hey man, small contribution is on the way. Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukkah, Happy Winter solstice etc, etc, :-)
I dont mean to be synical, but why would they have dogs if they can not afford to take care of themselvs, why would they allow a special needs child take two dogs for a walk? They get at least $800 for both parents, and I am sure social security for the special needs child. they also prob get food assitance. I don't intend to say OH they have plenty of money, and I think it is a great gesture you are doing to help some one down and out; however, where does some responsiblity come into play here. You are correct in the moral thing is not to press the issue of the dog bite as long as they are taking care of it. I just don't agree with the call out to your blog community for donations. I know I may get some slack and be called mean and not the christian thing to do.But it is how I feel. Still love you and I know your always open to a healthy debate and conversation.
@Joanne Holloran Bamgbose My mother is disabled. Seriously, mentally unstable with dementia. After her mortgage, home owner's insurance, electricity and phone bill each month, she has $200 per month to live off of. That includes medicines and dr's visits (she makes to much disability to qualify for medicaid but not enough to enable her to afford health insurance), food (figure INCLUDES food stamps), soap and shampoo, clothing, and animal food/medicine. Yes, she should probably be forced to give her animals up, and live all alone with nothing to love because she cannot afford to take care of them properly, but she had them before this happened to her and I cannot be the one to break her heart.
I think that rather than being mean or unchristian-like, it is more an issue of your not understanding the reality of the situation.
@Joanne Holloran Bamgbose I'd like to add that my mother was an attorney before all this happened to her. She went bankrupt, made mistakes that ended in a massive lawsuit and was disbarred before I finally got to the bottom of it and was able to get a diagnosis. Now she can't remember where her bedroom is half the time, and she can't afford to buy stupid things that make her happy, or even a Christmas present.
Bad and crazy things happen to all kinds of people, so standing in judgement of someone without knowing their story is never wise.
Dan, and everyone who has donated to this family, are all wonderful kind people who are trying to make a difference for some folks who could use it. In my opinion there is never anything wrong with trying to make something better for another, whether they make $800 or $8,000, and a blog like this is the PERFECT place for many to band together, each giving whatever little (or in some cases big :-) )bit they can to ultimately make a big impact on someone's life.
Peace!
@Joanne Holloran Bamgbose in most states, Aspergers isn't considered a disability that one gets assistance for. This season, I unfortunately found myself having many discussions with people who thought they somehow had the right to judge what other people "deserved" for Christmas because they had means and those who needed didn't. Should people in financial straits have to give up everything of value to them in order for judgemental people to deem them "worthy" of donations? When you choose to donate, whether it be time or money, you do it because someone needs "something", not "something you think they deserve." I'm not going to call you mean or un-Christian, because I don't know you, and that would be judgemental of me. I will, however, deem you judgemental, and ask that you keep any donation you may make to this family or any other family, because I don't believe you completely understand the spirit of giving, and therefore don't deserve the privilege of helping out your fellow man.
@Joanne Holloran Bamgbose I live on disabilty and what I make from working part time, plus $200 a month in SNAP (fka food stamps).
I have two cats. I can barely afford to live month to month, but I have those cats, because they keep me going. I'm not being dramatic when I say if I didn't have them, I'd have killed myself months ago.
And government assistance doesn't go far. Cuts are constantly being made and there's never enough. My dad's social security is going up in Jan. And his food stamps are going down by MORE than the amount of the increase.
If you haven't lived in a smiliar situation, don't judge.
@PatrickFarley - Hug to you & your kitties.
So glad I saw this post because I hit and miss on seeing your daily blog... Need to figure out how to fix that! But I was able to jump right on it! I LOVE LOVE LOVE Christmas HEARTS! Trying to teach 5 teenage girls about gifts of love... These opportunities help me daily! xoxoxo
It's not much cause things are tight at the moment, but I hope it helps ! Hugs to all of you xxx
How I would love to donate....however my husband was laid off 2 weeks ago w/ no warning. So must make our money last a bit longer. (Darn teenagers want to eat EVERY Day! lol) But my happy thoughts to this family and to you. Just for making us believe in humanity. I hope everyone gets a win this holiday season even if its a small one. You all deserve it.
Awesome
but... does this person like dogs? I'M KIDDING! (I'm lol'ing anyway)
Wish I could do $500....but I guess the total is going to be quite impressive! Well done, Dan - hope the leg is healing nicely.
I
Wow... that is awesome! Did you come to a decision on how to deliver the money/goods to the family?
Once again people prove us RIGHT......glad that this little (or HUGE to the Family Upstairs) life lesson has also shown my teenager that the worlds people are NOT always bad. And given an opportunity to help people HELP. She is only 15 and already feels like the world is NOT the nicest place a lot of times, but things like this make it more beautiful and hopeful for our kids! Thank you again and again Dan!
Act #1 of 26 in remembrance of Newtown. And you're wonderful for doing this. :)
Being from Connecticut and the week we've had here, I am once again overwhelmed at the generosity I have seen all week. This is right up there with it! What you did for this family is amazing. You are amazing!!
Dan, I didn't have as many sales as I'd hoped Mon-Wed this week. Just $75 or so, so I rounded up to the next donation level for the family(s). Thank you so much for taking this on and handling everything responsibly!
Wow, that is so awesome!
That is awesome! Im glad you are helping someone in need enjoy the holiday!
Yet again, your blog amazes me.
I try so hard to make people understand that Christmas is about GIVING, not about getting crap. You've shown that to so many people in such a huge way!!! And you didn't even mean to. AMAZING!!! And if you cannot give things, you can always give time, love, attention, it's limitless.
Can't wait to hear how this turns out. Tried to donate twice but Paypal was having difficulties.