On May 4, 2013, Gloria Thomas got married for the second time. It was a high point in what had been a dreadful several years. Two years before, Gloria’s son was working in the Goodwill Store on William Street in Buffalo when he was murdered by an emotionally unstable man wielding a knife. Gloria, despite ill health, was forced to step up and become the caretaker of her son’s children who were both still in diapers.
Gloria runs a food pantry at that same Goodwill Store for the Food Bank of Western New York. All who come to her for assistance are treated with respect and great kindness; she continually goes out of her way for folks who are down on their luck.
On Monday, May 6, the house Gloria shared with her two daughters, their children and her new husband, burned down. Everything was lost - all the wedding presents, children’s clothes and toys, furniture, cribs, strollers, appliances and what Gloria called the worst of all – every photograph, letter and bit of memorabilia from her son. Because her blood pressure medication was also lost, Gloria went several days without it and consequently had a mild heart attack.
Gloria’s fellow employees at the Food Bank pooled our resources within and then spread out to get help through the media. Help arrived! Once Gloria was able to procure a decent apartment in a secure neighborhood, new beds, dressers and a lot of clothing arrived. However, none of us have been able to figure out how to get her what she truly needs right now – a refrigerator and washer/dryer. The family has been living without for almost two months. This means lugging and eating endless takeout, with summer here, cold drinks are at a premium. Gloria says it would also be great to have a way to keep milk cold for the babies.
This campaign will enable folks to pool their finances to come up with enough money to purchase a refrigerator and washer/dryer for Gloria and her family.
Orville's Appliances has been contacted and agreed to provide appliances at a reduced cost for Gloria and her family once this campaign has been completed.
Any donation is welcome and is greatly appreciated! Please help spread the word. Thank you.