Though Christmas is meant to be a season of warmth, family, and celebration, for many people it can instead be a time of loneliness and quiet struggle. That is especially true for elderly people living alone, and for one widow in North Carolina, the holiday season was shaping up to be a difficult one. Facing the cold months on her own and struggling financially, the North Carolina widow had no clear solution for staying warm. The story began when the widow called Brittain’s Tree and Crane Service to ask if she could buy firewood. She explained that money was tight and asked if she could pay later. When Paul, the owner of the company, arrived at her home, he quickly understood how serious her situation was. Instead of asking for payment, he told the widow she would not need to pay anything at all. The firewood, he said, would be a Christmas gift.
The response left the North Carolina widow in tears. She had not expected kindness, let alone during a season that often reminds people of what they lack. But Paul did not stop there. After looking around her home, he noticed additional problems that were making daily life harder for the widow.
Her car needed repairs, her roof had issues, and her heating and air conditioning system was not working properly. Seeing that she was handling everything alone, he stepped in to help. Paul arranged for her car to be fixed, made repairs to the roof, and ensured the heating and AC unit were working again. All of it was done for free.
When Paul later shared the story online, viewers were deeply moved by the widow’s situation. Many wanted to help, and a GoFundMe was set up so people could donate. The response was overwhelming. In a short time, the fundraiser reached more than $20,000. When Paul returned to tell the North Carolina widow the news, she broke down crying once again. She said she did not deserve it, while thanking everyone who had helped her with tears in her eyes.
Online, many users applauded the kindness shown to the North Carolina widow and praised Paul for going above and beyond. Some also reflected on the larger issue of elderly people struggling during the holidays. “This is great! But would love to live in a country where the elderly members of society are able to live out the last years of their lives in comfort without charity,” one user wrote.
There was also some criticism. A few people accused Paul of using the widow’s hardship to promote his business. Others pushed back strongly against that idea. “I genuinely do not care if companies do this for credit, or cheap advertising, it doesn’t matter. All that matters is they did it,” one user said. “We get to share in the super good feelings, and other people and companies can see it and maybe get the same idea themselves. It’s a win all round, and only the most bitter people complain about why it was filmed.”
