the reddit love machine
I often question humanity. I sometimes wonder how we’ve not yet managed to completely destroy ourselves. Especially after reading/watching something like this. A 7yr old girl, Kathleen, is dying of Huntington’s and is being taunted by her “adult” neighbors. These neighbors have been at ends with Kathleen’s family to the point of restraining orders put out against them. Recently, the neighbors decided to not only photoshop Kathleen’s face above crossbones, but also photshopped her deceased mother into the arms of the grim reaper.
Yeah, you read that right. Who the @$#!% makes fun of a 7yr old like that?!? In the link above, the neighbors apologize the next day… but likely because of the eggings, fake pizza orders, getting child services called in (they have no kids, I believe)…. but this post isn’t about all that.
This post is about the so-called reddit love machine. After gaining some headline room at reddit, a local toy store owner, Hans Masing, took it upon himself to start a donation toy drive for this little girl and to give the extra to Mott’s Children’s Hospital where hundreds share her situation. What started as a whim to raise a few hundred, took off screaming.
On a simple act of humanity, Hans Masing managed to get the reddit community behind him–along with many locals, individuals and businesses alike. The end result has been over $8000 $12000 $17500 in cash donations and an estimated $5000 in toys direct from businesses! Kathleen will also get a shopping spree at Hans’ store, a free for all shop-til-you-drop-event. And from there, she will bring toys and donate them to kids at the Mott’s Children’s Hospital in her name. And after that, lunch will be provided by Caron’s American Bistro. All the transportation will also be donated by Perfection Limousine. Talk about turning a terrible situation upside down and on its face.
Needless to say, a smile was certainly shared by many.
by Hans Masing, on Flickr
It’s pictures like this and people like Hans that restore some of my faith humanity.
Donations to this Toy-Mania can be made here.
Donations to Kathleen’s own fundraiser can be made here.
