YES!!! After story of Detroit man walking 21 miles a day goes viral, his life is about to change

[kpete]

A Downriver car dealership offered to give him a 2014 Chevrolet Cruz or Sonic.

"He gets to choose,"
said Angela Osborne, customer service specialist at Rodgers Chevrolet in Woodhaven.
"We were just impressed with his determination," Osborne said

.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026167111

A story about a Detroit man who commutes about 21 miles a day on foot to and from work has spurred reaction from across the nation, including social media fund-raisers that have netted more than $80,000 in donations as of 6:30 p.m. Monday.

Because buses don't cover the full distance between James Robertson's home in Detroit and his job in Rochester Hills, he walks about eight miles headed to work and about 13 miles home, five days a week. His story — told by Bill Laitner in Sunday's Detroit Free Press — has inspired hundreds to offer money to buy him a car, pay his insurance and to provide professional help in managing the donations.

Robertson said Sunday he was flattered by the attention he'd gotten for his arduous commutes after the Free Press published a front-page story about him -- and amazed that complete strangers would respond so generously, some by offering to buy him a new car and others offering to give him one.

"Are you serious?" he said to a reporter after hearing of one crowd-funding effort alone that, by early Sunday night, had raised $30,000 — $25,000 more than the goal of the originator, a Wayne State University student.

MORE:
http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/oakland/2015/02/01/james-roberston-detroiter-commute-fundraiser/22701087/
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/02/03/1361960/-After-story-of-Detroit-man-walking-21-miles-a-day-goes-viral-his-life-is-about-to-change

[Faux pas]

1. Kickin'

[Brigid]

2. This is what it is going to take, ladies and gentlemen.

With the government in thrall to the one-percent, and with them having hermetically sealed themselves off from the rest of us, we are on our own. We have to do for each other.

[MineralMan]

3. I saw this morning that the crowdfunding total was over $127 thousand.

It's probably even higher by now.

[kpete]

4. I love this story

inspiring for SO many reasons

peace to you MineralMan,
kp

[MineralMan]

5. We're very good at helping individuals who

get publicity. We're not so good with helping people who do not get publicity, though. That's troublesome to me. Whenever I see a story like this, I send a check to the local homeless shelter.

[niyad]

9. excellent point, and what a thoughtful act on your part.

[MineralMan]

11. I don't normally donate to crowdfunding efforts, because they

usually get plenty of money. Instead, they're a reminder to me that there are many in need who are not getting crowdfunding. I donate to a trusted homeless shelter, both at holidays and during the year, as I can. Those shelters do a hugely important job for the least able to help themselves, I think.

[niyad]

12. you are absolutely correct about that. it helps if there is community in place that actually

cares about those least able to help themselves. this community is doing its best to ignore them, or send them on their way.

[MineralMan]

13. Here in the Twin Cities of MN, we have a pretty good system

Last edited Tue Feb 3, 2015, 02:10 PM - Edit history (1)

to help the homeless. It's a necessity, since survival on the street in our winter weather isn't possible. There are a number of sheltering organizations here. After research, I chose the Union Gospel Mission as the one I support. The money goes directly to programs that help people, rather than into the hands of the directors of the organization. It's well spent.

[niyad]

15. I wish I could say the same here. sadly, we are overrun by the cold and heartless.

(did I mention that this is one of the reddest counties in the country?)

[MineralMan]

17. Our suburbs are not as good about homelessness. Their

answer is to send them to Minneapolis or St. Paul. In other parts of the country, I know that some communities are simply unfriendly to anyone in economic trouble. The attitude of moving them on and making them someone else's problem is very common in the US, I'm afraid. I would not want to be homeless in most red states. The Bible Belt seems not to have read the book, it seems.

That said, there are cities in the South that do treat the homeless with help and compassion. Just not all of them.

[StoneCarver]

22. Are you thinking of the Union Gospel Mission?

I think you are thinking of the Union Gospel Mission ugmtc.org They do a great job! Have you been to the Daily Dinner? The Union Gospel Mission owns it and teaches homeless people kitchen and serving skills? It's on Dale and University in St. Paul, MN. Good food. I fully support them financially too. You should volunteer sometime too. It will break your heart -it did mine.

[MineralMan]

23. Yes. I misstyped. I've edited my post.

I haven't volunteered at the shelter, but I do collect parkas and other warm clothing throughout the year to donate in the Fall. I used to volunteer, when I was younger, at a fine shelter in California where I lived at the time. I did food prep for a few years there.

[Plucketeer]

24. Yeah

and what's funny about these incidents is that some is that a fair amount of money that's offered is from folks who would NEVER advocate for wealth redistribution. I mean, OH GOD NO! None of that socialist crap for us. But here we have an individual who demonstrates real "go-it-alone" determination and we LIKE that! These are folks that would holler at some homeless guy with a sign to go git a job.
But if you've GOT a job - one that just doesn't afford you enough wherewithall to let you buy a car - one will be given to you. In-fucking-credible.

[MineralMan]

25. I have no problem with people helping this man. Not at all.

I just wish people would see the help that is needed without national publicity. I'm glad that this man will get the help he needs, and don't mind at all that people have donated far more than he actually needs. I suspect that we'll see him donate some of it to others. He seems like the type of person who would do that.

But, I'll leave donations to publicized needs to others. I'd rather look for needs that aren't getting the publicity.

[Plucketeer]

35. I don't have a problem with this either

MY point is that there aren't enough venues to float videos of everyone that needs assistance these days - there's just TOO MANY. But here we are - with onesies and twosies like this fella or some disenfranchised sort on one of the mainstream media "news" events that visibly bares the rotten underbelly of our society and inspires a flood of charity. This fella could have maybe sought some sort of assistance for his plight but didn't. Either way, it shouldn't take public video of each and every hard case to level each and every playing field. S'nice when it happens, but impractical overall.
I'm as happy for this person as anyone. But my first thoughts are always to those who don't get brought to attention.

[HappyMe]

6. Wow. That's great.

I just made a post about how selfish and ME! ME! ME! society has become. It restores a little of my faith in us to see this.

[Paper Roses]

7. As most of us try to keep upbeat, stories like this are great.

I wish this man the best. Such dedication and perseverance is not often seen. I hope he uses this support to good ends, that he keeps his job and makes his life better.

We the people have supported his exceptional effort. Us, not US.
There are a great many stories like this I'm sure. Once in a while something happens that makes a big difference.

[smirkymonkey]

8. K&R!

Great to hear such good news!

[kelliekat44]

10. Great story and I bet he is in great shape! nt

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

20. Probably better than most...

But read the original story from the Detroit Free Press. Conditions from walking so much, bad knees ect. Hey I'm 64, try to walk or really hike at least 4-5 miles a day, everyday no matter the conditions. But that is squat compared to James. He still has a work day ahead of him, I dont.

Best part of the saga is the support he gets from the companies owner and the owners wife. Meals and so forth. Just proves you don't have to be an ass to have a successful business. That's one reason James is so loyal.

Detroit and Michigan people are the best!

[liberalhistorian]

14. That is fantastic, what a wonderful thing

for them to do. It will help him immeasurably.

Now, I wish we could get the car dealerships in my western state to do the same thing for the numerous tribal members on most of the state's reservations Iincluding the one I live on) who also have to walk everywhere, regardless of weather. And in this rural state, that often means a thirty-mile or more round trip just to do business at the tribal office, or go shopping for groceries, etc., etc. And often with young children with them. But too many businesses in this state are exceedingly racist against native americans and that would likely bring them bad publicity if they did do that.

[packman]

32. Seems they (car dealerships) can be approached

to contribute a van .

[Marrah_G]

16. People can be so amazing

[tk2kewl]

18. now if only all poor folks would walk 21 miles to work

good for this guy, but I can hear the nut jobs already... the dignity of single mothers with bread bags on their feet, walking 21 miles to work through the snow, uphill both ways, yada, yada...

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

19. This is the "Spirit of Detroit" ...

Eom

[OnlinePoker]

21. I love the cooperative spirit of this story

My question is, will he be taxed by the IRS on the money he is about to receive?

[mstinamotorcity2]

26. Posted this

two days ago. To all who gave Thank you much!!!!

[Roland99]

27. Wait...I thought the poor only sat back and waited for their welfare check and Obama-phone?

Gee...you mean Fox News lied???


Huzzah to this gentleman! Huzzah, indeed!!

[bluestateguy]

28. I hope he's not soaked with taxes on that money

There are times when the IRS needs to buzz off.

[srican69]

29. Don't the busses have bike racks? nt

[packman]

30. We need more stories like this

it found a bit of lost hope in man's inhumanity to man and restored it to me.

[In_The_Wind]

31. Best thread I've read on DU in a long time! Kicked & Recommended!

[VScott]

33. So, when does this whole story unravel?

His predicament doesn't pass the sniff test, or there's more to it.

Recall the heart wrenching story from a few months ago about the kid that gave some homeless guy $100.00.
The kid followed the guy to a liquor store thinking that he bought booze with the money, but the guy supposedly
bought food for some other homeless folks.

The whole thing was a hoax.

[bigwillq]

36. This is why I never donate to viral sensations.

I just never know if I can trust the story or not.

[Brickbat]

34. I find the fetishization of this man gross.

With a full-time job and marathon commutes, Robertson is clearly sleep deprived, but powers himself by downing 2-liter bottles of Mountain Dew and cans of Coke.

Keep up, Robertson! You can rest when you're dead.

And every day is a tribute to how much he cares about his job, his boss and his coworkers.

Well, sure -- when it's all you've got between yourself and poverty, you care, all right.

Before starting his shift, Robertson stops by the office every day to talk sports, usually baseball. And during dinnertime each day, Wilson treats him to fine Southern cooking, compliments of the plant manager's wife.

What a wonderful feeling -- being treated by the boss.

This isn't an inspiring story. It's infuriating.

I mean, great that everyone helped out. Now let's help the thousands and thousands of others who do the same damn thing every damn day.