Update: More than $180k donated to man walking 21 miles a day to work
Yesterday, MGoUser Libertine posted the following link regarding a man who walks a total of 21 miles round trip EVERY SINGLE DAY to get to work in Rochester. It was a human interest story in the Sunday Freep.
Today, in a followup article, the Freep has an update with what happened in response to the original article. A teen put together a GoFundMe account, and as of this morning, more than $180k in donations have been received on behalf of the carless Detroiter. There also have been offers from local dealers (and presumably, from others) of a car for James Robertson.
LINK: Followup article on carless Detroiter James Robertson
It is great to see the generosity of many. The banker (Blake Pollack) who brought the story to the attention of the Freep is assembling a board of advisers to help Mr. Robertson in managing the money. He is not planning on changing the way he lives, but in setting aside most of the money for future needs (insurance, gas, later health care, retirement, etc.)
James Robertson is keeping things in perspective:
"I have to be careful how I act about this. The same God who brings you all these blessings can take them away," he said.
"Hopefully, I'm ready for what happens."
From my perspective, one of the great outcomes, beyond the help for Mr. Robertson, is to see dialogue opened on the need for mass transportation, and at least a little discussion on the need for a living wage.
NOTE: I looked for a link at the Detroit News, but I guess because this article was only at the Freep, it makes sense that the followup is only at the Freep. (For those of you who hate Freep links, and will never go there.) Personally, I think the Freep deserves credit for a good story, at least in this instance.
EDIT: Just below, LilPenny1316 has found non-Freep links for those who prefer them.
February 3rd, 2015 at 2:43 PM ^
Lots of people get around Detroit on bikes. Some for exercise, some because of the cost of cars/insurance, and others because their license was revoked. But his commute takes him in the path of freeways and other major intersections. It's not as easy of a solution.
February 3rd, 2015 at 1:05 PM ^
http://www.deadlinedetroit.com/articles/5080/mark_jacobs_officials_turn…
"Mind-Boggling Number of Homeless
The statistics on homelessness in Detroit are mind-boggling. Of the approximately 20,000 homeless people in Detroit, there are only enough shelter beds for about 1,900.
Twenty-five percent of the homeless are children, 13% are veterans, about 60% are families with children and almost half are mentally ill."
This guy isn't even homeless! What a joke. It's amazing how naive people are.
February 3rd, 2015 at 1:14 PM ^
So you should only help people when they are in dire need.
So doctors should turn away patients until they are on their death bed.
Look, this guy did not go around asking for a hand out. The story was put out by the FreeP and people are responding to it. The goal for the fund was only $5k set up by the teenage kid. This guy is not looking for some lotto payout nor is he trying to save the world or alleviate city-wide poverty or whatever.
Go out and help one of the 20,000 homeless people today and write a post on that instead of saying how this man shouldn't be helped because there are 20,000 people in need of help before him.
February 3rd, 2015 at 1:23 PM ^
How many of those 20,000 get up and go to work everyday? How many of those have the dedication to walk that far everyday to work? That man is not asking for any handouts.
February 3rd, 2015 at 1:27 PM ^
How is a homeless child supposed you work? Many are physically and mentally ill unlike this guy. Save your money and help someone who really needs it.
February 3rd, 2015 at 1:57 PM ^
I'd say someone who needs to walk 20+ miles a day to get to work is someone who 'needs it'. You don't have to choose to help this guy or help the poor in Detroit. Most of us are rich enough to do both easily
February 3rd, 2015 at 2:27 PM ^
February 3rd, 2015 at 2:48 PM ^
Those who are physically/mentally ill need more resources than just cash. That's why this country is in the position it's in. There needs to be real programs that are funded by cash and operated properly to make sure people get the help they need.
Even if this man takes his time and drives people around as you suggested, those issues are not getting fixed. Even if people just gave a whole wad of cash to the homeless, issues related to drug dependencies or lack of education are not getting fixed.
Our money goes to the government in way of taxes. Let that money get used properly and see what happens. Let non-profits use the money they receive properly and see what happens. But don't bomb this guy who is finally getting a break that he needs while playing the system fairly.
February 3rd, 2015 at 1:11 PM ^
February 3rd, 2015 at 1:13 PM ^
if this fellow was using his welfare checks to buy lotto tickets and won some big amount?
This guy "won the lotto" and none of us know his exact back story. Everything seems on the level so far. Those who contributed are not taking money that they would otherswise donate to other charities just to give it to this one "undeserving" man.
I hope there are more stories about humble people down on their luck and the rest of us can continue to help.
February 3rd, 2015 at 1:22 PM ^
on a Freep article, CNN has it on their home page.
February 3rd, 2015 at 1:43 PM ^
February 3rd, 2015 at 1:55 PM ^
Would he walk a 1000 miles
If he could
Just work
Tonight
da duda duda da doo
(I'll see myself out)
February 3rd, 2015 at 2:26 PM ^
kinda person that you'd learn a lot from getting to know.
February 3rd, 2015 at 4:38 PM ^
The Freep story was scant with information but what I can piece together and listening to his interviews makes him seem highly principled. He mentions his dad often and a military work ethic - two check marks in my book.
February 3rd, 2015 at 2:57 PM ^
but why are people so keen on giving money to individuals, plugging holes in the dam of our societal problems, instead of making a concerted effort to fix the problem itself?
this wouldn't be a problem in the first place if wages were higher so this guy could afford another car, or if we had better public transit in SE michigan
February 3rd, 2015 at 3:04 PM ^
Because there's no easy way for a viral campaign like this to take care of issues like higher wages, transportation infrastructure, etc.
Is it a little absurd that this guy is going to get six figures out of this? Sure. At the same time, his story has singlehandedly put the deplorable conditions of SE Michigan's transportation system in the public discussion in a way that really hasn't happened in decades. I'll take it.
February 3rd, 2015 at 4:50 PM ^
I hope it gets to 7 figures and James never has to work another day in his life. He's paid his dues and then some. One thing I couldn't find an answer to is what the closing day of the donations is?
February 3rd, 2015 at 4:49 PM ^
This should be a wake up call to those who aren't aware to bring better public transportation in the Metro Detroit area. There's no reason one shouldn't be able to get around Metro Detroit by 1 or 2 bus changes. With the extreme insurance rates in Detroit, so many people depend on public transportation.
Instead Detroit falls for Lyle Langly's monorail pitch after showing us the success stories of Brockway, Ogdenville, and North Haverbrook.
February 3rd, 2015 at 5:17 PM ^
Fair point, but of course they're not mutually exclusive. Absolutely agree on the public transportation piece, but that's a millions of dollars cost, not $180k.
Not to get into the economics, but not sure across-the-board higher wages solvs it. Higher wages means less profit for companies which means they raise the cost of the product which then pushes the amount you can buy with the wages down.
February 3rd, 2015 at 3:04 PM ^
February 3rd, 2015 at 5:18 PM ^
I think our definitions of "rich" are very different...
February 4th, 2015 at 1:21 AM ^
What's youe definition? If you got 180,000 in one lump sum, assuming no debts and a steady job and that you can invest in a solid mutual fund (Vangard) I'd say youd be pretty well set for living a decent life. Maybe not filthy rich, but comfortable.
February 6th, 2015 at 1:35 PM ^
Those are a lot of assumptions!
Not sure of my definition of "rich" but it's higher than $180k.
February 3rd, 2015 at 4:53 PM ^
Kudos to this 19 year old that made this life transforming donation possible.
We all can sit around and pontificate on social issues or maybe stroke a small check but this kid gave a damn, and took action. His FB page reflects a happy, well adjusted person who took the time to care for a total stranger in need.