Family Was Homeless and Living in a Van Until the Kindness of Strangers Changed Everything
November 15, 2023
A social media influencer used her massive online following for good as she helped to change the lives of a man and his three young sons who were living in a van.
Social media platforms, more often than not, are nothing more than a treacherous, vile wasteland of profanity, snark, lies and other useless content. However, when utilized correctly, social media can be a tool for good, something that can change the direction and trajectory of someone’s entire life.
RELATED: Utility Worker's Kindness Starts a Chain Reaction After He Sees a Crying Woman in Rearview Mirror
Jackie Gansky has millions of online followers on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. When the young woman spotted Hugh Murray and his three young boys - ages 3, 5 and 6 – living in a van in a Los Angeles area park in late July, she decided to get to work. She felt the need to lend a hand to people in need, according to ABC 7.
The outlet reports that Hugh and his children had been homeless for seven months at that time.
After seeing their living condition, Jackie immediately offered to pay for Hug and his children to spend several nights in a motel. Once they were in a safe environment for a few days, Jackie went online and explained the situation to her followers.
RELATED: Police Officer's Act Of Kindness For Struggling Man Restores Stranger's Faith In Humanity
Inspire More reports that in two days, Jackie and her followers came through in a big way. They raised $40,000 for the family through a GoFundMe page.
More Than $100,000 Raised For Previously Homeless Family of Four
But they weren’t even close to done. The help and monetary donations just kept coming. Currently, the money raised for Hugh and his three children stands at more than $104,000.
In a message on the GoFundMe page, Jackie writes how the donations have been used to get them shelter, food and clothing.
RELATED: Woman Discovers Clerk at Grocery Store Has No Heat & Surprises Him with Kindness of Strangers
Additionally, Jackie, Inspire More reports, was able to get Hugh a new car after his van broke down.
Also, in September, Jackie, thanks to the generosity of donors, found an apartment for the family of four, paying their rent for an entire year.
Additionally, thanks to Jackie and the kindness of others, Hugh’s three children are now attending school for the first time in their lives.
It’s truly stunning what a little bit of unexpected kindness can do in the life of someone struggling and hurting. People, despite what social media may show, still have the capacity to care for someone else. People still possess the ability to lend a hand and help a fellow human being.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Michael Buble Fulfills His Grandfather's Last Wish With An Astounding Act Of Kindness
“He that has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and that which he has given will he pay him again.” – Proverbs 19:17
WATCH: Social Media Influencer Helps Homeless Family of Four
LISTEN: She Starts Chatting with a Homeless Man at the Corner of a Street and Next, He's Working For Her
h/t: Inspire More, GoFundMe, TikTok.com/JackieGansky & ABC7
Featured Image. Credit: YouTube.com/ABC7
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Peace around the World This Christmas - Your Daily Prayer - December 3
As Christ's followers, we must also be FOR those who are in need, not content to live comfortably and blind to the spiritual war going on around us.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Peace around the World This Christmas - Your Daily Prayer - December 3
As Christ's followers, we must also be FOR those who are in need, not content to live comfortably and blind to the spiritual war going on around us.
Past Stories
- Family Receives Support From School and Community After Losing House in a Fire
- Soldier Reunites With His Military Dog Yyacob After Years Apart
- Chicago Man Discovers That The Owner Of The Bakery He Loved To Visit Was Actually His Mother
- Husband Pays For 40 Pet Adoptions At Shelter For His Wife's 40th Birthday
- Parents Find Healing After Loss of Son By Donating His Beloved Key Collection To Little Boy
- Mom Dances With Son At His Wedding After Being Placed in Hospice Care 2 Weeks Before
- Grandmother and Young Granddaughter Battling Cancer At the Exact Same Time
- Community Brings Christmas Joy to Virginia Woman With Just Weeks to Live
- Four Friends Recreate A Fun Vacation Photo From 50 Years Ago
- School in Arkansas Mourns the Loss of Their Beloved Emotional Support Dog Abby
- 93-Year-Old Has Made Sure To Attend Every High School Football Game Since 1946
- Texas Mom Doesn't Remember Delivering Triplets After Rare Complication After Birth
- United Airlines Pilot Buys Pizza For 155 Passengers After They Make An Unexpected Stop
- Teenager With Down Syndrome Enjoys Playing Kickball After Parents Organize Neighborhood Game
- Woman in Shock After Finding Winning Lottery Ticket At the Bottom of Her Purse
- Australian Couple Walks Into Their Bedroom To Find the Cutest Koala
- 5 Boys and Their Father Were Saved By Good Samaritan After Explosion
- Daughter of WWII Soldier Finally Learns What Happened To Him, 80 Years Later
- Sisters Scream With Joy Watching Their 4-Year-Old Sister Take Her First Steps
- Her Mom Put a Message in a Bottle As a Child, 26 Years Later Her Classmate Found It
- This Missouri School Was Renamed After Their Much Loved and Dedicated Custodian
- Michael Strahan's Daughter is Now Cancer Free and Has Taught Him All About Perseverance
- These Two Newlyweds Found Love in Their Late 90s, After Meeting At Their Retirement Home
- Sisters Who Were Adopted By Separate Families Nearly 40 Years Ago Reunite After DNA Tests
- Oldest Living Person in the US Passes Away at 115, After a Long and Faithful Life
- At Just 20 and 22 Years Old, These Two Sisters From Minnesota Saved Their Family Farm
- After Over 450 Days in a Shelter, Boone and Rellie Find Their Forever Home, Together
- Sweet Kitten Named Coraline Loses Both Her Eyes, but Inspires Many with Her Spirit
- Donny Osmond Sees the 'End of the Tunnel' Coming After Performing for Over 6 Decades
- An Iguana Hitches a Ride on a Garbage Truck in Tennessee, Now Trying to Find Its Owner
- 6-Year-Old Starts 'Poop Scooping' Business to Help Animals and Adopt One of His Own
- Bride's Dad Drops During Father-Daughter Dance, but Things Lined up Perfectly to Save His Life
- Young North Carolina Father Risked His Life To Save a Couple and Dog From a Sinking Truck
- UPS Driver Jumps into Action As He Spots Elderly Woman on the Ground & Says It Was All God
- Rescuer Braces for the Worst After Spotting Kitten on the Side of the Road, Then Sees a Paw Move
- AJ Griffin Gives Up High-Paying Career with NBA to Follow God
- These Former Conjoined Twins Finally Go Home After Their First Birthday
- Teenager From Iowa Uses His Flying Skills to Help Hurricane Helene Victims
- Son Saves For 9 Months and Surprises Mom By Paying Off Her Mortgage
- Woman's Home is Surrounded By 100 Raccoons, and They Aren't Leaving Anytime Soon
- Dog Saves Her Owner's Life By Sitting in the Middle of the Road
- Widower Shares the Last Thing His Wife Told Their Son Before She Passed Away From Cancer
- A Nurse Saved Her Life 35 Years Ago, Now, She is Surprising Her With a Visit
- These Twin Sisters Have An Important Message To Share On Their 102nd Birthday
- This Brave 5-Year-Old Saved Her Mother's Life By Calling 911
- 79-Year-Old Broke Her Ankle After Scattering Her Mom's Ashes, Then Strangers Save the Day
- Dad Travels Through Mud and Debris to Walk His Daughter Down the Aisle
Top Music Videos
The Statler Brothers 'Til the Storm Passes By' The Statler Brothers Live Performance
Gaither Vocal Band Gaither Vocal Band - Mary, Did You Know? [Live]
Anne Wilson Anne Wilson Captivates with Heartfelt 'My Jesus' Live Performance
CCM Magazine 3 Doors Down’s Brad Arnold Shares Message of Faith During Nashville Concert
CCM Magazine Randall Goodgame’s ‘Scripture Hymnal’ | ‘In The Beginning’
Blogs
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.