You. I wanted to thank everyone for coming here today on very special occasion. For years patti has been serving veterans through her n nonprofit america for our veterans. I knew there was a lot of marines that my son was serving with and sailors that didnt have families. And werent getting packages. I knew if i took care of the whole batallion these guys would be covered. Reporter but at some point, her own personal problems got nearly to the level of the people she serves every day. I had to learn how to survive but i decided at the same time i didnt want to stop working with my military. Report roar survive what . Patti is on permanent disability. Her son suffers from ptsd and a brain injury. Her husband cannot longer work while dealing with a esophageal cancer. Bills piled up. Her car barely made it to her husbands doctors appointments. They give so much much their time. So much much their heart. I mean her son, you know what i mean, how can you how can you take away from that, you know, like her son is giving part of his life for this country and you know what to us its like, it was great to give them the opportunity to give Something Back to them. Reporter local collision shop and several partners fully real abdomen a car. One, two, three. Pull it. [ applause ] reporter then just gave it to patti for all that shes done for others. It was so appreciated but for someone so used to giving help, accepting it was hard. Its so clean. We always said we needed some kind of miracle. We didnt talk about what was going on. You are our friends didnt know. And things hike this are literally a miracle. Who does this for people . Reporter who does this for people . Those who see the sacrifices that some make and want them to understand that theyre worthy even when they doubt it. Thank you very much. She definitely is deserving even though she doesnt think so. It works. New car may be a small thing when you consider everything theyre dealing with. But it reinforced that doing the right thing is and should be recognized for Goodness Sake. Im Bill Anderson. Well good for patti and good for those who rehabbed that car for her. Great stuff there. Our next story new jersey gold star mom dedicated her life to helping veterans. Shes devoted herself to helping others. Her community is coming together to give back to her. Heres bill with her story. He want to do make is a difference and he did. Reporter earlier this year i met new jersey Jacqueline Dixon as she attempted to deal with grief that most couldnt even imagine the loss of her 20yearold son anthony who was killed while serving in iraq. They said somebody was off in the distance and detonated the ied and he got killed instantly. Reporter at the time we met, motivated by her sons death she had just opened a center to provide resources to veterans that was then. But now eight months later, her service continues. If my son had come back from the war im sure he would have needed some of the things im giving to these veterans. So because hes not here, i feel like i need to give it to somebody to help him. Reporter she constantly focuses on doing for others so it was incredible to so a team of worker at her home as home depot decided theyd do something for her. Today we have over a hundred volunteers just giving their time and helping a local member of the community. Reporter miss dixon spent most of her life trying to figure out ways to help other people since she lost her son. And like so many people who dedicate themselves to helping others, theyre not exactly sure how to handle so many people wanting to help them. I say wow im important. Reporter [ laughter ] i feel important. I really feel important. Sometimes you think people dont care but they real dollar care. Its good. Reporter volunteers cut down trees, planted flowers, built a screened in porch. Local restaurant tears fed everyone while mrs. Dixon fluctuated between moments of laughter and moments of tears. Her response to the makeover was actually a great reminder to all of us of the reasons why home depot thought this gold star mother she was the perfect person to receive it. Good feeling. Makes me want to do more. Reporter makes you want to do more. Umhmm. Give more. Reporter today Jacqueline Dixon stopped for just a minute to be celebrated. Tomorrow she goes back to serving others and honoring the memory of her son for Goodness Sake. Im Bill Anderson. Coming up growing up without a dad has one local woman on mission. While she talking to other women about their relationships with their fathers. Passes n bigger discount from bundling home and auto. I can get used to this. It might take a minute. Swing and a miss slam dunk touchdown together sports touchdown so im calling to see if you can help me save on my energy bill. We can do that. Great. I live in a postwar, prewar, midcentury home and the heating system is a turbine, hvac, reverse hydrogen, boiler pipe unit. Well sir, peco can visit your home and show you how to save up to 20 a year. Hmmmm. You dont have to be an expert. Because now peco will visit your home and help you save. Peco. The future is on. Tell tell University Student taking her own experience and helping other others. She tells Bill Anderson being raised by a single mother help shape who she is today. Now shes there for others. When i was born my father was incarcerated throughout my life he had spend in and out of jail, and he would would be home for really short period of time. Reporter that was temple student keyshawn jansons model of a father. She says her and her immediate circle of friends sadly werent even sure what a traditional Family Structure looked like until she traveled a broad. Imagine at 17 youre in new country and for 11 days for the first time youre seeing this two parent household, a marria marriage, and a healthy father daughter relationship. Reporter sitting down on campus keyshawn explained that seeing the impact her host father had made her realize how important that role is and she wanted more. Im on mission to meet 100 women i want to hear their story about their relationship with their fathers. Reporter that mission is called 100 other halves so far shes interviewed 58 women and says she is surprised by how many had and given a chance wanted to share their experiences. When they sit down with them i ask them two questions watch motivated you to want to share your story and how often do you share your story . The answer to the second question is always. I never talk about this. The stories are by and largely for women but reading to the father that reid left his family and to the faithful father of six beautiful daughters it had an impact and helped other women realize their experiences are nothing to be ashamed of. I never realized that that reject and someone saying that youre not mine although i identify you as my father it brings up questions such as am i good enough . Why dont you love me . Reporter 100 halves is not bashing fathers or men in general. There are as many stores of empowering fathers as there are absent ones to keyshawn and the women participating, theres just a greater purpose. Understanding that your father wasnt in your life or he was in the ways that it impacted you and how you can change moving forward. Report roar one experience opened her eyes. Now keyshawn hopes 100 could help open thousands of eyes for Goodness Sake. Im Bill Anderson. Still ahead you see him on city street corners. Homeless people with pets and no place to go. But one professor and her students are working to change that. One local organization is all about giving city kids a taste of the great outdoors. Our Bill Anderson went along to see how its helping them to find new passions and new challenges. A lot of the students come from a violent environment, um, they keep their shield up. Rt its its universally accepted things you experience first hand have a direct impact on your growth, learning and your development. You know i live in the hood, um, not everybody gets the time get the chance to come out here and do stuff like this. Unfortunately too many young people particularly those from inner cities rarely experience much outside of their community, their neighborhood or certainly their city in a nutshell thats the point of outward bound. These challenges specialsly our students out of their comfort zone in learning zone where they can grow. Reporter for years outward ground are bound taking young people on trips to teach them theres much more out there than what they may see and they can do much more than they may know. Get to that spot youre pushing it and go one step further. Reporter i spent the day with students and the tran formation in front of my eyes was impressive some started off as typical students they were too cool to participate. I didnt like it at first. Played a few games to break down their defenses and get to know each other better. People to people. People to people. And quickly were ready to take on in my opinion the challenge of the day. Youre going to climb with your the rest of your team supporting you climb up this ladder. Get to the top of the ladder. The physical part of the climb and jump was one thing. But watching inner city teens many who are used to not opening up trust their classmates and challenge themselves that was amazing. Beat that. Reporter alex was one those kids who wanteed to witnes trip initially but after not only climbing, but doing it blindfolded, you could see the days impact. I got over my fear the first time i went i was too scared to do it but then i jumped. Then i saw it wasnt that hard. Reporter this journey was only day. But the message was lasting. All of our students than we know, and when we give them these challenges and these chances to like rise to an occasion, youll often see it. Reporter theyve been proving it for years. Give our kids a challenge and they just might surprise us for Goodness Sake. Im Bill Anderson. Some people refuse to go to shelters because they cant bring that are four legged best friend. Our Bill Anderson met some of them along with a woman whose working to keep people together with their pets no matter what. What we really need right now is for the whole city to come together and to care for each other and say, we wont let people die on the streets. That includes people wither pe pets. Reporter weve seen so many trying to help the homeless from free haircuts, groups providing meals and opportunities for jobs but one issue that weve all probably seen so far hasnt been addressed. There are no shelters for humans and their pets. Theyd rather stay out on the street and sometimes that means freeze out on the street rather than be separated from their only companion. My students wanted to make a difference. Reporter stephanie is a professor at villanova. She teaches about homeless advocacy and together with her students they launched the student run emergency housing unit of philadelphia since then theyve helped hundreds but recently something struck a nerve. The man had an umbrella but was shading his dog and the dog was laying on a blanket and had some water and some dog food but the man didnt have any food. Report roar the man told stephanie that he wouldnt go into a shelter because he wouldnt leave behind his best friend. This encounter and others inspired stephanie to start raising funds for philadelphias first shelter for humans and their pets. We havent Institutional Knowledge of what it takes to run shelter and what it takes to get people back on their feet. But what we really need now is a building. Reporter now people are coming together to raise the funds. But after speaking to stephanie i wanted to see first hand what inspired her. I see the same man on the same block every time i go for a run. Reporter i couldnt find the man she spoke of. Normally right here. Reporter but die find valerie. Last january, we lost our apartment and since then ive been struggling to have housing because its hard with my dog. Reporter shes had rough go of it in between crashing with friends and family and the streets would you ever consider going in and leaving her behind . No. She never turns her back on me. Shes the one thing i have that is solid. Reporter valerie is one of many that stephanie is trying to help. Sending the message that down on your luck shouldnt mean abandoning your best friend. They have the volunteers, skills and desire and now theyre hoping that well all help with the resources for Goodness Sake. Im Bill Anderson. Match dedicated his time to helping the homeless is now on the receiving end of acts of kindsness himself. Bill anderson first inn produced us to Brendon Jones last year and shows us how strangers stepped in to allow him to continue to haircuts to the homeless. Haircuts for the homeless for free. Totally free. Feed them, provide them with clothing, toil less trees the whole 9 yards. Reporter by now youve probably heard of Brennan Jones we met him nearly a year ago. Me personally i surpassed a thousand haircuts. Reporter good work of people like brennan often told but what isnt always shared how many others get involved after the word gets out. When i found out i need to be part of that. Reporter this is the new home of haircuts for homeless. A basically fully renovated new facility that will offer services to the homeless community. Oh, by the way, it was given to Brennan Jones free of charge. He said, listen, i got building. I want to you come check it out. He said do you like this place . I said yeah i like it. He tossed me a key and said its yours. Reporter sean johnson and his path from struggle to success it probably deserve its own story at another time. I went to school, learned how to cut hair. My mother paid for my license and im not going to let my mom down. Reporter from up cars race to successful owner of tapers barbershop he planned on expandinexpanding down old yorko another shop that he bought and ren 9358ed. But meeting brennan changed th that. Hes experienced success and now is more focused on community significance. It wasnt about me giving barbershop. I look at it as more as i built something and i want to see it keep going. I wanted to do it do great thing. Reporter new shop will open in november with set days to exclusively serve the homeless. And now sean and his commit many to community building. Heres what you licensed overcoming the things that youve been through. Reporter have partnered with brennan who previously had no idea how he would continue the haircuts throughout the winter. I just continue to rely on my faith man. God brought me this far. Too often ignored Homeless Population will thankful continue to see the benefits for Goodness Sake. Im Bill Anderson. Pass. Still to come tonight its been a month since Hurricane Maria made landfall in puerto rico. The island is still devastated. How people from across our area are helping. Puerto rico is till picking up the pieces after Hurricane Maria left a trail of devastation across our area dozen of medical professionals and others are stepping in to help. Our Bill Anderson took part in rescue mission to the island and he spent the day with doctors and companies there who are doing what they can to make things better for Goodness Sake. Reporter theres been so much talk about whats going on in puerto rico. Were actually getting a chance to go on a rescue and treatment mission with medical personnel. Were off. The trip was the most recent in a partnership between two local Health Providers Rwj Barnabas Health and care one. Theyve and flying over splice and doctors but this time i got to go with them. Hi, how are you. How are you. What i expected and what we immediately encountered when we landed was eye opening to say the least. The situation its like nothing we have ever thought we were going to be living. Roberto is an attorney and Health Advocate aiding the recovery and his message was clear. The lack of necessary resources leads to fatal results. We have already identified about 42 people that have died as a direct consequence of hurricane. The number continues to grow and mainly from issues involving diseases that have been related to hurricane and sanitation and dean author to drink. Reporter our first stop was a hospital where the team brought a plane load of goods including some Battery Powered medical supplies. To me seemed pretty basic until i met dr. Campos. It was full of water here. We were working with really no medications, with no equipment. Reporter his comments also hammered home how impact full things we take for granted like Cell Phone Service can really be to people just struggling to keep patients alive. I cant go to my home. I dont got any signal. So theres no communication. Orvieto stay here. Reporter for how long . Ive been here for 22 days. Reporter we were reminded by roberto that the locations we visited windows blown out, trees uprooted, werent even among the hardest hit that were shared with me by people sending me pictures. As you begin to leave san juan, you will see the real devastation probably you saw it in the air. Looks like they took a lawnmower and simply passed it through. Reporter we were only there for day. Only visited a few locations. Rwj barnabas and care one didnt take us there and im in the sharing the devastation for any other reason than to point out that people need help and we can do more. People who are in a position of power that have the financial resources, the political connections, who have a charitable heart theyll find way to do something. Reporter this wasnt their First Support mission and it wont be there last. Im pretty sure we all fit into at least one of those categories of people who can help. Now will we . For Goodness Sake im Bill Anderson. Thanks for joining us tonig tonight. Fox 29 news at 11 00 is next. My gravy had an accident. Follow me. Im usually the gravy master. Everything for thanksgiving. Thats my giant. Thisand my wallet. The best bird for my family a wide variety of natures promise turkeys, with no antibiotics, ever. Everything for thanksgiving. Thats my giant. Live from center see in philadelphia this is fox 29 news at
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