It’s always heartening to read about an unexpected act of kindness, someone jumping to the aid of a person in need. This is exactly what happened in Callisburg, Texas, when an elderly high school janitor was forced to come out of retirement after his rent was hiked, and three students found a way to help him pay his bills and go back to a life that is more suited to a man his age who has already worked a full lifetime–and maybe more.
Mr. James, 80, was forced to return to work last month as a janitor at Callisburg High School when his rent went up to $400 per month, Fox News reported.
In a GoFundMe called “Getting Mr. James out of this school,” organizer and student Greyson Thurman noted that the money was for rent, food and monthly bills.
Greyson wrote,”Hey guys I’m having a fundraiser for our janitor who is struggling to pay his rent. He had to leave retirement to continue to pay his rent that was raised. Just a little will change his life!!”
Thurman also shared a sweet TikTok video of Mr. James cleaning the school.
“This is our 80 y/o janitor who had his rent raised and had to come back to work,” he wrote over the video. “Let’s help Mr. James out! My classmates and I hate seeing Mr. James here, no one his age should have to be cleaning our messes up to continue to live.”
Thurman told KXII that having 2,000 followers on the social media platform “was enough to get the word out.” Then two other students also organized the campaign. Their initial goal of $10,000 was spectacularly outpaced. It has already raised nearly $165,000 since it was launched a week ago and the goal is now $200,000 as of Wednesday evening.
Thurman’s empathy is striking. He told Fox 4 in North Dallas-Fort Worth, “Nobody deserves to work their whole life. They deserve to enjoy everything.”
A fellow student told KXII that the students knew people would support; however, they had no idea the campaign would gain so much traction. “It’s crazy to see something that, we knew people would have wanted to help…but we didn’t know it would blow up.”
“Its just amazing,” Hooper added to KXII. “You know of the need that was met because of three kind kids, but of all of our students who have pitched in to help that need.”
