In November 2017, Elmer Alvarez from New Haven, Connecticut, decided to do a good deed. The homeless man found a lost check amounting to over $10,000 and decided to return it to its rightful owner instead of cashing it for himself. Alvarez never knew his actions would have a domino effect, allowing him to eventually help homeless youth.
The plight of the homeless does receive attention, but solutions to the problem seem elusive. Sometimes, the solutions come in the form of one person doing something exceptionally caring for others. While few stories are as dramatic as Alvarez’s, his tale does reveal that good things can happen when people care enough to take action.
The heartwarming story from November 2017 began unusually. A real estate agent named Roberta Hoskie had a nearly $11,000 check in her hand when it slipped away. She was running around town, handling errands, when the check slipped out of her fingers near a crowded intersection. Likely, the traffic noise and the hustle and bustle distracted her. After all, New Haven, Connecticut, can be a busy place. So, she didn’t even know the check went flying until the next day.
Sure, requesting the cancellation of the check could solve some problems, but no real estate agent wants to be in such a position. Accidents and mishaps happen in the big city, and people do drop things. Those things can include $10,800 checks.
Read on to learn more about this heartwarming tale of how one man’s good deed led to a life-changing moment.
Be sure to reach the end of the article to see the video 🙂
Before Hoskie could take steps to deal with the lost check problem, her phone rang. Alvarez was on the line, and he had good news. He found the check and wanted to return it. Hoskie went to meet Alvarez, and she felt shocked to discover Alvarez was homeless.
Hoskie wanted to reward Alvarez for his kind deed. She initially gave him some reward money, but then Hoskie discovered Alvarez was homeless. So, she chose to do something even more profound and impactful. She helped set Alvarez up with housing.
The story found its way to be documented on video. The moving video showed Hoskie telling Alvarez she found a place for him to stay.
According to the New Haven Register, Hoskie’s strong faith in God led her to want to do more for Alvarez. She worked hard to set him up with a job training program at her school, where he took a real estate test. She also worked on setting him up with a housing program. In Hoskie’s words, Alvarez would not need to worry about staying in the cold anymore. Alvarez broke down in tears at the news. Hoskie hugged him as the emotions overwhelmed him.
In January 2019, CBS News reported that the pair planned to open transitional housing for teens and young adults who were homeless, paying it forward once again. Alvarez told the network that the house would provide all types of services, which he describes as “crucial” for young people experiencing homelessness. “I know what it is to be homeless. Nobody deserves to live like that,” he added.
In the video, Hoskie revealed a story about herself that shows why she felt such empathy toward Alvarez. When she was younger, Hoskie also found herself homeless. Hoskie was a single mom who only earned a meager amount of money per month. That led to her homeless situation and all the struggles that ensued. Hoskie did not let her plight put permanent obstacles in her way.
“Because I remember. I remember what it felt like to be in that shelter,” she said to CBS in January 2019. As everyone now knows, she’s a successful real estate agent. And she’s someone with a wonderful heart and a caring nature.
The video was produced by NBC News and aired on the network to millions of viewers. Perhaps those millions of viewers would feel moved to help others out the way Hoskie did so for Alvarez. The video continued to capture attention on the internet. Hopefully, more people will see the video and realize good deeds do happen in the world.
Hoskie made the news again in December 2019 when she published a book titled “Poverty Curse Broken: The Roberta Hoskie Story.” According to CT Insider, the book details her life of growing up in “the hood,” and her experiences with trauma, homelessness and abuse.
“People must have faith, a strong desire and self-discipline to bring anything they want in life, into reality,” Hoskie wrote. “Nothing is impossible. Just look around. Someone is already doing what you want to do. If they can do it, so can you.”
What did you think about this incredible story? What kind-hearted acts have you done for others? Let us know your thoughts, and feel free to pass this along to your family and friends and anyone else who may be interested in this touching story.
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