We’ve become more compassionate over the years
In four decades as a newspaper reporter, I’ve written many stories about people who are poor.
But I’ve never seen a response like the outpouring of support for Teri-Lee d’Aaran.
I wrote about d’Aaran in August. She lives on $1,255 a month on a disability pension; $800 of that goes for rent for her Cambridge apartment.
What’s it like to have so little money? Not drinking fresh milk for a week. Riding on the bus for an hour each way to do her laundry because there’s a place in Waterloo where you can use the dryers for free. Sliding, bit by bit, into more and more debt.
D’Aaran has two pets, a cat named Gimli and a service dog named Princess.
In past years, if I were to have revealed this about someone poor, readers would have responded angrily that pets are a luxury.
But over the years, we’ve changed. We’ve become more compassionate. We understand how devastating mental health problems like anxiety can be, and how profoundly animal companionship can help.
For the past two months, calls of concern and offers of help have been pouring in. One neighbour said she would do d’Aaran’s laundry so that she wouldn’t have to make that long trip.
Other people sent cheques and gift cards worth hundreds of dollars. One man gave me an envelope with $200 in cash for her.
And the icing on this very nourishing cake comes from author Nancy Silcox of New Hamburg.
Silcox knows Jann Arden, the singer. Arden is an animal lover and Silcox had featured her in a book about famous Canadians and the pets they love.
It jumped into Silcox’s mind that she could auction off a meet- ing with Arden before her performance, which happened earlier this week at Kitchener’s Centre in the Square.
Arden instantly agreed. Silcox sent out the word online, and the winning bid for $825 was made by Kathie Jordan, also of New Hamburg, and a huge Arden fan.
The money went to buy canned and dry food, new leashes and to pay down part of the vet bill that the animals have accumulated.
“It couldn’t have felt better,” said Silcox after delivering the goods to d’Aaran.
“I left with tears in my eyes. One never knows what’s around the corner.”
For her part, d’Aaran is overwhelmed with gratitude for the kindness of all these strangers. “I’m so appreciative,” she said. And so am I.