Former homeless family donates to others

Giving is a beautiful thing, and it can mean so much more when it comes from people who themselves have so little.

Not that long ago, the Handy family, of Oklahoma City, was working to break out of t he cycle of poverty and homelessness. Now stable and on a path to success, the Handys have been donating homemade meals, blankets and water to their neighbors in need during the COVID- 1 9 pandemic.

“This is something we've all enjoyed doing as a family,” said Rachel Handy, family matriarch. “My personal friends have also started helping others — elderly neighbors and kids — because of what we're doing.”

But the fallout from the coronavirus has not left the family unscathed.

When the pandemic struck, Handy lost her job, which put mounting financial strain on the family. Last fall, they bought their first home through connections to resources from Positive Tomorrows, where t he Handy children had been students while the family was coming out of homelessness. After taking care of as many financial commitments as they could in March, the family faced the decision to spend their remaining money on medication or to pay a few remaining bills.

In April, the Handys were provided $500 through #Give Together Now, a national campaign from Stand Together and the Family Independence Initiative that promotes acts of kindness during the pandemic. For every act of kindness shared on social media using the hashtag #GiveTogetherNow and tagging the Stand Together Foundation, $500 will be given to a family affected by the pandemic.

After paying bills with the money, the Handy children suggested getting blankets and water for others with some of the remaining money. They have helped over 300 people locally who are experiencing homelessness.

The family is grateful they are now in a position to help others.

Caring for caregivers

Water 4, a local nonprofit whose mission is to eradicate the world's water crisis, and Crossings Community Church on Friday delivered more than 100 care packages to Integris Baptist Medical Center.

Buckets full of items from local businesses were donated for Integris caregivers who work in the Emergency Room and

COVID-19 units.

"We are absolutely blown away by the generosity ," In te gr is spokeswoman Brooke Cayot said.

She said Integris thanks the donors and partners for their generosity.

Tinker Frontline

Meet 1 st Lt. James Dillard, a certified physician's assistant with the 72nd Operational Medical Readiness Squadron. He has served in the U.S. Air Force for one year.

He's part of the corona virus response team at Tinker, taking care of patients and screening for COVID-19. He's also keeping up with his regular duties, such as handling his em pa ne lment, keeping up with lab results, taking care of medicines for patients and answering questions as best as he can.

Dillard said being able to improve people's suffering and quality of life just by talking with them or by diagnosing and treating a problem is the most rewarding part of his job.

Help us out

We're looking for feelgood stories in the midst of the pandemic. If you have any verifiable tales of kindness, we want to hear about them. Simply email dmecoy@oklahoman.com.