Elderly Man Left Crying Outside Of His House After Man And Teens Find Him
By Timfly
Every day for the past four years, an Oregon man walked past the same old dilapidated house, with the same old man who sat out in front of it on his rickety porch. The two never said a word to each other, but they always exchanged pleasantries in the form of a simple wave. Their curbside friendship from a distance continued this way, until one day something unsettling happened that made the man on the sidewalk act immediately.
Josh Cyganik felt a silent connection with 75-year-old Leonard Bullock, who is a retired track inspector for Union Pacific Railroad. The elderly man doesn’t have much, except for a place to call home that he has always returned to at the end of a long day on the railroad and a loving wife who waited for him each evening after work.
A couple of teens in the area felt much differently about the house than Bullock. One afternoon in July, while on his daily route, Cyganik overheard some arrogant, entitled teens making fun of Bullock’s home, within earshot of the aging homeowner who was at his perch on the porch. The boys said it needed to be burned down because it was so disheveled. This was all Bullock could afford, and the kids’ comments seemed to strike a chord with the porch-sitter, who Cyganik said had a saddened look on his face after the insensitive remarks.
Cyganik went about his day, but he couldn’t shake off the frustration of what the teens said and the way it made Bullock feel. A couple of days later, Cyganik decided to do something about it with the help of his entire community.
Community helping paint and clean up Bullock’s home
Over 100 people showed up at Bullock’s home at the bequest of Cyganik, who rallied up his neighbors to help give this man’s home a new façade. The kind pedestrian’s good friend, Brian Christensen, happens to be a manager of Tum-a-Lum lumber, who donated some paint. One good deed led to another, and contributions of all kinds began pouring in, FOX 13 reported.
The “after” of Bullock’s fresh new residence, thanks to the kindness of strangers
Money for supplies was sent by those who couldn’t show up to help. After the house had been given a brand new paint job, the good deeds kept on coming. People brought by new patio furniture, which will sure be put to good use since Bullock spends his days sitting out there watching over the community as they pass his house.
When asked what moved him to go to such great lengths for a stranger, Cyganik credited his parents for raising him right. “Yeah, it was a random act of kindness, but to me it’s more about respect,” the good Samaritan told Union Pacific Railroad in an interview. “I was raised to respect the people who came before you, to help others out who don’t have much.”
Cyganik (left), Bullock (right)
Cyganik and the community’s efforts left an incredible impression on the fortunate couple. They were spotted on their porch late into the night, holding hands with huge smiles on their faces, taking in their new home and what strangers had done for them.
Cyganik and this community are an excellent example of what is right in this world, and the fruit of raising children with respect for others.
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