(Eagle News) — “Adversity is a blessing in disguise and certainly is the greatest character builder,” read a sign on the wall of this big furniture shop in Houston, Texas.
And for the owner of this shop, Gallery Furniture, Jim McIngvale, helping in times of disaster is a way of life.
Because of this act of kindness, his neighbors and others affected by the epic flooding in Houston, had a roof over their heads, a bed to lay on, a living room where they can relax, and a dining area where they can have a proper meal. He even provided food for them.
Urel Rhodes, one of the evacuees, temporarily staying at the furniture shop, expressed how he and his family had been helped by this act of kindness.
“He open(ed) up his business for us, you know what I’m saying, he got a good heart and I thank God for that. I mean if it wasn’t for him opening up his business to let us stay in his place, we wouldn’t know what to do. We would be out on the streets, in the water,” Rhodes noted.
For the furniture shop owner, this was his own little way to help those in need. And he was just happy to do it.
“The evacuees couldn’t have been better. They were happy, they were upbeat, optimist, even though they’d gone through a tremendous trauma. They were glad to be here and they helped and they volunteered and now they are going back to their homes to face the really hard work of reestablishing their home life, going back to work and facing the fact that they lost everything, so we’re going to continue to help these people throughout the next couple of years,” McInvale, the kind shop owner, said.
(video, interview transcript courtesy AFPTV)