Elmer's Story
Elmer Alvarez was a homeless man who lived in New England. Winters are hard for most people, but the cold is especially hard on the homeless.
He endured several winters on his own, battling the snow while sleeping on the sidewalk, sometimes enduring temperatures below 0.
Beating The Odds
Like many people on the street, drug addiction led him down a dangerous road, and it wasn't long before this took a toll on his health.
However, even though he didn't have a home to go to, he managed to attend NA meetings and eventually he overcame his addiction.
Living In The Streets
Getting himself off the streets was something he strove for, but obviously, this is easier said than done, and many people never make it.
He tried for many years without success. However, on one cold November morning, his life changed forever. But what happened?
A Piece Of Paper
Most people would pass by without noticing a small piece of paper on the street, but Elmer stopped to examine it when he saw it on the ground.
But it wasn't a bit of trash, or a discarded receipt...
Jackpot
As Elmer was walking along the streets, a piece of paper lying on the ground caught his attention. He picked it up, only to find out it was much more than that...
Believe it or not, it was a lost check for $10,000! It was also endorsed, which would allow Elmer to cash it upon presenting it before a bank. The solution to all his problems was in the palm of his hand.
A Heart Of Gold
Elmer was in a desperate situation, as he had been struggling to make ends meet for years. Nevertheless, the thought of keeping the money, however, never crossed his mind.
Elmer inspected the check and found a phone number written on its back, which could help him track its owner. But would he follow his inner conscience?
The Call
Elmer walked the cold streets until he managed to get access to a cellphone, and asked a friend to call the number, as he only spoke Spanish.
He had already done his part; now, it was up to fate whether his plan of giving back the money would succeed. After a few seconds, someone on the other side picked up.
First Contact
After a few seconds, Roberta Hoskie, a real estate magnate and president of a real estate school, answered the phone. Elmer was relieved they had answered his call after all.
Rebecca couldn't believe her ears when Elmer's friend explained to her what had happened. She wasted no time and told him she wanted to meet Elmer immediately.
The Encounter That Changed His Life
Roberta decided to document their meeting on Facebook Live. She never expected to see her money back, so now she wanted to show the world Elmer's good deed.
Up to that point, Roberta wasn't aware of his situation, until Elmer's friend told her that he was, in fact, homeless. Learning that made the events all the more meaningful, because of Roberta's past.
Similar Backgrounds
At just 17 years old, Roberta was pregnant and had to drop out of school. She ended up living in a shelter to avoid living on the streets, very much like Elmer.
On top of that, Roberta had no money to provide for her child on her own. So how did she end up being a real estate magnate? What happened that made her life turn upside down?
Started From The Bottom
After graduating from high school, Roberta got an internship at Yale University, and this helped her escape debilitating poverty and made her dreams come true.
However, Roberta never forgot her time in the shelters, and that made her realize that crossing paths with Elmer was no coincidence.
United By Fate
Roberta knew that this was the perfect opportunity to give back and change somebody's life, just like it had once happened to her.
She knew what it felt like to be deprived of basic needs, so she wanted to give Elmer what he needed to live a better life and wasted no time.
A Unlikely Friendship
Elmer burst into grateful tears as Roberta handed him a check. He didn't expect anything in return, so he couldn't find words to express his gratitude.
But that wasn't all she had planned for him. Roberta decided to change Elmer's life completely by giving him a fresh start.
Spreading The Word
Thanks to her Facebook Live stream, thousands of people heard about Elmer's good deed. That was only the first step of her plan, however.
Roberta also offered Elmer free English classes, along with free lessons at her real estate school. But hold on, this is not all!
The Gift Of Kindness
On top of the classes, Roberta got him a place to live with the first 6 months of rent and bills completely covered, so as to make sure he no longer lived on the street.
In addition, she got him a job interview at a real estate office. The amazing story of the pair went viral, and they were invited to tell their story on a TV show.
The Cherry On Top
During their appearance on the show, Elmer was reunited with his mother, who he had not seen in years. In a matter of months, Elmer and Roberta founded the Outreach Foundation, to help other homeless individuals.
As realtors, they acquire dilapidated properties and transform them into transitional homes. To this day, the NGO helps many people who don't have the privilege of having a roof over their heads.