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It Feels Good to Give Back! Our Michael & Son technicians come across some incredible people with heartbreaking stories. When they find they have nowhere to turn in a time of need, that’s when we come in…to lend a helping hand!
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With the frigid weather quickly approaching in Norfolk, VA, Cynthia Lopez and Ritchie Barnes will be one less family left in the cold.
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Michael & Son is back this weekend with another episode of Helping Hands. This week, we meet a family in the making and a couple whose strong bond of over 40 years carried them through an unimaginable tragedy.
Continue ReadingFor all of us at Michael & Son who have worked with the Helping Hands Program, December 23rd is solemn day. Three years ago on that day, in the midst of all the holiday cheer, we lost someone who had a profound effect on all of us. Amanda Mahmood was a young, bright and inspirational young lady who suffered from congestive heart failure. We helped her with some home repairs and in return she inspired us to help more families and make a bigger impact.
Three years later, and just a week after that anniversary of Amanda’s passing, a call comes across my desk from a single mother of a disabled child in Richmond, VA with a broken HVAC unit. Recently widowed Cari Browne and her daughter Savannah had been in the cold since Christmas morning and because Cari was providing 24 hour care for her daughter, she was unable to work and definitely couldn’t afford the cost of replacing her homes HVAC unit.
Her daughter, Savannah, was born with a rare gene mutation that caused her to have heart failure as well. The cold temperature in her home was aggravating her condition and they were in desperate need of help. When I spoke with Cari and we talked about Savannah’s condition, I immediately thought of Amanda. It gave the request even more of a sense of urgency and I called Michael & Son CEO, Basim Mansour, who was traveling but gave the green light to have the work done immediately. Within just two days of contacting Michael & Son Services, we were at the Browne’s home installing a brand new HVAC system at no cost. Check out the news story for more details about the job. Also, stay tuned to our Facebook page for information on the new season of Helping Hands starting January 21st!
TV Schedule:
1/21: 9:30-10 AM
2/4: 9:30-10 AM
2/11: 9:30-10 AM
Fighting Sleep: The Patty Kinder Story
For many of people, sleep is hard to come by; whether it’s because of our jobs or families, sleep can sometimes be elusive. For others, sleep is a curse that hangs over our heads morning, day and night. Narcolepsy is a disease that affects one in every 2,000 Americans and occurs when the brain is unable to regulate cycles of sleep and being awake. This results in excessive daytime sleepiness and intermittent, uncontrollable episodes of falling asleep anywhere and anytime.
Patty Kinder is a life-long resident of Virginia and over the last 20 years, Patty has undergone a great deal of hardship. When Patty was about 20 years old, she began having problems with maintaining her energy level and found herself needing to nap more and more during the day. Over the years, her symptoms have worsened and her ability to regulate her wake and sleep periods has gone progressively downhill. Because of the condition, Patty was barely able to keep her job as a licensed veterinarian technician. It became harder and harder to stay awake at work. Many times during her 15-minute drive to or from work, she would have to pull over to the side of the road to nap – sometimes taking as many as three naps on the way. She slept upright in a chair for more than four years just so she wouldn’t fall into a deep sleep and not wake when the alarm went off.
When her house flooded, there was no money or energy for repairs. Patty had no choice but to pull the carpet up and live with bare concrete floors. Patty’s house fell into disrepair. When she was awake, she would try to do things but since she couldn’t regulate the amount of time she would be awake, she would start a project and leave it partially done. This happened over and over. Sleep overtook her life. Even during her waking periods, her thinking was foggy and her energy level was very low. Simple everyday tasks became a huge struggle.
More than four years ago and after the flood, the HVAC in her house stopped working. Patty could not afford to replace it so she took no action. When the cold weather came, Patty slept in a chair, surrounded by electric heaters. Due to her narcolepsy, there were times when she slept for three days in a row. Sleep and its unpredictability overcame her life. For Patty, it seemed there was no way out of her situation and she would simply have to suffer through it.
To make matters worse, about a year and a half ago Patty felt a lump in her breast. It took her weeks to see a doctor. She missed several appointments because of her inability to stay awake. She since has undergone a mastectomy, chemotherapy and is now enduring weeks of radiation for a cancer she hopes she can beat. Because she is not able to work right now, she has no income and is applying for assistance. She hopes to start receiving disability before her funds completely run out.
Recently, Patty found some hope and some help in the form of a local nonprofit called DeShong’s Gift Back and the Michael & Son Helping Hands program. DeShong’s Gift Back is the vision of Sterling residents Jane and Vini Short. Their nonprofit grows vegetables and gives them to food pantries; searches for funding; and forms groups of volunteers to help to repair homes for those in need like Patty. They are helping Patty to get her life back.
For many of people, sleep is hard to come by; whether it’s because of our jobs or families, sleep can sometimes be elusive. For others, sleep is a curse that hangs over our heads morning, day and night. Narcolepsy is a disease that affects one in every 2,000 Americans and occurs when the brain is unable to regulate cycles of sleep and being awake. This results in excessive daytime sleepiness and intermittent, uncontrollable episodes of falling asleep anywhere and anytime.
Patty Kinder is a life-long resident of Virginia and over the last 20 years, Patty has undergone a great deal of hardship. When Patty was about 20 years old, she began having problems with maintaining her energy level and found herself needing to nap more and more during the day. Over the years, her symptoms have worsened and her ability to regulate her wake and sleep periods has gone progressively downhill. Because of the condition, Patty was barely able to keep her job as a licensed veterinarian technician. It became harder and harder to stay awake at work. Many times during her 15-minute drive to or from work, she would have to pull over to the side of the road to nap – sometimes taking as many as three naps on the way. She slept upright in a chair for more than four years just so she wouldn’t fall into a deep sleep and not wake when the alarm went off.
When her house flooded, there was no money or energy for repairs. Patty had no choice but to pull the carpet up and live with bare concrete floors. Patty’s house fell into disrepair. When she was awake, she would try to do things but since she couldn’t regulate the amount of time she would be awake, she would start a project and leave it partially done. This happened over and over. Sleep overtook her life. Even during her waking periods, her thinking was foggy and her energy level was very low. Simple everyday tasks became a huge struggle.
More than four years ago and after the flood, the HVAC in her house stopped working. Patty could not afford to replace it so she took no action. When the cold weather came, Patty slept in a chair, surrounded by electric heaters. Due to her narcolepsy, there were times when she slept for three days in a row. Sleep and its unpredictability overcame her life. For Patty, it seemed there was no way out of her situation and she would simply have to suffer through it.
To make matters worse, about a year and a half ago Patty felt a lump in her breast. It took her weeks to see a doctor. She missed several appointments because of her inability to stay awake. She since has undergone a mastectomy, chemotherapy and is now enduring weeks of radiation for a cancer she hopes she can beat. Because she is not able to work right now, she has no income and is applying for assistance. She hopes to start receiving disability before her funds completely run out.
Recently, Patty found some hope and some help in the form of a local nonprofit called DeShong’s Gift Back and the Michael & Son Helping Hands program. DeShong’s Gift Back is the vision of Sterling residents Jane and Vini Short. Their nonprofit grows vegetables and gives them to food pantries; searches for funding; and forms groups of volunteers to help to repair homes for those in need like Patty. They are helping Patty to get her life back and are in the process of continuing the improvements. If you would like to make a
became a huge struggle.
More than four years ago and after the flood, the HVAC in her house stopped working. Patty could not afford to replace it so she took no action. When the cold weather came, Patty slept in a chair, surrounded by electric heaters. Due to her narcolepsy, there were times when she slept for three days in a row. Sleep and its unpredictability overcame her life. For Patty, it seemed there was no way out of her situation and she would simply have to suffer through it.
To make matters worse, about a year and a half ago Patty felt a lump in her breast. It took her weeks to see a doctor. She missed several appointments because of her inability to stay awake. She since has undergone a mastectomy, chemotherapy and is now enduring weeks of radiation for a cancer she hopes she can beat. Because she is not able to work right now, she has no income and is applying for assistance. She hopes to start receiving disability before her funds completely run out.
Recently, Patty found some hope and some help in the form of a local nonprofit called DeShong’s Gift Back and the Michael & Son Helping Hands program. DeShong’s Gift Back is the vision of Sterling residents Jane and Vini Short. Their nonprofit grows vegetables and gives them to food pantries; searches for funding; and forms groups of volunteers to help to repair homes for those in need like Patty. They are helping Patty to get her life back and are in the process of continuing the improvements. If you would like to make a difference in the life of Patty or others like her, go to www.DeShongsGiftBack.org or email them at DeShongsGiftBack@gmail.com.
DeShong’s Gift Back learned about the Michael & Son Helping Hands program and facilitated Patty’s application. Patty was immediately approved and Michael & Son jumped right in to install a new heating and air-conditioning unit in her home and has pledged to continue helping Patty by installing new toilets and plumbing hardware in her bathrooms. To learn more about Patty and her story, view this episode of Helping Hands which aired recently on NBC 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=na0SWq9rx9Q&feature=youtu.be
Anthony and Michelle Hinton paced the ER as they waited for an update from the doctor on call. Although nights in the hospital were becoming a regular occurrence, the Hinton family dreaded every second; but no one likes having their child in the hospital, especially for breathing difficulties. The main culprit behind their child’s frequent asthma attacks was a faulty HVAC unit and filthy ducts. While it would seem that the problem would be easily remedied with a simple replacement unit and duct cleaning, for some families it’s just not that simple.
Living With ALS
Anyone with a Facebook account remembers the “ice bucket challenge”, you may have participated yourself. Basically, it involved someone making a video of having a bucket of ice water dumped over there head and then challenging a friend to do the same. The whole point was to spread awareness about ALS but the sad fact is many people didn’t really understand why they were doing it or what ALS actually is. Another important point missed during the entire challenge was the fund raising aspect; most people just wanted to make a fun video for their Facebook page. At the end of the day, the challenge raised awareness and a good deal of money but what about the people who suffer with ALS and their families? Before we go in to that aspect, let’s cover some basics…
What is ALS?
Before Facebook, ALS was widely known as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease” and is a relatively rare disease with approximately 30,000 diagnosed people in the U.S. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a progressive degeneration of the nerve and brain cells that communicate with the brain and facilitate movement. As the disease progresses, patients began to lose muscle control and can eventually become totally paralyzed.
Challenges of ALS
ALS presents a myriad of issues for the patient and their families. Physical suffering, mental anguish and finical ruin are just some of the ways a disease like ALS can affect a patient and their family. As the disease makes its way through the nervous system, the patient begins to lose mobility and suffer excruciating pain. Day to day life becomes an ever growing challenge and the most basic human function, like taking a single step, becomes a monumental under taking. As the patient takes on these grim milestones, their homes need to be altered along the ADA (Americans with Disability Act) guidelines and that can be very expensive.
Everything from bathrooms, stairs, the kitchens, bedrooms and anywhere the patient frequents needs to be made accessible for someone with limited to no mobility. Without help from an outside organization, making a home accessible for someone with disabilities is nearly impossible for most families. Watching a loved one’s physical health literally deteriorate is extraordinarily tolling on the family and can have a dramatic affect on young children. Coupled with finical stresses, the entire family must learn to adapt to significant changes that alter not only the patient’s life but theirs as well.
Meet the Murray’s
The Murray family is no stranger to the struggles of living with ALS. When Mike Murray received his diagnosis, he and his wife Dena knew their lives dramatically change. They also knew that they would need help. After meeting others families who were living with ALS, the Murray’s learned the true extent of the finical cost they would incur beyond medical bills. When Michael began to require 24 hour a day oxygen, the family worried about losing during a storms, which frequently occurred in the rural area of Virginia where they live. Then, on an especially stormy night, the family’s worst fear was realized. After a loud crash of thunder, the homes lights went out and a loud alarm rang out from Mike’s monitors. Mike’s oxygen was cut off and he was unable to breath, Dena dashed to call 911 as she prayed he would survive. Because of the distance from their home to the hospital, Mike was taken by helicopter to the emergency room.
As Dena watched her home disappear in the distance from the helicopter window, she began to wonder if Mike would come home, and if he did, would he survive the next power outage? Dena began investigating residential backup generators and quickly learned it was something the family would not be able to afford. She began to look for help and reached out to a dozen different not for profit organization and businesses but kept hitting brick walls.
After watching Helping Hands on NBC, Dena reached out to the Michael & Son Cares program. Find out what happened next by tuning into the upcoming season of Helping Hands. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and subscribe to our YouTube page to find out more information about the upcoming season of Helping Hands.
It’s been said time and time again, the goal of the Michael & Son Cares Program is not only to help families with essential home repairs they can’t afford, but to also inspire other businesses to do the same. To date, The Michael & Son Cares Program can proudly say our goals are being met. The type of support we receive from businesses in the community range from services that are beyond the scope of our expertise, products, and sometimes financial contributions.
For those of you who are not familiar with the Michael & Son Cares Program or the Helping Hands TV show that documents our work, here is a quick run down of how it works: Families who are in need of assistance with home repairs because of financial issues due to illness or disability send us an application detailing their situations. Every month we select a family and not only provide the services free of charge but also a special surprise for the family.
Because most of the families that we meet have children, their needs go beyond home repairs; after all, a new water heater or furnace is not exactly at the top of every kids wish list. With that in mind, we have always paid close attention to the interest and wants of the families children during the time we spend together. It’s because of the generosity of our supporters in the business community that we are able to bring a little happiness into the lives of children who face such difficult circumstances. Here are some examples of how they help us make a difference:
Charlie Crohare suffers from an extremely rare brain disorder similar to Miller Dieker syndrome. At 6 years old Charlie is a quadriplegic and has the brain development of a 2 year old. He suffers from daily seizures that can last up to 45 excruciating minutes and has been air lifted from his home, to the hospital dozens of times. Because of his condition, when he is not confined to his medical crib or wheelchair, Charlie can safely relax in bean bag chairs to play with his toys, games and watch movies. When we heard about Charlie’s love for bean bags, we reached out to local custom bean bag maker, Ahh! Bean Bags, who was more than happy to make Charlie an oversized, custom bean bag.
Monet and Greg Caldwell reached out to the Care’s Program when their home heating system broke down during one of the coldest winters on record. Their youngest of two children, Skyler, had just been born 10 weeks earlier with a thyroid cyst that required surgery. Because the cyst was located in her throat and any infection could cause a complete blockage of her tiny airway, the Caldwell’s could not risk bringing Skyler home to a cold home following the surgery. After resolving their heating issues, the Cares Program granted the Caldwell’s wish for a couples night out and a family day out. After sending Monet and Greg to a night out in Old Town, the Baltimore Aquarium invited the family for an all access afternoon, including a dolphin show, feeding demonstrations and a meet and greet with the turtles.
As a teenager, Brandon Donaghy was involved in a near fatal car accident that left him in a coma for nearly a month. The subsequent brain injuries that resulted from the coma left Brandon with memory and anxiety issues that made it impossible for him to hold a job. When Brandon woke up one cold morning to a broken heating system and no way to pay for a replacement, he began to panic. He sent his four children to stay with his grandmother while he searched for a solution. The Michael & Son Cares Program stepped in and along with restoring heat to the home, our friends at the Verizon Center gave the Donaghy family a night they will never forget. Along with a fully catered suite, the Donaghy’s sat court side during the Wizards warm up, met players and received bags of autographed merchandise.
One common theme throughout the stories above and many others is HVAC (heating and cooling) systems needing to be replaced. Most homeowners know that replacing them can cost thousands and repairs are usually band aids. Carrier is one of the worlds most well known and trusted names when it comes to HVAC, both residential and commercial. As top sponsor of the Michael & Son Cares Program, they are also one of the most generous. Today, over a dozen families have heat and A/C in their homes thanks to the community conscious people at Carrier.
You can see these stories and many more by visiting our website for a complete collection of past episodes of Helping Hands. Also, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to find out about the upcoming season of Helping Hands, special events and much more!
Over the past 5 years, I’ve had the privilege of working with families in our community as the head of the Michael & Son Cares Program. If you have not already heard of us, we are a local home improvement company that helps disadvantaged families with essential home repairs they cannot afford. From restoring heat to cold homes to surprise visits from celebrities; the Michael & Son Cares Program has brought smiles, tears and hope to dozens of recipients in the D.C., M.D., and V.A area. Not unlike Michael & Son Services, The Cares program has grown by leaps and bounds over the past 5 years. One of our proudest achievements regarding the Cares Program is the creation of the Helping Hands T.V. show, which documents the charitable work of the Cares Program.
The Cares Program, like Michael & Son Services, has modest beginnings. Today you can hardly drive a mile without seeing a signature blue Michael & Son truck. It was not always that way; in fact it all began with one van and a two man team. In 1968, Mousa “Mike” Mansour came to this country with a vision, to build a family business that his children could one day inherit. An electrician from an early age, Mousa’s natural inclination towards the trade was apparent in his work and he landed a Union Electrician job. On weekends and nights Mousa worked side jobs with his 6 year old son, Basim, tagging along as his pint sized apprentice. It was during those impressionable years of watching his father work that Basim Mansour learned the meaning of hard work, dedication and punctuality. He also learned the importance of giving back to the community that kept him in business. Mousa was not a wealthy man but a generous man nonetheless. He would never leave a family without power on a cold night because they couldn’t afford cost. To him, the smiles on the faces of those families he helped was worth far more than any amount of money. These instances that were witnessed by Basim left an indelible impression on him that would influence the way he would one day run his own business.
On June 1st 1990 Mousa “Mike” Mansour suffered a fatal heart attack, leaving his family and community devastated. At the young age of 19, Basim picked up where his father left off and began his own business, Michael & Son Services. Today the company has over 200 employees, offers comprehensive home services and spans four states and our nations capitol. As the business has grown, so has the number of Cares Program recipients. The CaresProgram reaches thousands of people each week through the local TV program “Helping Hands”, however, we hope to inspire more businesses and individuals to give back to their communities in any way they can. If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, please visit michaelandsonhelpinghands.com for more information.
On a rainy night in Madonna Maryland, Delano Draine was making his way home to his wife. Delano was full of optimism, he was six months into his retirement, and ready for some long overdue relaxation.
A hard working man from a young age, Delano spent years in the military, eventually settling into a job as a corrections officer. The hours were long, the work was dangerous and the stress was tolling; Delano was glad to be done with it. As Delano weaved down the wet and winding road, he had no idea is life was about to change forever. Out of nowhere, a deer appeared in the middle of the road, Delano swerved to avoid it, but it was too late – everything went black.
When Delano opened his eyes, he was upside down strapped inside his car. “I felt a tremendous amount of pain, but was still able to fish my phone out of my pocket”. His first call was to 911, with the second being the hardest he’s ever had to make. Forty minutes away from where Delano lay suspended in his car, Shelley, his wife, was preparing a late dinner for two. Around 9:15 Shelley received a phone call that left her pale and trembling. The voice on the other end was her husband, he was badly hurt and being rushed to the hospital. Shelley grabbed her bag and raced out her door; she knew it was serious, but she had no idea Delano would never walk again.
Delano had nearly severed his spine and there was no hope for recovery, he would require a lifetime of around the clock care. Because the VA and other government agencies could not or would not provide him with the care he needed, Shelley was forced into early retirement and began the painful vocation of caring for a suffering loved one. Because of the ever mounting medical bills, the Draine’s were unable to afford home repairs that were essential to Delano’s well being. One of those repairs was to the homes furnace, and as the winter grew colder, it became critical that the family had a reliable heating system. That’s where The Michael & Son Cares Program stepped in. You can see the whole story this weekend, check the list below for show times in your area.
Washington DC WRC NBC4
3/14 10:00 – 10:30 AM
Norfolk: WVEC
3/14 9:00 AM
Richmond WTVR
3/15 11:30 PM
Baltimore WMAR
3/14 6:30 PM
Charlottesville WVIR
3/14 10:00 – 10:30 AM
When Michele Pulaski gave birth to twins Josh and Sarah, she and her husband Jordan could only see a bright future for their family. A few weeks later, the clouds began to gather when Sarah was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis. Sarah’s meningitis caused massive brain damage and as a result she is now left a quadriplegic. She also suffers from epilepsy, hypothermia and is vision impaired. Sarah’s mother was told that she would never have cognitive functions beyond that of an infant. But against all odds, Sarah has defied her diagnosis and 8 years later she is learning to sing songs, play games, and brings a smile to everyone she meets!
Just when the family had begun to adjust to life with a disabled child, tragedy struck again. At the young age of 39, Jordan Pulaski was diagnosed with a rare neuromuscular disease that affects only 200,000 people worldwide. As Jordans condition progressed he began to lose mobility and today, like his daughter Sarah, is quadriplegic and confined to a wheel chair.
Sarah and Jordan worked hard their entire lives and excelled in both their educations and careers. Unfortunately, because Jordan and Sarah require a lifetime of costly medical care, the family is saddled with debt and with both parents only able to work part time, the family was unable to afford essential home repairs.
After watching the NBC program “Helping Hands” the Pulaski’s reached out to the Michael & Son Cares Program for help with a broken water heater and alterations to make their bathrooms handicap accessible. Michael & Son Services stepped in and provide the family with the all the home repairs at no charge.
Along with providing families with free home repairs,The Michael & Son Cares Program also surprised the family with special gifts like floor seats to Wizards games, organizing special events and even hospital visits from celebrities. The Pulaski family surprised everyone when they requested that in lieu of a gift, the Cares Program make a donation to their favorite charity, The National Epilepsy Foundation. Needless to say, everyone involved with the program was deeply touched by the families generosity and concern for others.
Helping Hands documents the work of the Michael & Son Cares Program and their community service program which provides free home repairs to those in need, local showtimes listed below.
Washington DC WRC NBC4
2/28 9:30 – 10:00 AM
Norfolk: WVEC
2/28 9:00 AM
Richmond WTVR
2/29 11:30 PM
Baltimore WMAR
2/28 6:30 PM
Charlottesville WVIR
2/28 9:30 – 10:00 AM
Betty Parker sits on her front porch as four puppies vie for her attention at her feet. “There is a lot of suffering behind close doors” she says, gazing off into the horizon, “you can only suffer for so long before its time to ask for help.”
As a strong Boston-bred native living in Norfolk, Betty Parker takes great pride in her self reliance. “My father raised me to be independent; I can do anything a man can do” said Betty, “I can even make repairs around the house, to an extent.” That extent was reached when her water heater began to fail and her furnace died. At 67 years of age, Betty suffers from Parkinson’s disease; its slow, methodical march through her nervous system made even the simplest daily task a monumental undertaking. One of those tasks became boiling water multiple times a day for bathing, washing, and cooking.
Betty’s hands trembled under the oppressive weight of the large, cast iron cooking pot she carried over to the sink. She began to demonstrate the agonizing, painful ritual of filling the pot with water and lugging it down the hall and to the tub. As the temperatures began to plummet, Betty was faced with a new tribulation, the prospect of a heatless winter. Wringing her hands beside a small space heater, Betty sighed then smiled. “I’m not gonna complain, there are people out there a lot worse off than I am”.
Many people dismiss the idea of a guardian angel, but in todays cold and detached world, some just earn the title. Meet Sue, a life long native of Norfolk and friend of Betty. Sue has spent her life in service to those in need. Whether it was on an organizational level or personal, you’re sure to find Sue at the helm. When Sue realized that Betty was living without essential services in her home, she immediately sprung into action and immediately starting hitting walls. “Everyone has an excuse about why they can’t help but no one offers solutions.” Sue called just about every state agency and private charity in search of help for Betty, and when those attempts were fruitless she began calling local businesses. After calling nearly every home improvement company in her area, Sue was ready to throw her hands up in defeat. At that very moment something fateful occurred; Sue looked out of her window, and noticed a Michael & Son Services truck pulling into her neighbor’s driveway. She figured it was worth one last shot, and called the number on the truck. “I called on a Saturday and expected to just get a voicemail” said Sue, “but what happened next left me speechless,” she continued.
Sue contacted Michael & Son on a Saturday morning, and by the afternoon had secured heat and hot water for Betty’s home. “I’ve been dealing with not for profits and government agencies for decades now, and I’ve never seen a group work so fast” said Sue. “I knew right away that they genuinely cared about not only Betty, but the entire community around them” she continued.
Today, Betty Parker and her four dogs have a warm house with hot water, today there is one person suffering behind a closed door. The Michael & Son Cares Program is on a mission to not only help those in need, but to inspire others to do the same. We call upon every individual, business and organization with the means to make a difference to do just that.
If you would like to join us in our mission to make a difference, click here to find out how you can help. Also, if you or someone you know is in need of essential home repairs, visit us at michaelandson.com to learn how you can apply for the Michael & Son Cares Program. You can watch the Michael & Son Cares Program in action on the TV series “Helping Hands” every weekend, check below for local listings and air times.
Washington DC WRC NBC4
February 21st 9:30 AM
Norfolk: WVEC
February 21st 9:00 AM
Richmond WTVR
February 22nd 11:30 PM
Baltimore WMAR
February 21st 6:30 PM
Charlottesville WVIR
February 21st 9:30 AM
If you drive from the suburbs of D.C. and down through Northern Virginia, you’d hardly see any signs of the financial crisis that swept through the country. From the Mc Mansions of Fairfax and Arlington to the sprawling estates of Clifton; Northern Virginia has some of the wealthiest communities in the country. While there are many within those communities who are struggling, you could never tell from a glance. There is one place, however, that stands out among the upper class communities; Triangle. Over the last several years, Triangle, Virginia has become a virtual ghost town. Boarded up businesses and foreclosed homes fill the landscape of an area that was once a thriving part of Northern Virginia.
Just off the freeway in a dilapidated home lives a single mother named Mary and her son, Elias. Mary had to give up working to care for Elias who suffers from Spina bifida. Requiring, 24 hour care, Elias is confined to a wheel chair and unable to speak. That leaves his mother responsible for literally every single daily activity; from taking showers to brushing his teeth. Because of her inability to work, Mary could not afford the much needed repairs to her home. The list of repairs was a long one; a new roof, HVAC system and the most daunting of them all, repairs to the foundation. She had reached out to many different organizations for help but the scope and size of the job was always more than they could handle.
One Saturday morning, Mary had a rare opportunity to relax and watch TV. She caught an episode of Helping Hands and decided to send a letter requesting assistance. “When I saw the Helping Hands, I was amazed by the things Michael & Son was doing in the community” said Mary. “I just had this feeling that this was the answer” continued Mary. She was right, just days after her letter was sent the repairs on her home were underway. With the help of other local businesses, the family received all the repairs to their home at no cost.
If you or someone you know is currently facing a hardship and is unable to afford home repairs, please contact the Michael & Son Cares Team. Michael & Son Services established their “Cares” charitable campaign in 2010 providing essential home services to local families in need. To date, the program has assisted over 20 families in the area. They are also proud sponsors and supporters of Dreams for kids, Saltwater Soldiers and Susan G. Komen. Michael & Son Services has been serving the greater DC metropolitan area for over 30 years with electrical, plumbing, heating, A/C, construction and handyman services. Make sure you tune in this weekend to see this incredible story for yourself, showtimes listed below.
Our motto has always been, “If you can’t, we can!” Visit us today, at www.michaelandson.com.
Washington DC WRC NBC4
2/7 9:30 – 10:00 AM
2/21 9:30 – 10:00 AM
2/28 9:30 – 10:00 AM
3/14 10:00 – 10:30 AM
3/21 10:00 – 10:30 AM
Norfolk: WVEC
2/7 9:00 AM
2/21 9:00 AM
2/28 9:00 AM
3/14 9:00 AM
3/21 9:00 AM
Richmond WTVR
2/8 11:30 PM
2/22 11:30 PM
2/29 11:30 PM
3/15 11:30 PM
3/22 11:30 PM
Baltimore WMAR
2/7 6:30 PM
2/21 6:30 PM
2/28 6:30 PM
3/14 6:30 PM
3/21 6:30 PM
Charlottesville WVIR
2/7 9:30 – 10:00 AM
2/21 9:30 – 10:00 AM
2/28 9:30 – 10:00 AM
3/14 10:00 – 10:30 AM
3/21 10:00 – 10:30 AM
