John Kinney was fixing a damaged light fixture at Gloria Scott’s Woburn residence recently when he noticed how dilapidated and run-down her home was.
There was extensive plumbing damage, there were holes in the ceiling, raccoons were getting in, there was no running water and the kitchen sink was broken and leaking.
After completing the job, Kinney went home — but he kept thinking about Scott, and how she disclosed that she lived alone and couldn’t afford repairs.
Kinney told CNN — “I knew she needed help and I knew she wasn’t going to ask for it.”
So the electrician decided to take action — first, by working on Scott’s home by himself for free, before getting some friends and volunteers involved.
Kinney decided to create a Facebook fundraiser called “Nice old lady needs help” , where he called on the community for their assistance in order to complete her renovations.
Today, over a month since their repairs first began, more than $105,000 has been raised to help Kinney pay for materials.
Local restaurants have even donated meals to the skilled professionals and volunteers, who have been dubbed “Gloria’s Gladiators.“
Kinney said, “It’s about getting the whole community to be gladiators and fighting for people who can’t fight for themselves.”