It’s always heartwarming to see a community of people come together to raise just one person’s spirits.
Every now and then, a story surfaces that demonstrates the truth behind the saying, “many hands make light work,” as we saw with this little girl bolstered when her whole town turned out to celebrate her 10th birthday.
When we all chip in a little bit to help the people around us, whether we offer time, money, or just a kind word, our combined efforts lift the whole world up a little bit. After all, life is about the little things!
Right now a whole host of little gestures are making a huge difference in the life of one lovely fellow who greets people every day at the YMCA in Willoughby, Ohio.
His name is Bill, and his story is sure to make you smile!
Scroll through the gallery below to learn more about how folks from all over the world are making Bill’s days brighter!
This is Bill, a greeter at the YMCA in Willoughby, Ohio.
Bill has cerebral palsy, a movement disorder that affects muscle tone and control, and needs a wheelchair to get around.
He also lives in a nursing home, where he gets treatment and assistance with his day-to-day activities.
Despite the limitations of the disorder, Bill has never let cerebral palsy stop him from doing his job.
Every day, he is dropped off at the West End YMCA in Willoughby.
Three days a week he exercises with a volunteer trainer or with the Y director, and he spends the rest of his time greeting each and every person that walks into the Y with a smile or the offer of a high-five.
The only problem? Very few people smile back, or even notice that Bill is there.
Fortunately, one fellow gym-goer, Todd, pictured above, is a longtime pal of Bill's who always stops for a quick chat, and he decided he needed to do something.
Bill often told him that their chats were the highlight of his day, and expressed gratitude that someone would take the time to sit and talk when so many people walked right on by.
According to a post online, "Sometimes he cries because nobody will sit and talk to him or even give a hi 5, which is his only job."
Bill just loves making people happy, but other folks weren't always in the mood to return the favor.
So Todd hatched a plan.
He took to Imgur, an photo-sharing website, to rally the community to Bill's cause.
Little did he know, the director of the West End YMCA, Clint Simons — another dedicated fan of Bill's — had spotted the post, and wanted to help!
Together, the two men informed the internet community of things that make Bill happy; he loves corny jokes, blue tie-dye t-shirts, and, because he's a true patriot, he just loves anything that celebrates America, especially bald eagles.
Folks all over the world saw the list of Bill's favorite things, and decided collectively that it was time for Bill to finally get some smiles back!
Pretty soon, postcards and packages were flooding in from all over the country, and beyond.
Bill received piles of postcards and letter from new friends, and plenty of swag reflecting his very favorite themes!
Every time more mail came in, Simons, the Y director, would help organize it.
It's good that Bill had some help, because he was so delighted and overwhelmed by the outpouring of love that he probably would have floated off in a sea of fan mail without some assistance!
His buddies report that every time Bill read one of his new friends' corny jokes, he would dissolve into peals of laughter.
The classic "dad jokes" were full of delightful silliness.
One stand out? "What kind of bird doesn't need a comb? A bald eagle!"
It wasn't all just goofiness though; Bill is deeply passionate about his love for America, and plenty of people sent him lovely, patriotic trinkets, like this knit rose in red, white, and blue.
Simons put together a whole wall of Bill's letters and postcards to remind everyone how much Bill's smiles mean to the YMCA community and to the world.
And the flood of well-wishes had a dramatic effect on Bill too.
In one update post, Todd tells his readers, "Sometimes, he goes silent. He's praying because he's thankful. He believes that God sent me and you [Imgur users] to bring him some happiness. Whatever you believe, he's truly a happy man."
In an email to LittleThings, Simons added, "Our wish is that people stop for a moment and simply look around. Everywhere there are people that are in need. Bill says it best: "Everyone has a disability, whether it's outside or on the inside." Find someone who is hurting and love them, even be it for a brief moment. That's what makes life meaningful."
If you'd like to send something to Bill, or donate the Lake County YMCA in honor of Bill, you can find more information on their website and on Imgur.
And if this truly beautiful story of friendship and good cheer warmed your heart, please be sure to SHARE with friends and family!
