Residents of a small town found out the man had been paying for their prescriptions
A small town in Alabama recently found out that local farmer Hody Childress, donated money to the town’s pharmacy. The man did this to pay for the bills of some of the residents. The secret came out after Childress died on January 1st. His legacy is a fund for people who don’t have insurance and can not pay for their own medication.
Secret
Hody Childress, who was a farmer in Geraldine, Alabama, got inspired to start his acts of generosity when he visited the local pharmacy. The owner of Geraldine Drugs told him that some families don’t have the money to pay for their own, much needed, medication. Childress, who was moved by this story, decided to take action.
He handed the owner, Brooke Walker, a hundred dollars and told her to keep it and use it for anyone who can not pay for their medication themselves. Walker told the Washington Post that Childress wanted to keep this a secret. According to Walker, he said: “Do not tell a soul that money came from me… If they ask, just tell them it’s a blessing from the Lord.” Every time Childress visited the pharmacy, he would hand Walker another hundred-dollar bill. This eventually would add up to over a thousand dollars in donations. And with that money, two people a month were able to get their prescriptions.
Reveal
The secret was revealed by Childress’ daughter. When the farmer and US air force veteran got sick and realized he might pass away soon, he wanted to keep his fund going. And so, he asked his daughter Tania Nix to do it for him after he died. Nix told the Post: “He told me he’d been carrying a $100 bill to the pharmacist in Geraldine on the first of each month, and he didn’t want to know who she’d helped with it – he just wanted to bless people with it.” At his funeral, Childress’ daughter revealed the secret. After that, the word spread and the town of Geraldine got inspired by the farmer’s selfless act. Other people started contributing to the fund that is still going strong.
According to pharmacist Heather Walker, this was the perfect tribute to the life of Hody Childress. She told WVTM: “There are so many people in Geraldine who have lived longer because of Hody… [he] was a true humble servant who will always be loved.”
Also read: Acts of kindness: a new cure for depression and anxiety
Source: The Guardian, WVTM, Washington Post | Image: Unsplash, amjd rdwan