Lee, a 93-year-old WWII veteran, is one of the many victims of the recent California wildfires. After living for decades in the Paradise, CA home designed by his late wife, Lee lost his home and all of his belongings in the destructive Camp Fire in late 2018. Lee was homeless and living in his car when he encountered Tracy, who was handing out food to the needy.
Tracy, a resident of Oreville, CA, was so moved by Lee’s harrowing story as well as his good-natured personality, that she and her boyfriend invited Lee to move in with them for as long as he needed. Moving into their home proved to be a challenge for Lee, who needs certain accommodations to support his physical condition. one2one USA was working with the HBO global distribution team to bring aid to the victims of the California wildfires, and came across Lee’s story.
After presenting Lee’s compelling story and needs to HBO, the team decided to issue a grant to Lee for home furnishings and other necessary accommodations. As a result of this generous donation, one2one was able to provide Lee with helpful items such as a lift chair and walker, home furnishings for his temporary new home, as well as replacing certain cherished items he had lost in the fire. Lee is forever grateful for all the kindness he has received in these hard times, stating, “I am so grateful I can’t express myself, how they’ve been helping me.”