Washington.- After a Detroit newspaper revealed James Robertson’s story, thousands of Americans showed their solidarity. Despite the difficulties, the man has had perfect attendance for more than 12 yearsHundreds of people have contributed tens of thousands of dollars to help a Detroit man who claims to regularly walk 33 kilometers (21 miles) to and from work, Infobae publishes.
The Detroit Free Press reported that James Robertson boards trucks part of the way to his job at a factory in suburban Rochester Hills, but because they don’t cover the entire route, he ends up walking regarding 8 miles (13 kilometers) before his shift starts at 2 p.m., and 20 kilometers (13 miles) more when it ends at 10. Lately he has been taken by a banker who saw him walking every day and finally asked him what he was doing.
After the newspaper wrote regarding the 56-year-old man’s situation over the weekend, many people began launching initiatives to help him buy a car and pay for insurance. Some have offered to take him for free and others have offered to buy him or give him a car.
Robertson began his daily commute to the factory where he molds parts following his car broke down 10 years ago and bus service was cut. He has had perfect attendance for over 12 years.
“I set our standards for support with this man,” said Todd Wilson, factory manager at Schain Mold & Engineering. “I mean, if this man can get there, walking all those miles in the snow and rain, let me tell you, I have people in Pontiac, 10 minutes away that he says he can’t get to. Bullshit!
Evan Leedy, a 19-year-old student at Wayne State University, read the story and started a GoFundMe website with the goal of raising $5,000. By Monday followingnoon he had raised more than 90,000.
Robertson said he was flattered by the attention and amazed that strangers wanted to help him.
Asked regarding a newly available federal program on Detroit’s bus system that might pick him up at home and drop him off at work, Robertson said: “I would rather they spent the money on a 24-hour transportation system, and not on a small bus for my. This city needs buses at all hours, every day of the week. And they can tell the City Council and the mayor that I said that.
#walked #day #work #donated #thousand
2024-04-25 23:45:57
