Couple ‘blessed’ to give back
A Wallaceburg couple is hoping a simple heartfelt Christmas gesture may spark community spirit and faith.
Dave and Anita Hyatt are offering to give $1,000 to a family struggling to pay rent or mortgage payments at what can be a difficult financial time of the year for many.
“We have been blessed that our hard work has put us in a position to help others,” Dave said. “We’ve seen how high rent and mortgage payments are causing a lot of financial pain and we just want to help.”
Dave, 64, is preparing to retire after a lifetime of working in construction, but life has been far from easy for the Wallaceburg native.
“When we bought our first house in the 1980s, we paid a 13-per-cent interest rate and when we renewed, we were at 21 per cent,” he said. “After fighting to make payments for a while, we just couldn’t do it anymore. I remember Anita crying when it was time to walk away from our first home.”
Although the interest rates now aren’t as high as they were then, Dave said the couple had more opportunity to bounce back than many do today.
“We had good-paying manufacturing jobs,” he said. “We didn’t have the number of people relying on food banks and we didn’t have to deal with the real pandemic of drugs or the homelessness that exists now.”
Anita said the poverty facing many today may be even worse than people realize. “There are people who won’t go to get help because they are too proud to take charity,” she said. “There shouldn’t be any shame in going through tough times.
“In a country as rich as ours, there should be no hunger or homelessness. We have more than we need in Canada. The amount of inequality is a disgrace.”
The couple said they have faith in humanity and the community.
“Years ago, the people of Wallaceburg built an arena and a hospital mostly on their own,” Dave said. “We are too apathetic now. People have lost faith in the idea that by stepping forward to help each other they can help the entire town. We all just need to get involved and do what we can and things can get better.”
To be considered for the $1,000 gift, the couple is asking that individuals send an email to dave-hyatt@hotmail.com
The recipient will be notified on Dec. 24 and the funds will be applied directly to rent or mortgage payments in January.
Since making the offer on Dave’s Facebook page, the couple has received several e-mails. “We’re asking that people only send an e-mail if they truly need the money,” Dave said.
“Some of the stories people have sent are just heartbreaking,” Anita added.
