PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — A generous WPTV viewer saw the story about a disabled veteran who was fearing homelessness and stepped in to help, donating enough money to the veteran to cover her recent rent increase.
"Nobody cares. They don't care," Laura Guilmain, a disabled veteran and single mother, said.
That's how Guilmain felt when WPTV spoke with her earlier this week.
"I got the notification of $1,100 and I thought it was a typo," Guilmain said.
Her rent is skyrocketing from $2,100 a month to $3,200 and her Housing and Urban Development voucher through a program for homeless veterans won't cover it.
Guilmain and her daughter, Karson, are hoping to stay in their Palm Beach Gardens home because they don't have a car and it's less than 2 miles away from the Veterans Affairs hospital and Karson's high school.
After the original story about Guilmain and Karson aired on Thursday, WPTV heard from a generous viewer who wanted to help.
"I saw your story last night and I was touched," Babe, who didn't want to share her last name, told Guilmain. "I know how difficult it is to be a single mom and then on top of that the weight of losing your home. You need a lifeline and I want to help you. Here's a check for $10,000 and I'll be your lifeline. It helps everybody to help somebody."
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She gave her a cashier's check. The $10,000 is enough to cover the increase in rent for a year.
"When she said she felt like nobody cares, I'm like, 'I care,'" Babe told WPTV. "There's people who care."
On top of that, since the first story aired, Guilmain and her daughter have raised more than $6,000 on their GoFundMe page.
"I want to pinch myself and say, 'Is this really happening?'" Guilmain said. "It's like an out-of-body experience."
Guilmain is now working with attorneys and her landlord, hoping to soon sign a new lease.
Editor's Note: Guilmain's landlord eventually replied to Bruno on April 28, saying she has given Guilmain until the end of May to stay in her home.