WASHINGTON 鈥� As the government shutdown drags on through two full pay periods now, hundreds of thousands of people around the area are looking at a month of no pay, regardless of whether they worked or not.
One Capitol Heights, Maryland, woman is feeling the effects of the shutdown, but was surprised Saturday when a good Samaritan stepped up to help.
鈥淚t鈥檚 hard,鈥� said 58-year-old Audrey Murray-Wright, who is employed by the Smithsonian as a cleaner, and also works as a contractor to help clean the State Department. 鈥淭he bills keep coming, they don鈥檛 care 鈥� It鈥檚 not like I don鈥檛 work. I work! I鈥檓 a taxpayer!鈥�
With both agencies shut down, a second paycheck is about to be missed, and she confessed she didn’t know how she would pay her February mortgage.
Kimberly O鈥橤rady of Arlington reached out to 草莓传媒 and asked if she could help. Saturday morning she showed up at Murray-Wright鈥檚 home with flowers and a gift bag, which included money that will help cover that February mortgage payment.
Today only a furloughed fed in need meets her 鈥渁ngel鈥� who heard her story this week. Hear about the gift she brought with her and all she鈥檚 asking for in return. It鈥檚 a happy story.
鈥� John Domen (@JDDsays)
The two shared smiles, and lots of hugs on Murray-Wright鈥檚 couch. The act of kindness came with only one request from O鈥橤rady: 鈥淧ay it back to somebody else if you鈥檙e in a position to help somebody.鈥�
鈥淲ho鈥檚 going to give me a gift like that?!鈥� Murray-Wright asked, with amazement in her voice and tears in her eyes.
鈥淚鈥檓 so happy I could help,鈥� said O鈥橤rady, as Murray-Wright kept thanking her. 鈥淓verybody needs help sometimes in one form or fashion. I just feel very lucky I was able to find you and help you find your smile in the middle of a struggle.鈥�
After about 10 minutes, O鈥橤rady got up to leave, but not without more hugs from her new friend.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e my angel,鈥� said Audrey-Wright to O鈥橤rady. 鈥淕od bless you. I am so blessed!鈥�
