MEMPHIS, Tenn. — An 84-year-old woman had a roof over her head on Tuesday, thanks to some caring WREG viewers.
WREG first told Virdie Burns’ story last week after she was sitting in front of her home in the stifling heat after being evicted and robbed.
“I’m just so elated to know that God still got people out there that care for one another,” said Burns.
On Tuesday, 84-year-old Burns was nothing but smiles.
She’s safe and said she was grateful to the WREG viewers that helped her out.
“I appreciate everything that everyone has done for me. Although a lot of them come by I wasn’t looking for them to give me anything. I just wanted to know that they care,” she said.
Last week Ms. Burns sat outside in the sweltering temperatures with all of her things after she was evicted from her Whitehaven apartment.
She even sat through Tuesday night’s destructive storm because she had nowhere to go.
To make things worse, a few days before her eviction Ms. Burns was robbed as she was walking to a bus stop to pay her rent.
All of her money and other personal possessions like her ID and phone were stolen.
After seeing the story, dozens of people wanted to help.
One woman paid for Burns to stay several days in a hotel.
“It just touched me in a way that nothing touched me,” said Ricco Tunstall, who also saw Burns’ story.
He and his friends raised money on Facebook.
Another viewer, Davin Clemons, from radio station KWAM raised money through a GoFundMe account.
“We are the beloved community, and this is the second commandment to love thy neighbor as thy self,” he explained.
This weekend Clemons gave Burns all of the money they raised.
“Whatever you need we’re going to help you out,” he said as he gave Burns a check.
Burns also said the Memphis Police Officers that helped her after she was robbed gave her a donation as well.
Burns was staying in South Memphis.
WREG was told she would be moving into a more permanent home later this week.
After all that she has been through, she said she just hoped her story proved to be a lesson for others.
“You got to love one another. You got to love one another down here,” she said.