Linux Community Strikes Back Against Thuggery

Many of you know the story...

Here's the recap for those that don't....


We gave a disadvantaged family an extremely nice computer through The HeliOS Project and in less than two weeks, their apartment was broken into and everything of value was stolen.

It wasn't just broken  into...the door was ripped from its frame.  You can see the frame repair here.

It happened in broad daylight with dozens of people in close proximity.

You cannot convince me this wasn't gang related.  I've seen the final police report.  19 people were interviewed because they were either neighbors or claimed to be outside in the courtyard when it happened.  I've spent a lot of time in this neighborhood and I know who runs it.

19 people refused to give any information.

19 frightened or criminally-involved people refused to give any information.

It's all irrelevant now.

Last Friday evening, three of us went back to Joe Singleterry's house.  We didn't go simply for moral support.  Skip Guenter, Ron West and myself had better reasons for doing so.

In a blog we wrote last week, we told you of what happened in the Singleterry household.  We told you that Joe didn't have enough money to buy another computer or pay for Internet service.  We also told you that Joe did not have enough money to afford an alarm service for his low income apartment.

He does now.

You saw to it.

We were able to collect enough money for Joe to take care of two year's internet service and a year's subscription for a good alarm system with police response.  His two adopted Nephews, Tommy (17) and Sergio (10) were thrilled.  Not just because they now have internet service.

We also took back the replacement computer we gave them and presented them with an extremely nice dual core Dell XPS model.  We included a 19 inch Samsung wide screen and a 2.1 sound system.  While we did fix it so the family can use their computer for watching TV and movies, the real use of this machine will be to further the boy's education.

Ron West, a close friend and volunteer for The HeliOS Project came 30 miles into town to do the tweaks and debugs to get the entertainment and printing functions working.  

We couldn't have done this without the help of the Linux and FOSS communities, and the money was presented to Joe and his family in your name, not ours.

You handed Joe Singleterry $1185.00 that Friday evening.

Many of you asked for your contributions to be anonymous and to be honest, the family is thankful either way.

People who do care stepped up and fixed a problem for them...a problem that they would not have been able to fix themselves.

I can't thank you enough for doing this.  It moved Joe to tears...the whole thing got a bit misty there for a a few minutes.

But then again, you'd have to be made of stone not to be moved by your accomplishment here.

I am glad you allowed us to be a part of it.



All-Righty Then...