'It came from the heart': Ontario woman offers homeless man job on her farm on the spot
CTV
An Ontario woman’s decision to hire a man experiencing homelessness to work on her farm on a whim is showing the power of kindness and the ability of community to change lives.
An Ontario woman’s decision to hire a man experiencing homelessness to work on her farm on a whim is showing the power of kindness and the ability of community to change lives.
Three weeks ago, Danielle MacDuff saw Brian Bannister reading a book and collecting change in her town of Newcastle, Ont. She decided to strike up a conversation, she said, and they ended up talking for 25 minutes before she invited Bannister to work on her farm the next day.
“It floored me. It just came from the heart with her and I got to thank her every day,” an emotional Bannister told CTV News Toronto Wednesday from the farm.
At the time, Bannister said he was living in a shed. The 60-year-old said he has overcome addiction, survived abuse and lost two wives, one in a crash, the other to cancer, and over the past two years had “given up”. Then came Danielle’s offer.
“He’s so kind, compassionate he’s amazing with my children, my animals,” MacDuff said. “And his willingness to help me on the farm is very, very much appreciated.”
Every day, MacDuff, Bannister, and the other staff clean stalls haul hay and care for 200 animals including goats, cows, horses and dogs. They work morning and afternoon shifts and take a rest in the middle of the day. MacDuff drives Bannister back and forth to town.
