Though there’s plenty of irrefutable proof that 2016 was a near-complete disaster, there were also some not-so-terrible things that happened, of which we’d like to take stock. Among them were Dolly Parton’s ongoing efforts to help victims of Tennessee’s wildfires, as well as Mike Pence’s unwitting largesse to Planned Parenthood. And The Washington Post reports that Eddie Vedder turned around what might have otherwise been a dismal holiday season for a family in Maryland.
Tyshika Britten recently composed a Craigslist post about the many setbacks her family has endured this year, calling herself a “failure” for having difficulty providing for her children. Britten was, sadly, not the only person who sought help online to try to brighten up what remains of the year for their families. But she and her six children were on the brink of eviction when Britten shared their troubles. Their plight was alluded to in a previous Post article highlighting the additional strain that holidays cause for struggling families. After that, gifts began pouring in the form of toys, electronics, and donations, including a $10,000 from one Eddie Vedder. The Pearl Jam frontman tells the Post he was “just so moved by the story and what this mother did for her children. I thought those kids must be so proud of their mother for reaching out. That takes a lot of courage.” He also admitted that the Brittens’ story reminded him of the lean times he had growing up.
Vedder’s name didn’t ring a bell for Britten right away, but the family began watching Pearl Jam concert videos on a loop once they learned of his alt-rock-god status. For his part, Vedder said he was just happy to help them get back on their feet.