Wanda Ritter spent sixteen years living on the streets, and every day she hoped that someone would take the time to hear about her life and assist in seeing that justice was done.
She was standing in the street with a suitcase full of checks and documents that she had never cashed. Nobody took this woman seriously when she said that the government owed her a substantial amount of money—$100,000, to be exact. Most importantly, nobody believed her account and she was viewed as a madman.
After hearing Wanda’s plea one day, Julie Turner, a 56-year-old social worker, made the decision to look more closely at all the files she carried around with her every day. She was surprised to learn that Wanda was being honest. Not as mentally ill as most onlookers thought.
It came out that Wanda was getting checks every month for anything between $300 and $900, but she never cashed them because she thought something wasn’t right. Rather than cashing them, she returned them, thinking that would just cause more problems.
Julie was resolved to put Wanda’s situation right and assist her in getting back on her feet. With perseverance, the two were able to work their way through bureaucratic mazes and make the necessary corrections.
When Wanda eventually received her first Social Security check, for $1,644, it was the beginning of the end for the injustice she had endured for years.
This story serves as a reminder to never give up on humanity because, despite all the apathy, there will always be someone like Julie who will take the time to listen, offer assistance, and improve the world.
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