Get Marty: Veterans Bring Christmas Miracle To Family In Need
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A group of men, who have already given so much, wanted to give even more this holiday season.
The group consisting of mostly veterans had a dump truck full of toys, but they needed to "Get Marty" to help them find a family in need.
Christmas comes calling in some many ways. In Monroeville, it's a bunch of guys carrying groceries -- most of them veterans, with big, big hearts.
So big, they sent KDKA-TV's Marty Griffin an email reading, "My brother and I have a waste removal company called G.I. Haul. We are post-9/11 veterans, and we are looking for help in locating a few underprivileged families to donate a 15-cubic-yard dump truck of toys."
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"We wanted to reach out to a family that was in need and just help somebody directly," Mike McCloskey said.
In the Randall home, the men from G.I. Haul found a family in need – Jay and Diana Randall and their five kids.
Diana's car was broadsided a few weeks ago with her 16-year-old daughter in the passenger seat. Her daughter is out of the hospital, but Diana is still in intensive care.
"Her pelvis was broken on both sides. Her leg was shattered, they had to put a rod in that. They had to put screws in her hips. Her arm was shattered in three places, they had to put a plate in that," Jay said. "She was losing blood, they gotta keep giving her blood."
In the middle of that madness, Jay Randall's mom sent Marty Griffin a plea for help: "My son had to quit his job to take care of the five children. He needs bills paid. They don't even have a Christmas tree. I know that you are the best guy in the world to turn to. Please help my family."
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The kids will have their Christmas, all five of them. The men from G.I. Haul dropped off the Christmas tree Wednesday, and the kids decorated it. On Thursday, lots and lots of food. On Christmas Day, the big truck will be full of toys.
"If there's anybody out there that's in need and you're in a position to help them, put your hand out and help," McCloskey said. "That's it, that's what we believe in."
With Dad home with five kids and Mom hospitalized, bills pile up fast. Pittsburgh attorney Jon Perry and his charity Pennies from Heaven sent a $1,000 check.
"I've been very blessed in my life," Perry said. "And not a day goes by that I don't thank God for the blessings that I have, and I'm able to do what I can do. So my wife and I are both dedicated to helping people who need help."
Jay Randall is a prideful man, a humble man, a quiet man. TV is not his element. However, he gets this and appreciates all of it.
"It's amazing how there's people out there that really care," he said. "That's great. They come and bring toys. They don't have to do it, so that's great."
Bigger than most elves, but elves none the less. A cumbersome-looking sleigh, but it does the trick. Christmas came to Monroeville Thursday in big trucks with big-hearted veterans bringing joy.
