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Heidi Widmer — The Kind 50

Heidi Widmer in the sun, her hair blowing, looks up and away with a small smile.

FOUND FAMILY

Heidi Widmer moved from Buffalo to Los Angeles, looking for a fresh start. On her first night in her new apartment, noise from her upstairs neighbor kept her awake. The noise continued, sometimes sounding like someone was bowling.

Heidi close to the camera, a hand at her mouth and her eyes wet, with a caption about going viral for discovering her upstairs neighbor was a single 86-year-old woman with Parkinson’s.

SHE GREW FRUSTRATED

Weeks later, Heidi saw her upstairs neighbor struggling to take out her recycling and went to help. Her name was Carole.

As Heidi got to know her, she learned that Carole lived alone with Parkinson’s and had no family nearby. The noise she’d been hearing upstairs suddenly made sense. The “bowling” was Carole’s walker.

A gray outdoor staircase with a metal walker standing at its foot.

“YOU DON’T KNOW EVERYONE’S STORY”

Carole’s hand in a patterned sleeve resting on a sofa, with the caption “named Carole.”
A steep outdoor stairway between railings, with the caption “all for one noisy neighbor…”
Heidi sits cross-legged on a floor, fitting a long dark pole.
A vacuum head on gray carpet beside a worn patch.
Heidi in a cap and green tank top holds a white laundry basket against a hedge.

Heidi began taking out Carole’s trash, cooking for her, and spending time with her.

Someone at an open dark door lowers paper grocery bags to the step.
Heidi in a kitchen holds out a small rolled dumpling.
Heidi under an awning looks into the camera over a cardboard box and a heart-print bag.
Heidi seen from below, smiling over a cardboard box and a heart-print bag.

She also shared Carole’s story on social media, including how she gets by on Social Security and SNAP benefits while receiving Medicaid coverage. Soon, thousands of strangers wanted to help, inspiring Heidi to start a GoFundMe for Carole.

A gray outdoor staircase with two metal walkers standing at its foot.Help Carole Live With Comfort & Dignity at 87$79,276 raised
Heidi’s hand holding Carole’s weathered hand.

$75K+

raised for Carole

Heidi you are a helper just like Mister Roger’s always said there are helpers ❤️❤️❤️
This is how you inspire more people to be kind. Love and kindness will save this world ❤️

Heidi and Carole have become more than neighbors. Carole calls Heidi her granddaughter, and Heidi says Carole has given her purpose.

Buffalo is known as the City of Good Neighbors. Heidi brought that to LA and it’s contagious in the best way possible. 🙌 ❤️
Thank you. So many in the Parkinson’s community are left in isolation and are embarrassed to ask for help. You are truly a treasure.
A blurred living room with a blue pillow and a red blanket, captioned “last night she made me bawl like a baby… listen…”
Heidi, in a black sports top, leans over a black walker beside a wooden table.

Change someone’s life—and maybe your own

Start a GoFundMe