Posted on Sat, Aug. 02, 2008
'Little yard sale' to help WWII vet turns into outpouring of support

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FORT WORTH — Lidia Perez's prayers were answered.

And answered. And answered. And answered.

The blessings showered on 88-year-old John Martinek — a World War II veteran who has been living in her back bedroom since his house burned down in May — have made Perez feel a bit like a waitress at the miracle of the loaves and fishes.

"I was going to have a little yard sale," she said Friday after an all-day crush of people on her lawn handing over twenties, fifties and hundreds to benefit Martinek. "I am so surprised. But I knew the Lord heard my prayers."

Perez, a 53-year-old hairdresser who lives in a house built by Habitat for Humanity, opened her home to Martinek 12 weeks ago when she found him living in a camper behind his charred house in north Fort Worth and learned that he'd been washing up in a McDonald's.

He is a widower, has no children and gets only $550 a month from Social Security. He had no homeowner's insurance.

Perez had been struggling to find ways to help Martinek, both with immediate needs and more permanent housing. That is, until a reader contacted the Star-Telegram, which published an article about their friendship Thursday and highlighted Perez's garage sale Friday and today.

The outpouring from North Texans since then has been nothing less than extraordinary. The first day of the garage sale brought in close to $13,000.

"When you go through life day after day, you don't think about anything like this, and you don't realize there are so many nice people," Martinek said, resting in the shade, his eyes brimming with tears and his voice catching. "It's amazing."

At 7:30 a.m. Thursday, a young man showed up at Perez's house with a full bed and sheets. (Martinek had been sleeping on the floor because Perez could not afford a bed.)

People brought items for Perez's garage sale. Veterans groups offered to help him get benefits. Someone brought him a new cap that said WORLD WAR II VET in big, bold letters. Readers called to find out how to donate to his Wells Fargo account. People such as Jim and Jane Cox, who live in Keller, and Debbra Ledbetter from Arlington showed up at 6 a.m. to help and stayed most of the day.

Shoppers, such as Teresa Weaver and her 10-year-old daughter Cori, drove from Saginaw to buy a couple of small items and grossly overpay. Weaver ended up crying with Martinek in the yard.

"What [Lidia] was willing to do for him means that we all have to do what we can to help," she said.

Many people said they were as touched by Perez's generosity as they were by Martinek's misfortune.

Marcus Hernandez, who also lives in Keller, came to the garage sale early Friday to have Perez's Ford Explorer fixed. The vehicle has been without air conditioning for months.

"She refused me, repeatedly," he said. "She said this is about Mr. Martinek, not her."

Perez does not want to be part of the story, although her wish to be left out has yet to be granted.

"From my deepest heart, I have already been blessed by having this experience with Mr. Martinek," she said.

Leaders of the Trinity Habitat for Humanity also went to the garage sale and looked at Martinek's property. Martinek has so little monthly income that he does not qualify for a Habitat house, which requires some financial buy-in from the homeowner.

But Gage Yager, the executive director, said his organization would do all it could in the coming days to find a solution.

The Department of Veterans Affairs and the Texas Veterans Commission are also looking into what benefits or pensions Martinek is entitled to for his combat service in the Army.

But with the $13,000 donated Friday, Martinek's financial picture and his wish for a new home has brightened considerably.

"It's going to happen now," Perez said.

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When you go through life day after day, you don't think about anything like this, and you don't realize there are so many nice people. It's amazing."
John Martinek