The holidays can be a difficult time of the year for people who aren’t able to spend it with loved ones. Every commercial, every jingle, every bit of holiday cheer seems to be designed to play off the love you have for family and friends and can leave those without them feeling more alone than ever.
One self-described grandmother who was already feeling lonely in anticipation of the holiday season decided to do something about it.
The anonymous woman posted a Craigslist ad, asking if anybody needed a stand-in grandmother for Christmas this year.
“I have nobody and would really like to be part of a family,” she wrote, breaking all of our hearts in the process. “I cook and I can cook dinner. I’ll even bring food & gifts for the kids! I HAVE NOBODY AND IT REALLY HURTS! Let me be a part of your family.”
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2583805991852072&set=a.1506529812913034&type=3&theater
Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before the post was taken down. The hopeful grandma was allegedly receiving too much hate from people who either ridiculed her or assumed she was up to no good.
“That really broke my heart reading that because my mom was alone on her last Christmas,” Carson Carlock, who first shared a screenshot of the post on Facebook, told Fox 2 Now.
Others began taking note of her plea as well, even after she took it down. They are moved by the idea of this lonely woman reaching out and offering to cook and buy gifts just so she wouldn’t have to spend Christmas by herself.
“This got me in the feels,” one person tweeted. “No elderly person should have to spend Xmas alone.”
https://twitter.com/FunkTheSystem13/status/1205937971205033984
Let us hope she finds a lovely family. Loneliness is not very nice at any time of the year ♡♡♡
— Sarah , Lucy,Nella and Wurzel . (@wurzel260654) December 14, 2019
https://twitter.com/Tuesgay3/status/1205611567074750467
I hope this Grandma gets several invitations! Yep, I’m crying.
— 💨🧝🏻♀️ STONED ELF 🏳️🌈 (@Stoned_Elf_Lord) December 13, 2019
“Grandma" looking for family to spend Christmas with goes viral on Craigslist https://t.co/IMKulvW3Oj
Carlock’s post alone has racked up over a thousand comments and over 6,000 shares as people try to find the woman who posted the ad.
Carlock said he was able to get in touch with the anon grannie just for long enough to find out her name is Carrie. He said she was hesitant to actually take him up on his offer to spend Christmas with him due to the negative reactions her post had been getting. After the post was taken down, he lost touch.
But that hasn’t stopped him, and others, from trying to find her and make sure she doesn’t have to spend her holidays without a family.
“I hope that she sees the news and comes forward,” he wrote on Sunday. “But let’s not limit our Christmas love to just her! If you are an elder that will be alone this Christmas, please reach out.”
https://www.facebook.com/carson.d.carlock/posts/2586554504910554
Here’s to hoping Carrie, and any other grandmas and grandpas feeling alone for the holidays, are able to find a home that welcomes them to join in on the Christmas celebrations.
READ MORE: