Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

For nearly two decades, Linda Taylor had called a house in Minneapolis her home. When she was suddenly told she had two months to vacate, the news left her devastated. The idea of leaving behind the place she cherished was unbearable. "It felt like the world had been pulled from under me," she told The Washington Post. "My house means everything to me."





Her housing troubles stemmed from a confusing real estate deal. Taylor first acquired the home in 2004, but a complicated transaction led to the property reverting to a previous owner. That person allowed her to continue living there as a renter. Two years later, the house changed hands again after the owner became entangled in a mortgage fraud scheme, and it was eventually purchased by Greg Berendt, the landlord who would later attempt to evict her.

Giphy


In early 2022, Taylor received a shocking notice: she had until April 1 to vacate the property. Berendt offered to sell her the home but at a steep price of $299,000. If she couldn't come up with the money, she would have to leave. The stress of the situation was overwhelming. "I could not sleep, I could not eat. I felt really defeated," she admitted.


"I'm going to do something about it. This is my house." — Linda Taylor



Taylor had worked for a local nonprofit for three years before losing her job during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even without a steady paycheck, she managed to keep up with the $1,400 monthly rent, using her life savings, financial aid from family, and support from government programs like RentHelpMN—a pandemic-era initiative aimed at preventing homelessness. But with her savings dwindling, the situation looked bleak, but she didn't give up. She said to herself, "I'm going to do something about it. This is my house."

Giphy


A longtime friendship with Andrew Fahlstrom, a neighbor across the street, would soon change everything. Fahlstrom, a housing rights organizer, had seen how much Taylor meant to the neighborhood and felt compelled to act. "She has always been the one in the neighborhood who greets everyone," he said. Recognizing the urgency of her situation, he reached out to other residents to brainstorm a solution.

Support for Taylor quickly gained momentum. Word spread throughout Powderhorn Park, and soon, more than 400 neighbors joined forces to help. The group drafted a letter to Berendt, urging him to negotiate a lower sale price. Their collective effort resulted in a June 30 deadline and a reduced price of $250,000—still a significant sum, but slightly more manageable.



With the purchase deadline set, the community launched a fundraising mission. Organizers hosted block parties, art events, and social media campaigns to raise awareness and collect donations. A crowdfunding page drew contributions ranging from $5 to $15,000, but the most substantial boost came from a local church, which donated $200,000 to the cause.

Giphy


After four months of relentless fundraising, the campaign surpassed its goal, collecting $275,000—enough for Taylor to buy the home. Additional funds were allocated for repairs and overdue utility bills, ensuring she could remain in her house without financial strain.


"She has always been the one in the neighborhood who greets everyone." — Andrew Fahlstrom


By the end of May 2022, Taylor signed the purchase documents, officially becoming the owner of the home she had loved for years. Overwhelmed with gratitude, she expressed what the moment meant to her. "When it's yours, it gives you a different type of feeling," she said. "I'm safe, I'm secure, and I have a home... I'm here to help the next person and the next person and the next person."




"I'm going to do something about it. This is my house." — Linda Taylor

More For You

The Challenger disaster unfolded live on TV. Their last words remain unforgettable.

Space exploration has always carried great risks, but few tragedies have been as devastating as the Challenger disaster. On January 28, 1986, the STS-51L mission took off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, carrying seven crew members who had trained for months for their journey into space.

Just 73 seconds after liftoff, the Challenger shuttle disintegrated, taking the lives of everyone on board. The last recorded words from the crew—spoken in the seconds before the explosion—have since become a chilling part of spaceflight history.

Keep ReadingShow less
She knew she wouldn’t win gold. So she did something no Olympic skater had ever dared.
Representative photo by kirklai | Unsplash

She knew she wouldn’t win gold. So she did something no Olympic skater had ever dared.

Some athletes are remembered for their medals, but others become icons for their fearless defiance. Surya Bonaly, a French figure skater known for her power and innovation, made history at the 1998 Nagano Olympics with a move so daring it was illegal—a backflip landed on one blade.

Though she never won Olympic gold, Bonaly’s legendary stunt remains one of the most unforgettable moments in figure skating history.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kathleen Thorson, her husband, and four children in the hospital.

Having ushered four lives into the world, Kathleen then made a choice that would save 12 more.

GoFundMe

After welcoming her newborn, this mom's final act of love saved 12 lives

Kathleen Thorson had a beautiful life—a loving husband, Jesse, and four cherished children, including their newborn son, Teddy. But just days after welcoming her baby, Kathleen suffered a devastating brain hemorrhage. Despite every medical effort, she would not recover. Instead of focusing on her own tragedy, Kathleen chose to leave behind a powerful legacy: donating 12 of her organs to those in desperate need.

Kathleen’s extraordinary act of generosity was nearly unheard of. Organ donations of this magnitude are incredibly rare, making her final gift even more remarkable. A GoFundMe campaign was launched to support Jesse and their children—Danny, Grace, James, and Teddy—helping them navigate life without her.

Keep ReadingShow less
Friends host beautiful weekly themed parties for woman diagnosed with terminal brain cancer
woman in blue denim jacket with red rose on ear
Photo by Becca Tapert on Unsplash

Friends host beautiful weekly themed parties for woman diagnosed with terminal brain cancer

The news of a terminal illness can be taken so many ways. Heartbreaking and devastating, it can easily sink the spirits of everyone who cares about the person. But for party planner Maggie Langston ( @langston_living), she was determined to not let her best friend Amanda's terminal brain tumor steal the joy from their remaining time together.

"Amanda was my dear friend, my fellow hostess, and the life of every party!💃When she was diagnosed with brain cancer, we didn’t wait for the ‘right time’ to celebrate—we made every moment count," she wrote in the caption.

Keep ReadingShow less
A bartender.

Representative Image: Sometimes the person behind the bar is has more to offer than just drinks.

Bartender’s clever note helps two women escape harassment at a Florida bar

A bartender in Florida is earning widespread praise after his quick thinking helped protect two women from an aggressive man at his bar. Trinity Allie shared the experience on Twitter, highlighting how bartender Max Gutierrez subtly intervened when he noticed a stranger persistently harassing her and her friend.

Posting a photo of Gutierrez holding a small clipboard, Allie wrote:

Keep ReadingShow less