Business owner, strangers clean out struggling widower’s home for free: ‘I wanted to help’

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (WJAR) — A 22-year-old Rhode Island man helped a widower in a tough spot with a free whole-house cleanout and a fundraiser.

Henry Milder, owner of HM Home Improvement, and his crew started a whole-house cleanout early Sunday morning along Juniper Lane in Wakefield.

Milder is doing the job for free.

Milder said his business offers several services, including house and garage cleanouts and landscaping work.

“I have a lot of services I offer, so if people have a house they need cleaned out, or garage or any landscaping work, they can give me a call,” Milder said.

The homeowner

David Garasole, 62, lives in the home with his pet parrot, Roxy.

“This is the house I grew up in. It was my parents’ house in 1974,” Garasole said.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988.

Garasole said his wife Tracy, the love of his life, lived in the home. She died by suicide 10 years ago after battling depression.

“I’m not over it. She died and all my bills doubled and everything. I’ve been trying to keep the house afloat,” Garasole said.

Garasole’s work as a painter slowed down. Items piled up in the home.

“It’s just depressing to be in here and I had to get out,” Garasole said.

The job

A search online led Garasole to Milder.

Milder said Garasole called him and said he needed his house cleaned out.

So, Milder came to look at the job.

Garasole said he became emotional while talking with Milder because he was embarrassed about the mess and the amount of clutter.

“He doesn’t even have heat in the house right now,” Milder said. “It’s no way a man should live, so I wanted to help him out, and he’s in a tough spot.”

Instead of giving Garasole a price, Milder told him he would do the job for free.

“He didn’t believe me. He really didn’t believe me. He was like, ‘Are you actually going to come back?’ I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m going to come back, David,’” Milder said.

Volunteers

Milder reached out to his local community for additional help. Employees, friends and strangers volunteered their time.

“I was so surprised because no one ever does that,” Garasole said.

Garasole said that, item by item, he can breathe a little better.

“All these kids, they’re all just nice wanting to help me. Look at the stuff,” Garasole said.

Milder said he spent about two hours talking with Garasole at the home, and Garasole became emotional and thanked him.

“That response alone kind of made it worth it, just seeing how thankful and how much this is going to help him out,” Milder said.

Additional help

Garasole said Milder offered to help him move into an apartment.

“He even said he would help me move into my apartment,” Garasole said.

A GoFundMe was added to provide funds to help Garasole get back on his feet.

“We just met once. That’s it, and now we’re friends for life, and I can’t believe what he did for me,” Garasole said.