He Said She Wouldn't Owe Him a Cent

Nana Abernathy was 85 years old, recently widowed, and out of firewood. She called a local tree removal company in Connelly Springs, North Carolina, hoping they might spare some wood she couldn't yet afford. She told them to come back for payment after her next Social Security check arrived.

He Wasn't Coming Back for Money

Paul Brittain, owner of Brittain's Tree and Crane Services, took the call himself. He loaded up a delivery and drove to her home.

In a video he posted before arriving, Brittain told his phone camera: "Little does she know, we ain't gonna charge her."

When Abernathy opened the door and heard him say the wood was free, she broke down in tears.

"I ain't coming back for no money," Brittain told her at the door.

Abernathy called it "the nicest Christmas present I could get."

He Kept Coming Back

Brittain returned several more times.

He and his team put new tires on her car, repaired her leaking roof, and fixed her heating and air conditioning unit - all at no cost.

They also cleaned her gutters and tidied the yard.

Brittain later said that even though his business had been slow, it felt like the right thing to do.

The Internet Stepped In

Brittain posted short videos of his visits to TikTok and Facebook.

The clips went viral, reaching millions of views.

The response was overwhelming.

On December 6, 2025, Brittain launched a GoFundMe titled "Coming Together for Nana Abernathy's Wellbeing."

The goal was $22,000.

More than 470 donors came through.

Brittain announced the result himself: "We raised almost 20k for Miss Abernathy. She said thank you all."

A Phone Call That Changed Everything

Abernathy had called a stranger asking for firewood.

She got a repaired home, a safe car, and thousands of dollars from people she would never meet.