Pennsylvania man who requested friends for Thanksgiving gets overwhelming response
by Bob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
ARCHIBALD. Pa. -
All Carl Braun wanted was some friends for Thanksgiving. Members of a Pennsylvania community stepped up to make sure he was not alone.
Braun left a message on WNEP's "Talkback 16" line Wednesday night, the television station reported.
"I've got a request. I don't want no food. How about some friends? Fifteen years, I haven't had anybody to spend Thanksgiving with -- my birthday, Christmas, New Year's. It's getting boring as hell, but I love what you're doing to help other people," Braun said in his message.
More than 100 people braved rainy weather and gathered in Archibald to wish Braun a Happy Thanksgiving, WNEP reported.
That came after officials at the television station called Braun, 60, a disabled veteran.
"I seriously thought it was a joke," Braun told WNEP.
It wasn't. Thanks to word of mouth and social media, people gathered at a park in Archibald to pass along Thanksgiving wishes to the lonely guy.
"I just could not believe that many people did have open hearts, that cared," Braun told the television station.
Braun suddenly had an invitation for Thanksgiving dinner and has already been invited to a Christmas Eve bash.
"In over 25 years, since I lost my mom, this is one of the first Thanksgivings where I can actually say I'm having fun," Braun told WNEP.