Alabama Farmer Secretly Paid His Neighbors' Pharmacy Bills for Years Hody Childress quietly left cash at his local pharmacy for people who couldn't afford their medicine.

By Dan Bova

Smith Collection/Gado | Getty Images

Just when you think everyone and everything in the world is awful, there comes a story like this that gives you hope.

In a recent article for the New York Times, Emily Schmall tells an incredible story of generosity and community. After the recent passing of Hody Childress, a farmer who lived in Geraldine, Ala., residents of the town learned that since 2010, Childress had been visiting the local pharmacy, Geraldine Drugs, and giving the pharmacist Dr. Walker a crisp $100 bill to help anyone who couldn't afford to pay for much-needed medication.

Speaking to the Times, Dr. Walker recalled Childress telling her, "'I want it to be anonymous. I don't want to know any details on who you use it on, just tell them this is a blessing from the Lord.'"

Related: MacKenzie Scott, Formerly Bezos, Donates Another $2.7 Billion

Childress continued his monthly donations until 2022, when he became too ill to make the trip. At that point, he looped in his daughter, Tania Nix, to make his special deliveries.

One of the recipients of Childress's fund was Bree Schlageter, the mother of a 15-year-old boy who was in need of a lifesaving EpiPen, which is used to treat severe allergic reactions and costs, on average, $690. Schlageter says she started crying when the pharmacist reached into the cash envelope and informed her that it was taken care of, no charge.

Upon learning about the donor's identity, Schlageter was taken aback, telling the Times, "What he doesn't know, now that he's in heaven, is that he helped a kid that works on a farm that he started. Look at that circle."

Related: Even the Smallest Acts of Generosity Make You Happier, New Study

The Washington Post was the first to reveal Childress's generosity, and it has since inspired the hearts and wallets of like-minded people. Both Childress's daughter, Nix, and Dr. Walker say that they have received calls and messages on social media from people across the country who want to donate, with one saying that he was going to approach his local pharmacy to go about setting up a "Hody Childress account" for people in his town.

Nix explained that her father grew up poor, and he felt a calling to help those in need. "I think he felt like he couldn't not give," she told the Times. "Giving that way, that just got on his heart, and he felt like he needed to do it."

Dan Bova

Entrepreneur Staff

VP of Special Projects

Dan Bova is the VP of Special Projects at Entrepreneur.com. He previously worked at Jimmy Kimmel Live, Maxim, and Spy magazine. His latest books for kids include This Day in History, Car and Driver's Trivia ZoneRoad & Track Crew's Big & Fast Cars, The Big Little Book of Awesome Stuff, and Wendell the Werewolf

Read his humor column This Should Be Fun if you want to feel better about yourself.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Buying / Investing in Business

Former Zillow Execs Target $1.3T Market

Co-ownership is creating big opportunities for entrepreneurs.

Business News

The U.S. Mint Announced It Will Stop Making Pennies. Here's How It Will Affect Businesses and Consumers.

Can you still pay with pennies? How will businesses make exact change? Here's what we know.

Side Hustle

She Started a Creative Side Hustle While Working 'Dead-End' Jobs — Then Grew It From $10,000 to Over $50,000 a Month: '[It] Became Magnetic'

Alyssa O'Toole, 35, juggled "mismatched uniforms and odd hours" to turn her passion into a business.

Leadership

Lead From the Top: 5 Core Responsibilities of a CEO

Knowing exactly what the chief executive's role entails is critical for steering a company to success.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Starting a Business

Entrepreneur+ Subscriber-Only Event | May 28: How This Founder Sold 3 Million Units of His Toy Ball Idea

Subscribe to Entrepreneur+ for just $5! Get access to all member benefits, including our next Subscriber-Only Event with Joe Burke, Founder of Ollyball.