A year ago August, Dave Fuss lost his job driving a truck for a small company in west Michigan. His wife, Gerrie, was still working in the local school cafeteria, but work for Dave was scarce, and the price of everything was rising. The Fusses were at risk of joining the millions of Americans who have lost their homes in recent years. Then Dave and Gerrie received a timely gift—＄7,000，a legacy（遗产） form their neighbors Ish and Arlene Hatch, who died in an accident . “It really made a difference when we were going under financially.” says Dave. 

But the Fusses weren’t the only folks in Alto and the neighboring town of Lowell to receive unexpected legacy from the Hatches. Doxens of other families were touched by the Hatches’ generosity. In some cases, it was a few thousand dollars ; in other, it was more than＄100,000. 

It surprised nearly everyone that the Hatches had so much money, more than＄3 million—they were am elderly couple who lived in an old house on what was left of the family farm . 

Children of the Great Depression, Ish and Arlene were known for their habit of saving, They thrived own（喜欢） comparison shopping and would routinely go from store to store, checking prices before making a new purchase . 

Through the years, the Hatches paid for local children to attend summer camp when their parents couldn’t afford it. “Ish and Arlene never asked you needed anything,” says their friend Sand Van Weelden, “They could see things they could do go make you happier, and they would do them. 

Even more extraordinary was that the Hatches had their farmland distributed. It was the Hatches’ wish that their legacy—a legacy of kindness as much as one of dollars and cent —should enrich the whole community（社区） and Ish and Arlene Hatch’s story . 

Neighbors helping neighbors ——that was Ish and Arlene Hatch’s story.