Throughout the week, our ACC Team searches through emails and news articles looking for someone who deserves to be the Hero of the Week… Find out how you can nominate a Hero of the Week at the bottom of the page.
While growing up in North Bergen, New Jersey, Brian Arya helped his father run the Lincoln Tunnel Motel. Five years ago, his father made him a co-owner.
Well, Brian, who once took acting classes, decided to use his skills to create fun videos to post on TikTok. He currently has over nine hundred thousand followers. With so many followers, Brian realized that he could help with the current homeless crisis in his area. So, he started the Free Room For You program to help anyone without viable housing.
Brian said that from there, it snowballed! People started sending in donations to the motel. Food, toiletries, and funding came pouring in from all around the country.
Brian estimates he’s given away between 50 to 60 free rooms. With new coronavirus variants in the picture, there may still be dark days ahead, but until it comes to an end – to paraphrase Motel 6’s famous slogan – at this one New Jersey motel at least, “We’ll leave the light on at the end of the tunnel for you!” Brian says that his ability to help people has given his life so much meaning.
For more on Brian’s Free Room For You program at the Lincoln Tunnel Motel, check out this story as covered by CBS News.
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Kix’s Response:
Give him a follow and check out all the good he’s doing. Brian Arya, from New Jersey, you are ACC’s Hero of the Week!
Nominate a Hero of the Week
Now, we want to know who has made a difference in your life. Nominate a local firefighter, police officer, EMT or someone who is serving our country in the military. It could even be a neighbor, family member or friend who lent a crucial helping hand. Let us know all about the person who you feel is a real life hero by emailing us here and please feel free to send us a picture!