Heartware Stories

A longtime Ace employee becomes an icon through a treasured stuffed toy.

Hearing the word slavery conjures a very dark period in history. People think that time has passed, but the reality is people are sold into slavery, more commonly known today as human trafficking, every single day. People — women, men and children — get abducted, right off the street, all the time, often never heard from again. They're sold into a dark underworld and, in many cases, forced to do unspeakable things. Estimates show 20 million to 40 million people globally are victims of modern slavery and less than 1% of survivors get identified.

It's always a heartwarming experience when people pull together to help families in need. When the Branch family learned that their son Hudson was facing a serious health crisis, their friends at Tifton Ace Hardware pitched in to support them.

It was an early morning in 2012, at the height of summer, when two-year-old Chase Ewold's parents received the most devastating news about their sweet little boy.

It's no secret that witnessing the joy of children as they play together can brighten anyone's day. For Laura and Britt Wood, Owners of Ace of the South, supporting the Miracle League in Gardendale, Alabama, is a chance to spread that joy to special needs children, their families, and the local community