The Times saw an extraordinary response to the March 20 article by writer Stephanie Green, “Tabbitha’s Story –  A love story without a home,” about a 24-year-old homeless waitress and her fiance Jacob, living on the streets of Old Town.

 
The paper received dozens of e-mails, calls and letters from readers asking how to help, and co-workers at Hard Times Cafe set up a fund to help. Since the article was published, dozens have dropped by the Old Town restaurant and contributed over a $1000 in cash to “Tabbitha’s Fund,” according to owner and founder Fred Parker.
 
Tabbitha’s grandmother wrote the paper offering free room and board at her home in rural Kentucky, and last week, an older gentleman who read the article contacted the restaurant and offered the homeless couple a room to live in their house.
 
Owing to her work eithic, Parker has made Tabbitha the regular daytime hostess at Hard Times Cafe and her fiance now works at the Springfield location of Hard Times and also at the Hard Times food stall at Nationals Stadium.
 
To make contributions to the Tabbitha Fund, log on to www.alextimes.com and type in Tabbitha’s story into the search function.