Bonita Springs man humbled by random act of kindness

BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. – A Bonita Springs man who is deaf was blown away by the generosity of his coworkers who surprised him with a random act of kindness.

Through a program called “Vocational Rehabilitation,” which helps people with disabilities, Fred Cowens was able to get a job as a cook with the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point eight years ago.

On Thursday, he watched as a work crew replaced the floor in his modest apartment.

Through an interpreter, Cowens said, “four years ago, before I moved in here, I took a look around and it looked like it was dirty carpet. It was old.”

Then a fire in the building turned on the sprinklers and drenched the dingy carpet.

“Made the carpet really wet and eventually the mold grew,” he said.

That was three years ago. Cowens was getting sick and showing up to work with headaches. His coworkers knew he couldn’t afford to replace the carpet on his own.

“It sounds like they’re a big family,” said Chris Pascale, owner of Bonita Springs Floor Covering & Remodeling. “They take care of their people and this gentleman’s health was a concern.”

Pascal who runs the family business wanted to help immediately.

“I thought he was a great guy,” he said. “It sounds like he is a hard worker and he just needed a little bit of help.”

It was out with the old and in with the new. The crew at Bonita Springs Floor Covering & Remodeling replaced Cowen’s moldy carpet for free, a job that would normally cost $2,000-$3,000.

“With the new carpeting, no more worries,” Cowens said. “I don’t have to worry about being sick, getting headaches, it smells fresh. It looks great!”