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Businessman gives back for Easter despite recent hardship

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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — It's never easy rebounding from one of life's setbacks but a businessman in Grand Rapids is using a hardship and turning it into a positive.

Jeffrey Kimbrel is the owner of 'Painting by Jeff' on Grand Rapids' southeast side. However, in February, the 30-year business was destroyed by a fire.

"It makes me think more," Kimbrel said, "it makes me slow down in life a bit more and it has turned my life around."

And that hardship has taught Kimbrel a valuable lesson.

"It gives me a second chance to make me want to continue to reach out and touch others," he added.

Over the past two weeks, his family and neighbors have been filling out Easter cards and buying some candy and treats for those stuck in retirement communities.

"Today, we have a lot of people alone and dying alone so if I can just touch someone's heart, it will make me feel better and make the other families feel better."

On Sunday, Kimbrel delivered the 80 cards and gifts to Clark Retirement Community off of Franklin Avenue.

"I hope they feel happiness," Kimbrel said, "and love. I know they'll understand and say to themselves that somebody out here cared about me today."

Which just goes to show that no matter what life throws at you, you're still able to make a diffence.

"Once you have been given a second chance in life, it makes you even stronger to realize there are other people in need. This is our way of saying, 'Happy Easter and thank God."