K. Gitter

Entertainment Weekly senior writer Anthony Breznican shares with Steve Hartman a story of inspiration, about how watching "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" at a particularly vulnerable time in his life helped him - but not nearly as much as running into Fred Rogers in an elevator just a few days later. https://youtu.be/TNpa352mVQk In the wake of the horrific attacks in Manchester, England, many people shared a famous quote by everyone's favorite neighbor. His mother always said, when there was a catastrophe, "always look for the helpers." No matter how bad things are, there are always people helping. https://youtu.be/-LGHtc_D328 That led to an incredible story from Anthony Breznican, a senior writer at Entertainment Weekly, about a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with Fred Rogers that will restore your faith in humanity. Warning: You will cry. But it will be worth it. Click "NEXT" to continue read this neighborly story The initial tweet Breznican quotes isn't quite true -- the "Mr. Rogers Neighborhood" most of us know didn't debut in May of 1967, it debuted in February 1968. But that doesn't really matter. Just read: https://twitter.com/Breznican/status/866861079023857664 A lot of people are sharing this quote after the heartbreak in Manchester. It's also the 50th anniversary of Mr. Roger's Neighborhood. Breznican, like Rogers, is from Pittsburgh. And like most of us, he grew up watching Mr. Rogers. And then he outgrew it. Until he needed that kindness again when he was in college https://twitter.com/Breznican/status/866862890401136640 https://twitter.com/Breznican/status/866863449640378368 https://twitter.com/Breznican/status/866863692071161856 https://twitter.com/Breznican/status/866863993998016512 https://twitter.com/Breznican/status/866864546987692032 https://twitter.com/Breznican/status/866864964430053376 https://twitter.com/Breznican/status/866865401455493124 https://twitter.com/Breznican/status/866866010434883586 https://twitter.com/Breznican/status/866866290442383366 Click "NEXT" to find out the amazing something that happened days later... Then, days later, something amazing: Breznican went to step onto an elevator. The doors opened. And there was Mr. Rogers. Breznican kept it together at first, the two just nodding at each other. But when Mr. Rogers went to walk away, he couldn't miss the opportunity to say something. https://twitter.com/Breznican/status/866866861379469312 https://twitter.com/Breznican/status/866867227747909632 https://twitter.com/Breznican/status/866867614911475712 This is about the time we started crying. But this story is about to get even better. The two chat for a few minutes, then Mr. Rogers starts to leave. Breznican said that recently when he'd really needed it, he'd rediscovered the magic of the world Rogers created. https://twitter.com/Breznican/status/866868815774089216 https://twitter.com/Breznican/status/866869195782242304 https://twitter.com/Breznican/status/866869476301520896 https://twitter.com/Breznican/status/866869869395853313 https://twitter.com/Breznican/status/866870116750733312 The story gets sweeter "NEXT" https://twitter.com/Breznican/status/866870525871575040 That boat, Rogers told Breznican, had been a gift from his grandfather for something -- maybe good grades, graduation. "Something important." Rogers didn't have the boat anymore, but he still had the work ethic his grandfather taught him. https://twitter.com/Breznican/status/866871765707890688 https://twitter.com/Breznican/status/866872045195345920 https://twitter.com/Breznican/status/866872338473603072 I never saw him again. But that "helper" quote? That's authentic. That's who he was. For real. Mr. Rogers died in 2003. When he heard the news, Breznican sat at his computer and cried. Not over the loss of a celebrity, but over the loss of a neighbor. Thank you for being a helper, Mr. Rogers. We hope that, somewhere, you're in a boat with your grandpa again. Source: USA Today This Mr. Rogers story will probably make you cry Allison Carter is Facebook editor at IndyStar and is a mess right now. Follow her on Twitter @AllisonLCarter. HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW MR. ROGERS? RELATED: The Beginning Of A Beautiful Day In Mr.Rogers' Neighborhood Classic Movie Lines Performed By Sesame Street Characters https://twitter.com/Breznican/status/866871765707890688