When a woman uploaded a picture of a McDonald’s employee sleeping at work on Facebook, she didn’t realize she’d be the catalyst for changing the employee’s life.
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The photo was of a man named Simon Childs, a homeless father who was resting between his shifts at the fast food restaurant in Fayette County, WSB-TV reported.
The Facebook user spotted him and complained.
“I go and tell an employee...and her response was ‘oh yea, we know hee hee, it’s okay,’” she wrote. “And I said ‘not really but whatever.’”
However, when the community saw the post, they began sending donations to Childs. From hotel rooms to clothing, people were lending a helping hand. Someone even let him borrow a car to get to job interviews.
The 21-year-old told the news station he’d fallen on hard times after the recent passing of his mother and was taking care of his young son. But he said the community’s kind gestures changed his “life in a couple of days.”
“I didn't think the community would even care enough to do that, but they care,” he said.
Although he said he was “kind of hurt” to see his image online, he was overwhelmed by the positive response.
“I’m not homeless, not now, thanks to her,” he said.
The woman told WSB-TV she didn’t intend to shame Childs and said she posted her message in a private group.
Childs is now mulling over job offers and hopes to secure permanent housing for him and his son soon.
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