Homeless Man Asks For Water. Boys Take A Good Look At Him And Take Immediate Action

Sep 07, 2018 by apost team

The problem of homelessness is unfortunately prevalent throughout the country and beyond. As common as it is, many people struggle to decide if they should help or if it is best to walk away. After all, some homeless people are truly down on their luck and need a helping hand to get back on their feet, but others may be caught in a cycle of self-pity and may not be eager to get out of their situation as long as they can continue to receive handouts. 

In a situation that sounds unfortunately common, a group of teenage boys was sitting in a fast food restaurant one evening when they noticed a homeless man outside. This is a man who they had seen before, and most of the boys made insensitive jokes and comments about him.

One of the boys, however, did not find the situation amusing. Ryan Cook decided to approach the homeless man. As he got closer, he noticed that the man had an old Bible and was counting change. 

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Cook decided to learn more about the man’s situation, so he went back inside the fast food restaurant to speak with an employee. The employee told him that Cook was well-known at the restaurant, and he only came inside to seek water for his dog, Sock. This was clearly a man who was down on his luck, and he did not seek handouts for himself. He was only interested in getting his dog the water that was needed for survival. 

This touched Cook deeply, and he decided to take action.

After rallying help from his friends, Cook and the other teens purchased several gift cards so that the man could buy himself food at the restaurant. They also used their own money to buy several shirts, a jacket, a beanie, and a first aid kit. The store that they purchased these items from also donated a few additional items when the manager learned what the teens were doing. 

When the boys gave the homeless man the gifts that they had selected, the man was overwhelmed with gratitude. He said that it felt like Christmas, and he was moved that other people would think about helping him. 

Cook posted his story on Facebook along with a few photos of the man receiving his gifts. While many people were touched by the story, some people accused Cook and his friends of trying to seek attention rather than having the man’s best interest at heart. Nonetheless, Cook stated that he wanted to inspire others to be selfless and to help those in need. 

Do you have any experiences similar to Cook’s story? Leave a few comments for other readers to enjoy in the space below.