It was an act of goodwill with no intended expectation in mind. Donating his only dollar to a man he thought was homeless earned 9-year-old Kelvin Ellis Jr, a native of Louisiana, a free shopping spree.
Caught in a moment of kindness, the boy decided to assist a man he assumed was distressed outside the Baton Rogue Coffee shop, as reported by the New York Post. The supposed man was wearing pajamas and had his eyes shut.
“‘If you’re homeless, here’s a dollar,’” the youngster recalled saying, according to CBS News. But, it seemed to be a case of mistaken identity. The man who found himself at the receiving end of the generous act was the local sporting goods tycoon Matt Busbice.
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Busbice, who made his wealth by establishing and selling successful outdoor ventures, had been compelled to rush outside in a mismatched morning attire due to a condo fire alarm. The 42-year-old businessman stepped out for a cup of coffee while the problem was resolved but decided to pause to say his morning prayers, which led young Ellis Jr. to believe he was homeless.
“And I started to slowly open my eyes, and there’s a kid coming at me, about my height,” Busbice said.
Expecting a confrontation, Busbice was surprised when young Ellis Jr. opened his clenched fist to reveal a single dollar bill. Ellis Jr. said he had earned the money for his good grades just days earlier. Even though that was the only money he had on him, he thought Busbice needed it more.
“I always wanted to help a homeless person, and I finally had the opportunity,” Ellis Jr. said.
Busbice was touched by the kindness of Ellis Jr. and invited him for a snack while reaching out to his father. Subsequently, he treated the compassionate child to a shopping spree at his sporting goods store, BuckFeather, where Ellis Jr. had 40 seconds to select items, including a new bike.
Despite receiving a reward, Ellis Jr. said that his initial act of giving was not motivated by a desire for recognition.
“Joy, because I helped someone,” Ellis Jr. said. “Give something away, and you feel like you’ve got a lot of things from it.”
Ellis Jr.’s empathy has deeply impacted Busbice, who said the young boy’s act has renewed his belief in the goodness of humanity.
“If you give, you’re actually going to get more out of that,” Busbice said. “I couldn’t grasp that as a kid. And if we can spread that around, everything changes.”
