When a woman shared a photo on Facebook of a homeless man sleeping in a booth at a McDonald’s in Fayette County to register her displeasure, anger and shame him, little did she know she was rather helping him turn his life around thanks to the unexpected positive response and outpouring of support he received.
According to WSB-TV, 21-year-old father Simon Childs was an employee of the fast-food restaurant and was only resting between his shifts.
In the Facebook post, the woman, who was informed by an employee that they were aware Childs was sleeping in the booth was adamant it wasn’t right.
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“Just another reason for me to leave Fayetteville,” she wrote. “I was in the McDonald’s in the middle of the town and I saw this guy sleeping in the booth, I go tell an employee that someone is asleep in their booth and her response was “oh yeah, we know hee hee, it’s ok” and I said “not really but whatever,”” she concluded with a pouting face emoji.
When news of the photo and post reached Childs, he admitted he felt hurt.
“It kind of hurt to see my picture up there, you know? I thought it was something negative and nobody would care about it,” he told WSB-TV.
After the post went viral, the community stepped in to help Childs, who also recently lost his mother by offering him free hotel accommodation, job offers, free transportation, clothing, diapers for his son and even a free haircut.
Since our story aired last night, Simon received a free haircut from a local barber. He has a new job opportunity too, he told me. pic.twitter.com/IMeiu8ex50
— Matt Johnson (@MattWSB) June 25, 2019
“I’ve been going through a hard time with my mom passing,” he told WSB-TV. “Everything I do, I want to work for it.” McDonald’s
The outpouring of support overwhelmed and surprised Childs who admitted his life was changed “in a couple of days.”
“I didn’t think the community would even care enough to do that, but they care,” he said.
Also…he has a car! The owners of The Fusion Chefs Eatery in Fayetteville have let Simon borrow a car as he works to secure permanent housing for him and his 4-month-old son. pic.twitter.com/F64mD2kStY
— Matt Johnson (@MattWSB) June 25, 2019
Childs also told WSB-TV he holds no ill will towards the woman who told him she did not mean to disgrace him when he got the chance to speak with her.
“I’m not homeless, not now, thanks to her,” he said.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help raise funds for Childs to be able to get a place for his family.
