It all started two weeks ago when Matt White, of Memphis, saw 16-year old Chauncy Jones Black at a supermarket, asking to carry his groceries in exchange for some glazed doughnuts.
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White drove Chauncy back home to help him unload the groceries. His name is Chauncy Jones.
White said Jones did not have an ID to apply for jobs, but liked mowing lawns. All he had was a bus pass so he took the bus to a more affluent neighborhood Kroger’s where he met White.
A teen’s offer to carry groceries to a man’s vehicle in exchange for some doughnuts has led to a flood of donations now nearing $200,000 (Rs. 1.35 crore).
White made a decision to buy Black donuts and few bags worth of groceries, including essentials like milk, soap and toothbrushes.
White wrote that he immediately agreed to buy Chauncy the donuts and proceeded to go on a shopping spree, buying the teen food, toiletries, and “a little bit of everything”.
“He looked ashamed, hungry and broken”, White recalls. He’s a 16 year old from Memphis. “He looked like a kid again”.
Astonished by Black’s story, White gave the boy a ride home. Turns out, Chauncy was telling the truth, he and his mother didn’t have anything – not even beds or furniture.
But he gets straight A’s, and he’s been trying to get a job to help out. In nearly every one, he expresses his gratitude for the donations and for God, explains what new items Black has received and increases the fundraising goal.
Black told the news network that he plans on meeting with attorneys and financial advisors this weekend to help him with the pile of money. White also now attends church with Chauncy every Sunday, and welcomes those in the Memphis area to join them for ice cream after services. The fact that Chauncy went out of his way to get to Kroger and that he didn’t expect a handout but instead wanted to work in exchange for food is very admirable.
Almost two weeks after White set up a GoFundMe page to get Chauncy a lawn mower the donations kept coming, bringing more than $200,000 and messages of thanks for inspiration.
“I don’t know what to say”.
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As of Saturday, the “Chauncy’s Chance” campaign had raised $191, 334 of its $192,000 goal. The power of social media, and the innate kindness of people, may have saved this young man’s life.
