When Kate McClure, 27, was driving down I-95 in Philadelphia, she found herself running out of gas. Her heart was in her mouth as not only was the highway deserted, it was approaching midnight — not an ideal situation for a young woman to find herself in.
She contacted her boyfriend to come to her rescue, but before he could reach her, another knight in shining armor suddenly turned up and told her to sit tight and he’d be back to help, saying: “I’ll be back. Trust me.” True to his word, Johnny Bobbit Jr., a homeless veteran, using his last $20, returned with a red can of gas. Yet, this remarkable act of kindness is just the beginning of the story.
With no cash on her to repay Bobbit, McClure promised to pay him back — which she did, the next day. But the relationship didn’t stop there. Over a series of further visits, McClure and boyfriend Mark D’Amico got talking with Bobbit about his past and what led him to life on the streets. They discovered that the ex-Marine and paramedic had fallen on hard times due to drugs and financial issues. However, he wasn’t looking for sympathy, explaining: “… don’t get me wrong. I’m here because of my own decisions. I got nobody to blame but myself.”
McClure and D’Amico were so struck by his attitude that they decided to gather supplies to take to Bobbit. And here, again, he proved what a very huge heart he has. He immediately thought of two other homeless friends, and according to McClure, “made it clear that he would share their gifts with his two buddies.”
What is heartbreaking is looking at Bobbit’s Facebook page from 2014, which shows a young man at work with a huge smile on his face and a promising future ahead. Now living under a tunnel for the past year and a half, Bobbit explained to McClure and D’Amico how he “wants to be a functioning member of society and not be sitting on a guard rail in Philadelphia.”
So the couple decided that they had to try and help this native of North Carolina. They set up a Gofundme page to help Bobbit get back on his feet and rejoin society. The couple, who aimed to raise $10,000, have surpassed their goal reaching a staggering $370,000! But no doubt the ex-vet will use some of the fund to help his two homeless companions.
This sort of heartwarming story is so wonderful to read, especially during the holiday season when we try to spread goodwill. But what rings true to this story are the wise words in the prayer of St. Francis: “For it is in giving that we receive,” which McClure confirms saying: “Just to see him react the way he does is such a good feeling,” adding “I mean, it really feels good.”
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