A photo meant to disparage a homeless McDonald’s worker sleeping in the restaurant led to that worker’s escape from poverty.
“Just another reason for me to leave Fayetteville. I was in the McDonald’s in the middle of town and I saw this guy sleeping in the booth, I go and tell an employee that someone is asleep in their booth and her response was ‘oh yeah, we know hee hee, it’s okay’ and I said ‘not really but whatever,’” the woman wrote in a Facebook post, according to a screenshot by WSB-TV reporter Matt Johnson.
“I didn’t think the community would care.” He knew someone had posted a picture of him asleep at work and criticized him for it. What he didn’t know is that his Fayette County community was eager to help him, not taunt him. @ 11 pic.twitter.com/Or2RoickYy
— Matt Johnson (@MattWSB) June 25, 2019
WSB discovered, as did others who saw the post, that the man in the photo is Simon Childs, and he is homeless. He is also an employee at the restaurant.
“It kind of hurt to see my picture up there, you know? I thought it was something negative and nobody would care about it,” Childs told WSB.
It turns out the embarrassing Facebook post had a positive impact on his life. Donations flooded in to the restaurant for him by people who discovered his situation, WSB reported.
“I’ve been going through a hard time with my mom passing,” Childs told WSB.
Childs is also taking care of his baby son.
“Everything I do, I want to work for it,” he said, via WSB.
Owners of a nearby restaurant offered to help Childs find a better job by using their car to get to job interviews.
“It just touched our heart,” said Fusion Chefs Eatery co-owner Xavier Thomas, via WSB.
A woman took a picture of a man asleep at a McDonalds and complained on Facebook, and how the community responded changed his life forever.
“I’m not homeless, not now, thanks to her.”
@ 11 #Nightbeat pic.twitter.com/OFQ6iYRu5r
— Matt Johnson (@MattWSB) June 24, 2019
“It definitely will help him get around and give him a better opportunity,” Fusion Chefs Eatery co-owner Theo Thomas told WSB.
“I didn’t think the community would even care enough to do that, but they care,” Childs told WSB, about the support he has received.
Later in the day, someone actually took the time to find out the man’s story. And it’s a heartbreaking one. pic.twitter.com/dhx0w9J9QU
— Matt Johnson (@MattWSB) June 22, 2019
Childs is not mad at the woman, despite the embarrassing Facebook post. The woman told Childs she was not trying to single him out but to call attention to a general problem, and that she made the post in a private Facebook group, WSB reported.
The original poster did not appreciate the backlash very much. She asked why people were upset with her. pic.twitter.com/OEQ2Q5nmk6
— Matt Johnson (@MattWSB) June 22, 2019
“Just an eye opening reminder that things aren’t always as they seem & we should not assume things. Most of us (myself included) are quick to jump to conclusions without having all or any of the facts. Hoping for the best for this young man & his baby,” commented Heidi Pickett, via Matt Johnson’s Facebook page.
Some people even offered donations via social media.
“Matt Johnson, WSB, I have a beautiful white baby crib that is nearly new, with a crib mattress. We live in Wesley Chapel/Matthews NC, and I don’t have a truck, but if someone does and wants to come pick it up for this young man’s baby, I’m happy to gift it to him,” commented Pam Brake, via Matt Johnson’s Facebook page.
Childs also told WSB he received job offers after the news broke, and that he may soon find permanent housing for himself and his son. In the meantime, people have donated hotel rooms and clothing for both Childs and his child.
