Did you ever wonder what homeless people do with the money they’re given?
While some may squander it on alcohol or cigarettes, others may do something beneficial, at least according to a video posted on YouTube.
The possible case in point comes from California, where YouTube star Josh Paler Lin, who is known for his viral video pranks, recorded an experiment to see what a homeless man would do after being given $100.
After giving the man, whose name is Thomas, the cash, Lin secretly followed him to the Euclid Liquor Market.
A few moments later, Thomas emerged with his bag full, and Lin presumed there was alcohol inside.
Watch the video:
[jwplayer GnSYwt5h]
However, as he kept following, he watched as Thomas went to a park and then began handing out food items to other people in need.
“I feel I owe you an apology,” Lin told Thomas, as he finally let him know he had been secretly recorded on video.
“You thought I was gonna get all smacked up drunk, huh?” Thomas asked.
“Actually, I thought you were going to buy alcohol or something,” Lin admitted.
“There’s things money can’t buy,” Thomas explained. “I get a happiness out of what I’m doing.”
When Lin asked Thomas how he came to be in dire straits, Thomas explained: “Basically I was living with my parents and my stepdad had cancer, and they were getting hospice, but it didn’t cover … the insurance only pays so much. I quit work because I had to be available. So, he passed away, then two weeks later my mother passed away from kidney failure. The building they’re in is being sold, the condo, and I all of a sudden found myself homeless.”
Lin was so moved, he pulled out another $100 to give it to Thomas.
“I’m stunned,” said Thomas.
“I’m stunned,” responded Lin.
Thomas told Lin, “There’s a lot of people that are just victims of circumstance and they didn’t go homeless because they’re lazy or … it could be a divorce, one thing leads to another and the man sells his boat, his home, everything, and all of a sudden he finds out he’s got no money. There’s a lot of good people that are homeless.”
The YouTube video has gone viral, with more than 5 million hits in just two days.
Meanwhile, Lin has set up a fundraising page for Thomas at Indiegogo, saying, “We want to help him to get a fresh start. 1) Help Thomas to get a cellphone so that he can keep in touch with me, 2) help him to either get his condo back or get him stay at a place that he can call ‘home,’ 3) help him to get a career that he deserves and start his new life again.”
The campaign has thus far collected $31,000 and rising.
