“Well, my night took an unexpected turn! After finishing my night out, I found myself in the dreaded McDonald’s queue. That’s when I noticed the lady in front of me. All she asked for was a cup of hot water.
The staff told her no. I couldn’t understand why. Here was a lady, clearly homeless, asking for such a basic human need. For a multi-billion-pound company to say no was just heartbreaking.
I couldn’t leave things at that, so I spoke with her and told her to order what she wanted. To my surprise, she only asked for a single cheeseburger. That was it. I bought as much as I could carry to make sure she wouldn’t go hungry.
But I couldn’t just let her go, so I sat with her, on the cold hard floor, in the middle of winter. And you know what? I cried my eyes out.
When I finally got to speak to her, I was amazed at her story. She was so educated, full of life, and enthusiasm—yet she had nothing.
I invited Polly and her friend back to my house, and we cooked enough food to feed them and their friends for the next few nights. We packed it all up in bags for them.
Polly and her friend had showers, brushed their teeth, and they both said they had never felt so appreciated. I’m no saint, but this small act of kindness cost me about £20. I know that most people reading this make at least 10 times that in a day.
It costs nothing to be kind, and I genuinely hope people share this to raise awareness about homelessness across the UK.
I’ve kept in touch with Polly, and I’ve promised her she will never go hungry or cold again. I’ve given her blankets, pillows, and a backpack full of food.
If you see someone on the streets, don’t look down on them like they’re nothing. You don’t know what they’ve been through. Spare a little thought.
I don’t care if I look a mess from crying. Polly, you’ve changed me.” ❤️❤️
Credit: Jonathon Pengelly