Homeless Veteran Who Helped Stranger Received $400 K thru GoFundMe: Here’s What He Bought

I wrote about this when it happened, and I’m so happy to post an update!

The homeless man who used his last few dollars to help a stranded motorist now has a house, after the stranger set up a fundraiser, her social media post went viral, and people gave over $400,000.

Here’s what happened.

A young woman was traveling near Philadelphia when she ran out of gas.  She pulled her car off the I-95 exit in a bad part of town, when a homeless veteran approached her car. Johnny Bobbitt, 34, warned her about the area, told her to get back into the car and lock the doors. 

Here’s her story:

Driving into Philly one night, I made the mistake of thinking that I would be able to make it all the way down I- 95 with my gas light on. Needless to say, I was wrong. I never ran out of gas before, and my heart was beating out of my chest. I pulled over as far as I could, and got out of the car to head to the nearest gas station.
That’s when I met Johnny. Johnny sits on the side of the road every day, holding a sign. He saw me pull over and knew something was wrong. He told me to get back in the car and lock the doors. A few minutes later, he comes back with a red gas can.  Using his last 20 dollars to make sure I could get home safe.

Johnny did not ask me for a dollar, and I couldn’t repay him at that moment because I didn’t have any cash, but I have been stopping by his spot for the past few weeks. I repaid him for the gas, gave him a jacket, gloves, a hat, and warm socks, and I give him a few dollars every time I see him.

I wish that I could do more for this selfless man, who went out of his way just to help me that day. He is such a great guy, and talking to him each time I see him makes me want to help him more and more.

How amazing that he’d spent his last dollar to buy this stranger gasoline.

“Johnny sits on the side of the road every day, holding a sign. He saw me pull over and knew something was wrong,” the twentywrote. “He told me to get back in the car and lock the doors. A few minutes later, he comes back with a red gas can.”  After this very kind act, she decided to go back and check on him.  Then, she decided to pay him back with more than just a few dollars and a coat.

She has since taken him essentials to stay warm and repaid him for the gas, and her GoFundMe page has raised more than $318,000 — far more than her $10,000 goal. She wrote that she would like to use the funds to help him rent an apartment, get a reliable vehicle and cover four to six months’ worth of expenses.

McClure posted an update explaining Bobbitt’s plans for the ever-growing funds. “The second we told Johnny about this, his first thought was to pay forward the pay it forward. He is fully aware of the worldwide interest in this over the last few days. It will be his decision and his decision only on what organizations and or private parties he decides to help,” McClure wrote.

When they got $200, she was thrilled. She never would’ve guessed the man would eventually get $400,000 and be able to buy a house.

What a wonderful story.

Image Credit: Go Fund Me