How A Chance Encounter At A Grocery Store Changed Two People’s Lives Forever

It all started with a simple offer from the youngster – something that Matt just couldn’t refuse. From that point on, their lives would become intertwined in ways that Matt never would have imagined. Keep reading to find out what happens next.

Matt’s favorite grocery store was a Kroger located in an upper-class neighborhood of an otherwise poor section of Memphis. On this particular day, Matt picked up everything he needed, paid for his purchases as usual, and made his way towards the exit.

Several scenarios popped into Matt’s head when he and the young man established eye contact. Matt wondered whether the boy was a beggar or if he was just someone who was lost and wanted to ask for directions. Then, the boy smiled at Matt, opened his mouth, and began to speak.

The boy was willing to put in some effort to get his food – he wasn’t simply asking for loose change. The last bus home was leaving in about an hour, so he begged Matt for some sympathy.

Chauncy volunteered to carry Matt’s groceries to his car in exchange for a box of doughnuts. In an interview, Matt recalled that on the inside, he was screaming “yes!” to the boy. On the outside, however, Matt said that he simply chuckled before agreeing to get the boy some doughnuts.

As they walked towards the doughnuts, Chauncy began to tell Matt his story. Chauncy told Matt that he lived with his grandmother and six of his siblings and that they were struggling financially. According to Chauncy, all he had on him was his bus pass and the clothes on his back.

Matt knew it wasn’t his job to feed Chauncy, but he admired Chauncy’s willingness to put in the effort to get what he wanted. Matt saw this moment as an opportunity for him to lend a helping hand to someone in need.

Chauncy thanked Matt profusely for helping him out in his hour of need. The kid couldn’t believe that this man he barely knew was doing all this for him like it was no big deal. Matt didn’t realize it at the time, but he was about to discover something about Chauncy that would absolutely surprise him.

Matt listened intently as Chauncy told him that he was a straight-A student. Matt also learned that Chauncy had been helping his grandmother pay the bills by doing odd jobs around his neighborhood. Matt couldn’t help but be impressed by the young man’s determination to succeed despite his circumstances.

Chauncy shared that his goal was to become a rich entrepreneur so that he could help other people in his community and even buy them groceries, much like Matt was doing for him. Matt was stunned, but the story doesn’t end there.

Matt couldn’t bear the thought of watching Chauncy get on a bus with all those bags of groceries in tow, so he offered to drive the young man home. What he was about to see as they got to the young man’s house, however, would completely take him by surprise.

According to Matt, the Black family only had two lamps in their house and not much else. They slept on sleeping bags on the floor, and their fridge was completely empty. However, it wasn’t just the state of Chauncy’s house that Matt found disturbing.

Matt soon discovered that Barbara suffered from a disorder that caused her to shake uncontrollably. She was also unable to get around on her own because of it. It was then that Matt realized that Chauncy and his family needed all the help they can get.

After unpacking the groceries, Matt bid farewell to Chauncy and Barbara. Matt gave both of them a big hug before heading out. Neither Matt nor Chauncy knew it at the time, but that wouldn’t be the last time they’d see each other.

Matt also remembered how Chauncy had been wearing tattered clothes. Matt then realized that he needed to do more than buy the family food that would only last for a week or so. He wanted to make a difference in their lives for the long term.

Matt took to Facebook to talk about his experience at the grocery store days earlier, hoping to find someone who was willing to help. He hoped that Chauncy’s remarkable story would inspire others the same way it inspired him.

Matt also included information about Chauncy’s shirt and shoe sizes. At the bottom of the page, Matt posted a video interview with Chauncy in which he talks about his life. Viewers were immediately captivated by Chauncy’s story, and donations started pouring in.

Matt hoped to raise enough money to buy Chauncy a lawnmower so that he could make money cutting lawns during the summer, and so that he’d have some money for school supplies and food when he enters the tenth grade the following fall.

As the money continued to pour in, Matt started thinking about setting the bar higher. Rather than settling for a lawnmower, why not raise enough money to pay for Chauncy’s college education or perhaps even a new house?

Barbara later said in an interview that Chauncy had been taking care of her for the past few years. She described him as a “good boy”, adding that she couldn’t ask for more. Barbara was indeed lucky to have a grandson like Chauncy!

In an interview with People magazine, Chauncy said that his life had been “completely changed” by this whole experience. He also talked about how he couldn’t go anywhere without people recognizing him. Nevertheless, the young man said he was happy and grateful for all the support.

After the fundraising campaign went viral, many relatives began reaching out to Chauncy and Barbara, including those they hadn’t seen in years. According to Chauncy, some relatives had asked him for money to help fund their business and other household expenses.

According to Matt, he and the Black family contacted an attorney about handling the money to help minimize their tax burden. Matt added that the money was set up in a trust to avoid the risk of anyone trying to claim it.

Matt thanked a higher power for intervening and using him as an instrument to help Chauncy and his family. Matt stated that it was God who provided and made everything happen. Matt has already done so much for the Black family. However, his mission was far from over.

Matt added that people shouldn’t be so fixated on him and what he did because he really didn’t do anything. He explained that he merely posted a story online, and it was the community that picked up the story and put the Black family on a platform.

Chauncy added that no one had ever cared for his family as much as Matt did. Barbara, meanwhile, mentioned in an interview that she considers Matt as another member of the family and that he would forever be a part of their lives. Chauncy and Barbara also expressed their gratitude to everyone who donated to Chauncy’s cause.

While some people would rather post selfies and talk about their day,  Matt has figured out how to utilize social media for the greater good. In fact, Chauncy wasn’t the first individual for whom Matt has set up a GoFundMe campaign.

JB Kibbler had been going through the trash looking for cans to sell so he could feed his family. The GoFundMe campaign that Matt launched for JB and his family managed to raise $36,000. For JB and his family, that money was a huge help.

Dr. Elena Delavega, a professor at the University of Memphis who came up with that report, explained that the high poverty rate in the city can be blamed on a variety of factors, including a minimum wage that she believes is too low and the city’s poor public transportation system.

That statistic may be troubling, but it’s comforting to know that there are people like Matt White who are out there doing their best to make an impact. If we all work together, we can make the world a better place.

Despite GoFundMe being a for-profit corporation, it’s still a great way to collect money from people from all over. It certainly worked for Matt White – thanks to his hard work and generosity, a young man’s life had taken a turn for the better.