Woman crowdfunds homeless man's ticket home
A thoughtful woman in London can now add 'philanthropist' to her resume after pulling off an incredible act of kindness.
Jenny Baker randomly met a 64-year-old homeless man named Michael one night while she was out in East London. When she got home she posted this message to crowdfunding site GoFundMe.com, explaining his story:
"He told me that he is 64 and came over to England with his mum for a better life. Unfortunately his mother passed away and he found himself homeless with no funds. He told me that all he wants more than anything in the world is to go back to Jamaica where he says he will be fine and happy again."
Baker's message spread across social media with the help of #GetMichaelHome on Twitter. She set the fund up on a Sunday with the goal of raising around $1,300 - and she raised it in ONE DAY. By the next week, donations had amounted to more than $14,000. She promised to give it all to Michael.
She tweeted that she tracked down Michael to relay the good news and use some of the money to set him up in a hostel with warm clothes and fresh toiletries.
Michael hasn't made it back to Jamaica yet. But Baker said she was meeting with the embassy this week for more advice on the best way to get him home and will use the funds to find Michael temporary accommodations until then.
She raised enough money in one day to #getmichaelhomepic.twitter.com/lvUuzW55pm
- People (@PeopIe) February 11, 2014
