As he was driving one day, a man noticed a person walking along the highway in the blistering heat and decided to pull over to inquire. It turned out that the individual, Donte Franklin, was walking over 8 miles to and from work every day to provide for his family. The kind-hearted stranger gave him a ride and later helped to raise over $52,000 for him.
Franklin works at a Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant and has to walk 8.6 miles for over 2 and a half hours to get there every day. He then works his shift before embarking on the long walk back home.
“I walk just to make my family proud,” he told Fox News.
One day, a driver named Michael Lynn saw Franklin walking and offered him a ride. During their conversation, Franklin revealed that he had been struggling since his mother passed away from Hepatitis C when he was 16. Lynn gave him $20 for food and then posted about their encounter on Facebook.
Lynn later launched a GoFundMe campaign with a goal of raising $2,000 to help Franklin. The campaign surpassed that goal and ultimately raised over $52,000.
“I can really help my family with this,” Franklin said in response. “It’s just a really good blessing.”
Lynn hopes that his actions will inspire others to help those in need.
“If it can make just one person go help someone else that’s all that matters,” he said.
Cc: KESQ
Although Franklin has a job, his story highlights the need for higher wages in America. Until that happens, it’s heartening to see people like Lynn stepping up to assist their fellow citizens.