A Homeless Man in Chicago Changed My Flat Tire: “He Really Saved Me”

One of the most popular posts this week on the massive Reddit community website evoked all the feels that come with a simple act of kindness—especially when the compassion is shown by a homeless man.

The spontaneous helping hand was captured in a photo by Reddit user MormonEscapee who described the incident for folks on the MakeMeSmile sub-reddit, who gave her 86,000 thumbs up.

She was stranded in Chicago with a flat tire, wearing a skirt and heels, when a homeless man came to her rescue and changed her tire.

“I only had $60 on me, but I very gratefully gave it to him for saving me,” she said.

She was going to be late for an important dinner, and surely would have missed it if she had to wait for a service to arrive at the corner of Federal St & Ida B. Wells Dr.

“He really saved me,” 💜 she stressed, adding, “I’m no mechanic…”

“Those lug nuts were on so tight. I really don’t think I could have done that. He really struggled with them himself.”

“He was really sweet. Called me “a lady” and even opened my car door for me.
He was very much a gentleman.”

In the 500+ comments that followed, people talked about similar experiences where homeless citizens stepped in to help.

Dwoodruf commented, “Had a blow out in the not-so-nice area in Oakland and the homeless were thrilled to help me out. This memory makes me smile.”

Itsyounotmeithink recalled, “I was driving in the snow years ago and slid into a snowbank a homeless guy came over and asked if he could help me get out. He pushed my car out of the snowbank—it was very hard to do and he spent a long time helping me get out… I was so grateful i gave him my last 20 dollars he didn’t even want it but i insisted he take it.”

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One suggested there was “a solid chance the dude didn’t even expect anything. Humans love feeling useful and it’s really really hard to feel anything but worthless when you’re homeless.”

Stryker511 suggested that she should “spin by that location again with some food, gift certificates, & socks,” and she loved the idea.

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“That is such a good idea. You are absolutely right… I’m a pastry chef, and have given train conductors, homeless people, and Uber drivers stuff I was bringing home from work.”

She summed it up by saying, “It was an experience I won’t ever forget.”

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