Teen Helps Carry Groceries, Not Realizing His Life Would Change Forever

Have you ever been shopping for groceries in the evening? It’s often easier and less crowded, but what would you do if someone came up to you while you were walking to your vehicle? That happened to Matt White one night. He had just finished shopping for groceries at his local store and met a boy that changed his life completely.

It’s strange to think that an average night could turn into something amazing, and he helped a family in need in ways they never knew possible. One simple offer to a man outside a grocery store got the wheels in motion. This is their exciting story!

Meet Matt

When Matt walked out of the Memphis, Tennessee, grocery store, he was only 30 years old. The college graduate had earned his music business degree and preferred to shop at Kroger. As he left, he encountered a young man!

The Encounter

Matt had finished paying for his items and left the store, but he saw a teenager walking toward him. This young man seemed sad, ashamed, and alone. Could he need directions? Would he try to do harm? What was happening?!

The Boy

The theories running through Matt’s head were immediately tossed aside because the boy came to him and started speaking. That’s when everything started, and both men’s lives were set to change.

Meet Chauncy

Chauncy Jones Black was the young man that approached Matt on that fateful evening. At the time of the encounter, he was only 16 years old. To get to the Kroger grocery store, he’d traveled by bus, and he chose that spot because it was the “rich man’s store.”

Why He’s There

This young man had reached Kroger and wanted to work for food. He wouldn’t beg for change or anything like that, which was different than many. He asked for sympathy because he had only one hour to catch his last bus home.

Any Job

Clearly, Chauncy was underweight, and anyone could see that. However, he also appeared ashamed, broken, and hungry. The young teen had told Matt he’d do anything for food, offering to carry groceries in exchange for some donuts.

Matt’s Response

Later, Matt revealed that his heart screamed to help Chauncy. However, he remained cool and calm, saying he could buy him donuts. The boy was very thin, and Matt felt very sorry for the young man.

The Beginning of Something Life-Changing

Matt felt sorry for this young teen and wondered what he’d gone through to get to that point. He found out that Chauncy lived with his mother, though they had little money. All the boy had was the clothes on his back and his bus pass.

In Kroger

The two men went into the grocery store and walked along the aisles, so Matt started asking questions to learn more about Chauncy. They reached the donuts and grabbed them, but a huge surprise was still to come.

Above and Beyond

Matt got the donuts for the teen, but that just wasn’t enough. The boy had asked for help, and a box of sugary treats didn’t feel right. Likewise, Matt was impressed that Chauncy had offered to work for his food instead of begging for handouts.

A Shopping Spree

After grabbing the donuts, the strangers walked around the store. Matt led the boy down many aisles, loading the shopping cart with household staples. There were toothbrushes, cereal, snacks, milk, toothpaste, pasta, and so much more.

Unbelievable

Chauncy was in utter shock when he realized what Matt was doing and couldn’t express his gratitude well. Matt helped this young boy in his hour of need, and he acted like it was a normal thing!

More About Chauncy

Those two strangers continued to shop, and Matt took the time to ask about Chauncy’s personal life. He asked about school and his mother. The teen seemed chatty enough, and Matt realized that this young man was unique in all aspects!

The Plan

Chauncy talked about how his mother told him to work hard in school because it was so important to have an education. That’s why he made straight A’s. Then, he mentioned he was trying to find work so that he could help pay rent.

Chauncy’s Identity

Throughout the encounter, Chauncy called himself “poor.” Matt realized that Chauncy didn’t have much money. However, the teen thought “being poor” was now part of his identity. Still, the boy didn’t give up and wanted to change his dire circumstances.

His Goals

This young man wanted to be an entrepreneur and get rich. After he made his money, he hoped to give back to those in his neighborhood. In fact, he wanted to do what Matt was doing by purchasing groceries for people in need.

Time to Go

Chauncy was so thankful to Matt and expressed his gratitude while they walked out of the Kroger store. However, that still didn’t seem like enough. Regardless, it was time to get back to the bus stop, and he thought he’d never see Matt again.

Catching the Bus

It was time for Chauncy to get back home. His mother would soon worry if he didn’t. However, Matt realized that it would be hard for the teen to take the bus with those groceries. Therefore, he offered to take him home in his vehicle.

Chauncy’s Living Conditions

Overall, Matt was completely humbled by his decision to take Chauncy home. When they got to the house, he realized that the teen hadn’t exaggerated when he said there was no food. What else did Matt witness?

Chauncy’s Home

After getting to Chauncy’s home, Matt saw that there were only two lamps in the place and nothing in the fridge. He and his mother lived with the bare minimum. However, something else in the home disturbed Matt. What could it be?!

Meeting Mom

While at Chauncy’s house, Matt met Barbara Black, the boy’s mother. That first impression showed that she was very kind and gracious in everything she did. He could instantly tell she was thankful that he’d been at that Kroger store!

About Barbara Black

Matt got to know Barbara better and learned of her health condition. She shook all the time, and it had gotten so bad that she could barely walk on her own. He knew he had to do more to help out this amazing family!

Matt’s Plan

Before Matt did anything else for this family, he had to unpack all the groceries they had just gotten. He could see that Chauncy was so happy to be home and have all of that food, and it made his heart swell for the boy.

Matt’s Contributions

The boy looked more upbeat than he had initially. Now, the Blacks had a full fridge, and it was all because of Matt’s generosity. After putting up the groceries, Matt told the mother-son duo goodbye, but it wasn’t the last time they’d meet!

Not Enough

Matt knew those groceries wouldn’t be enough, and he felt he had to make a real contribution in their lives. After leaving and going to his house, he couldn’t stop thinking about Chauncy and Barbara. He was very upset for them.

The Disturbing Truth

Barbara could no longer work because of her shaking condition. Therefore, the only money the small family received was from her disability checks. Chauncy hadn’t gotten clothes for years, and those groceries would only last about a week or two.

What Matt Wanted

After learning about Barbara’s condition and the pair’s situation, Matt chose to make a lasting and real difference in both of their lives. What could he do to achieve those goals?

Needing Help

Matt understood that he lived a comfortable life and wanted for nothing. He had his own home and could buy food whenever he wished. However, he knew he didn’t have the funds to make a big impact in Barbara’s and Chauncy’s lives. He had to get help from other people!

What Matt Decided

Matt decided to use social media to talk about his encounter with Barbara and Chauncy. He used Facebook to share the story, and he hoped that it would inspire many others to feel the same way he did about the mother-son duo.

The Start of the Plan

The Facebook post Matt shared gained attention, and he wanted this to become tangible donations for the pair. Therefore, he created a GoFundMe page and put it on the post, as well. How did other people react?

GoFundMe

The GoFundMe page included information about Chauncy and Barbara and had data about shoe and clothing sizes. There was also a video interview with their life story. People were inspired quickly, so the financial contributions rolled in fast!

The Money

That GoFundMe page quickly generated plenty of traffic, and the donations were adding up. Chauncy was so grateful and excited about what Matt did for his small family, and they started planning what to do next.

Matt’s Idea

Matt hoped that the fundraiser would help Chauncy buy his first lawnmower. That meant he would earn money in the summer by cutting people’s lawns. Then, he’d be able to start saving money for school the next fall.

Growing

The money rolled in fast, and the Facebook page gathered more traffic and likes. Their story went viral, and the GoFundMe account had exceeded their expectations quickly. Total strangers were donating dental care, jobs, and so much more.

Don’t Stop

Soon, Matt realized that they had to plan for more than the purchase of a lawnmower. With the many donations they had gotten, they could prepare Chauncy for a college education or a new home!

The Outcome

You already know that the Facebook post went viral, but you’re probably wondering how much money they got. The GoFundMe page brought in about $340,000 for Chauncy and his mom. This was a life-changing amount that the pair really needed.

What Barbara Said

Barbara was happy about the money. In fact, she had known for a while that her living conditions were poor, but there wasn’t much she could do. Likewise, Chauncy had tried helping her out, and she was grateful for it all.

Creating a Movement

Matt couldn’t know that his chance encounter would make such a difference, but he’d created a movement. They called it “Chauncy’s Chance,” and major news networks and outlets learned about it, begging for interviews. Now the men are recognized wherever they go!

What Chauncy Said

Chauncy absolutely loved the attention he got and gave interviews saying that his life was changed completely. People instantly recognized him on the street, and he claimed it was awesome. Overall, he was grateful for Matt and everything he’d received.

Fame Isn’t Always Good

The fame Chauncy got had some negative connotations. Chauncy and his mom had to protect their gains. Their family and friends often asked for help, so they had to manage it properly. Still, they were happy with the life-changing opportunity and made the most of it!