Today I met a grandpa named Herman at Walmart.

I asked him if he could help me get some baby food and if he had just $1 dollar. Without hesitation, he said, “I got you,” and instead of just giving me a dollar, he bought the whole item for me.

To reward his kindness, I surprised him with $500 dollars outside…

He immediately broke down in tears.

Herman shared with me that the woman he had been with for the last 9 years had just passed away. In the midst of that he also found out he has stage 4 cancer. Herman has nowhere to call home and temporarily living at a friend’s place. He told me he really needed this and was pretty behind on bills. Herman spent 12 years in prison before he was exonerated for a crime he did not commit and has since gone around the country speaking on judicial reform.

He then shared his dream with me. He said his dream is to just have a place to live and have his health so he can be there for his grandson, his only joy in life.

That moment absolutely broke me.

Even with everything Herman is going through, he still chose to help a complete stranger. In a moment where he didn’t have to give anything, he gave anyway.

A grandfather walking through this much pain should not have to do it alone. Let’s help Herman get a home so he can have the stability, peace, and more time with his grandson that he deserves.