Some people will do whatever it takes to get ahead in life, and one teenager was determined to make life happen instead of waiting for it to just happen around him.

Chauncey Black decided to head to the “rich” part of town with just a bus pass and no money. He was poor and had nothing to eat so he did what he thought was his only option.

At the grocery store he approached a man that, unbeknownst to him, would change his entire life. He approached the stranger and asked him if he could carry out his groceries in exchange for a pack of donuts.

The stranger, Matt White, was moved by the young man’s request. “This kid looked like he had been turned down 100 times. He looked ashamed, hungry, and broken. In my heart I screamed a loud, ‘yes!’, but to him I just chuckled and said, ‘yeah dude, we’ll get you some donuts.'”

Matt found out that Chauncy had a hungry mother waiting at home and was counting on the good graces of a stranger to help feed him before he had to get back on the bus and go home.

He was determined to not just give the kid a pack of donuts and sent him on his way. Instead, he took him into the store and went on a shopping spree. They loaded the cart with all sorts of goodies that Chauncy could take home to his mother.

While shopping for cereal, frozen veggies, pizzas, melons, pasta, peanut butter, milk, soap, toothbrushes, and more, Matt found out that Chauncy was a straight A student and was trying to get a job to help his mother pay rent and put food on the table.

Matt says Chauncy kept telling him that he was going to be wealthy one day and own his own business so that he could help other people in his neighborhood and buy them groceries like me. “I was in awe,” said Matt.

After getting the groceries, Matt offered Chauncy a ride home. When they got there Matt discovered that Chauncy wasn’t exaggerating. They didn’t have any beds or furniture, were sleeping on sleeping bags on the floor, and their fridge was empty.

Chauncy’s mother was medically fragile and shook uncontrollably. She had trouble walking even. Matt could see the hope coming back into Chauncy’s eyes as they unloaded and put away the groceries Matt had bought.

“As I was leaving I gave him a hug and told him how much God loved him and that he was going to grow up to be an incredible man. I’ll never forget that hug. It meant more to me than any possession I have,” said Matt.

However, Matt had more in mind after that goodbye. He couldn’t just leave him with a load of groceries. He set up a GoFundMe account to raise money for the necessities the family desperately needed.

An incredible $341,000 was raised in response to Matt’s request to help the family. Not only did it meet their basic needs, but it meant that Chauncy could afford to buy the equipment needed to start his own lawncare business so he could take care of his family and help those in his neighborhood too. Chauncy and his mother also got beds to sleep in.

The kindness of strangers never ceases to amaze me. Check out the video below to hear more about Chauncy’s story and be sure to share it with your family and friends.