Matt White was shopping when he noticed a teenage boy approaching him. He didn't think much of it at first, but soon he would find himself in a difficult situation.
What started as an ordinary day for the boy led to a shocking discovery when he saw what was inside the bag.
Matt White
After finishing college, singer-songwriter Matt White moved to Memphis, Tennessee. Living in a southern metropolis had its pros, and Matt was taking advantage of the location to boost his career.
When Matt went to buy groceries for the week, he could've never imagined that his day would end this way.
He Had A Few Errands To Run
Matt had a lot to accomplish that day, including buying grocery items and making dinner that would last him a few days.
He was a regular customer, so he knew where the items were and planned to return home shortly. Little did he know at the time that this day would change his life.
He Noticed Strangely
Matt filled up his shopping cart with the items he needed and headed to the cashier register. That's when he noticed something strange.
A teenage boy was watching him from across the store. It seemed like he wanted to ask Matt something. Who was he?
He Didn't Know Him
Matt didn't know who the boy was and couldn't understand why he kept looking at him.
He began to get an uneasy feeling when he saw the teen walking in his direction. What did he want from him?
Strange Feeling
Matt thought that maybe the boy wanted to ask him for money or use his phone to call someone. But before he could think of any other reasons, the teen was already next to him.
He was so close to him that he felt uneasy. He couldn't help but notice something strange about the boy.
He Was Starving
"The look on his face was kind of broken. He looked hungry," Matt recalled. He soon realized who the boy was and why he approached him.
The teen introduced himself to Matt and said his name was Chauncy Jones Black. He came to the store for a reason.
He Was 16 Years Old
Chauncy Jones Black was a 16-years old boy who had taken a bus late at night to get to Matt's neighborhood.
"He had taken the bus at 9:00 at night to get to the 'rich people's Kroger," Matt recalled. So what did he want from him?
He Wanted To Help Him
"He approached me... asking if he could help me carry my grocery bags to my car in exchange for buying him a pack of glazed donuts," Matt said.
The boy was starving and was willing to help him in exchange for some food. "He looked ashamed, hungry, and broken," Matt continued. Would he accept his offer?
He Felt Bad For Him
Matt was touched by his words and wanted to help him. "This kid was really brave," he said.
"I just thought to myself, if I was his age, I don't think I could go up to someone and ask them for food. I looked at him like he was my hero," Matt continued. But then things took an unexpected turn.
It's Faith
"Faith takes care of a lot of stuff," the boy recalled. "That's what I had: faith. And he looked like he would help me out."
Matt accepted his offer, and the two started talking about life. While shopping, the boy told him something Matt would never forget.
He Was Struggling
Chauncy opened up to Matt, revealing he was living with his mother in a house with no food or furniture as they didn't have money for that.
The teen didn't own a cellphone and was lucky to even use the public bus. "I just felt this overwhelming humility for his situation," Matt said about Chauncy. But then, the boy revealed something even more surprising.
He Deserved More
Even though he was clearly hungry, he didn't just ask Matt to buy him food. Instead, he offered to do something in return for him. Chauncy's words struck Matt, and he decided to do something special for him.
So when the boy picked out some sweets for himself, he was surprised when Matt didn't head to the cash register. Instead, he started walking in the opposite direction.
He Put More Items
The boy watched Matt putting vegetables, milk, chips, toothpaste, and other items in the shopping cart for him. Then, while waiting for Matt to finish shopping, he shared more details about his life.
Matt soon learned that the boy had a tough life. Chauncy's biological mother didn't want anything to do with him, so his grandmother adopted him when he was a newborn.
One Of Six Other Children
Chauncy was one of six other children in the house, and his grandmother struggled to provide food for everyone. Matt couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"It was very humbling," he said. "I just felt an overwhelming desire to help." He also learned the boy had big plans for the future despite the difficult circumstances. What was he planning to do?
He Didn't Want To Poor
While the boy was aware that he was poor, he told Matt he would change that someday.
"All the while, we talked, and he told me how he makes straight A's in school and is trying to get a job to help his mom pay rent," Matt shared. "This kid was amazing."
His Dream
"I dream about buying me a restaurant someday so my mom can cook anything she wants," the boy told Matt. Chauncy took studying seriously because he believed it would help him become a businessman.
When it was time to say goodbye, Matt decided to do something for Chauncy that would turn his life upside down.
Time To Say Goodbye
After helping Matt carry groceries, Chauncy told him he needed to leave to catch the last bus home. He thanked him one more time and left.
Matt wasn't ready to say goodbye to Chauncy just yet. So, he followed the boy without him knowing. What was he going to do?
He Gave Him A Ride Home
Matt didn't want Chauncy to take the bus with all the grocery bags he had, so he offered to give him a ride. The boy happily accepted Matt's offer and invited him over for some tea.
When Matt entered the house, he was at a loss for words.
The House Was Empty
"They had two lamps and nothing in their fridge," the singer recalled. Neither Chauncy nor his mother, Barbara, had a bed to sleep in. So instead, they slept on thin pads on the floor.
"Chauncy's mom informed me that all of their possessions were stolen a few months ago, including all her clothes," he said. Matt soon learned what happened to the boy and his mother.
She Was Thankful For What Matt Did
Chauncy's mother thanked Matt for his kind gesture, and the two quickly got along. He learned that Barbara suffered from a condition that caused her body to shake uncontrollably.
As a result, it was difficult for her to do even the simplest of tasks, such as taking a bus or working. Matt's heart ached with pity for her. "I thought I was going to cry," he said.
He Could Barely Hold It
Chauncy's eyes lit up when he saw how much food Matt had bought for him.
"Chauncy knew he wasn't going to be hungry. He looked like a kid again," Matt said. But the singer could've never predicted what was about to happen to him shortly after visiting this family.
He Couldn't Stop Thinking About The Boy
After helping them unpack the groceries, Matt said goodbye to Chauncy and his mother and headed home. However, he couldn't stop thinking about how brave and determined Chauncy was.
"I'm 30 years old, and I have a new hero," he said. Matt wanted to help them, but what could he do?
He Deserved A Chance
"What so many can take for granted, Chauncy wants," he said. "He wants food, he wants a bed, he wants to work, and he wants a chance."
Matt couldn't get the boy out of his head. "Chauncy is in desperate need of clothing and a bed," he said. "He sleeps on the floor in a room with no AC." Buying groceries wasn't enough to help them in the long run. So Matt decided to help them in another way.
Sharing Their Story On Facebook
While Matt couldn't afford to support Chauncy and his mother financially, there was one thing he could certainly do for them.
He shared their story on Facebook and hoped the post would get noticed by someone who could offer financial help. Although, some of the comments his post received were shocking, to say the least.
They Created A GoFundMe Page
Matt's Facebook friends left comments on his post, offering to help Chauncy and Barbara. Matt also created a GoFundMe page to collect more money.
"I've created this go fund me page to help Chauncy have a chance," Matt said in his post. Little did he know how much this decision would change the boy's life.
A Simple Act Of Kindness
It starts small. A simple act of kindness, but it can ripple out and create an ocean of prosperity in the world," Matt continued.
While Matt really wanted to help the teen, he didn't want to just hand him the cash. Instead, the singer decided to make some necessary purchases with the donated money.
First Purchase
"The first step is to get Chauncy's basic needs covered and to get him working," Matt said. "Right now, he doesn't have an ID, so he cannot apply for regular jobs until he gets that handled."
"Until then, he says he likes mowing lawns," he continued. "So my hope is to raise enough money to get him a push mower." But to buy a lawnmower, Matt needed to raise more than $200. Would he raise enough cash?
He Raised Enough Money
Chauncy wanted to do some yard work and earn cash for school supplies and food. Matt hoped he would be able to raise enough money to give him that chance.
Matt couldn't believe it when the amount exceeded the fundraising goal. "When I started this 4 days ago, never in my wildest dreams did I think something like this would happen!!" he shared. Now, Matt could aim bigger than a lawnmower. What did he have in mind?
More and More Money
"At this rate, I have started talking to some people about helping find them a house of their own," Matt said.
"They could go from not being able to pay rent to... homeowners!!! All because of the love of strangers." He was shocked to see the amount of money that had been donated. What could he do with it?
People Sympathized With Them
People were touched by his story. "I'm hoping this soft-spoken young man and his mom get everything they need and more," one person wrote.
"And that given this chance, Chauncy WILL realize his dreams someday and give back as he intends to," he continued. By that point, the total amount raised for the family now exceeded $340,000! Little did Chauncy know the GoFundMe page was just the beginning of this life-changing journey.
A Fresh Start
"It means a whole lot to us and our family," Chauncy said. "We are very thankful to all of those who reached out to get us into a better home and a safe environment."
Matt and Chauncy didn't waste any time and started working. "There's so much happening right now that every day has become a micro-adventure," Matt shared in his Facebook post. What were they up to?
He Had A Bright Future Ahead Of Him
"We've been looking at schools for Chauncy, shopping for homes, getting him lawn jobs," he continued.
"Somebody just ordered Chauncy a lawnmower, and it's being shipped to his house Wednesday!!" he shared. Chauncy's name soon made it on national headlines. What did it mean for him?
He Was Trending On Facebook
"Chauncy's Chance" appeared on Facebook next to celebrity news about Amy Schumer, Calvin Harris, and Kylie Jenner. His name would soon be trending on all social media platforms!
The family was receiving calls from magazines and news stations such as People and Daily Mail. "I'm still stunned. I just don't know what to say, "Barbara said in one of the interviews. What she said next shocked the interviewers.
Chauncy's Biological Mother Reached Out To Him
"It's just so wonderful. I just know God is good, and he sent a good person into our lives." But it wasn't all rainbows and butterflies for us," she continued.
It wasn't long before Chauncy's biological mother reached out to him. She wanted a piece of his sudden wealth. Chauncy was shocked by her behavior. What was his response?
They Moved Out
"Now you want to take credit when someone is on the road to be something," the boy said.
However, she wasn't the only one who suddenly wanted to be in his life. People started recognizing Chauncy and Barbara on the street, and they had to move out. Where did they go?
They Contacted A Lawyer
Chauncy and his mother decided to live in a hotel until they found another home. Matt, Barbara, and Chauncy didn't know how to protect the cash from the greedy distant relatives and "new friends," so they contacted an expert.
They contacted a lawyer "so that they take the least amount of hit on taxes," Matt shared. "So the money's set up in a trust and not at risk of anybody trying to come and claim it." Now that the boy had enough money to live comfortably, some people began wondering if he was still living to work hard. What did Chauncy have to say about it?
He Got A Job
Chauncy didn't change his mind about getting a job. Soon he was hired by a lawn care company.
"He's a good kid with a strong work ethic, and he deserves the opportunity to learn," Chauncy's boss, Robert Hamilton, told People. "Chauncy is very receptive, and I think he'll accomplish anything he sets his mind to do." But there was something else Robert wanted Chauncy to know. What was it?
He Wants Him To Take Over His Business
Robert isn't planning to stay in this business for the rest of his life and believes Chauncy will be a great replacement for him.
"I don't want to stay with this forever," he said. "So if he wants it, I'd love to give it to him." Chauncy then shared an important message online.
He Is Grateful
"I'm so grateful. People have been wonderful," Chauncy said. "Me and Matt White are pretty much family now."
Every Sunday, they go to chuch and then get some ice cream. "God has provided for them a home, a car, a new school," Matt said. "He has restored Barbara's health and continues to present them with endless opportunities for the future." While the singer doesn't believe he was the one who changed their lives, most people think otherwise.