A single act of kindness can set off an entire chain of events. One woman was touched when she saw a man riding his bike and struggling to pull a group of dogs. When she saw him a second time, she knew their fates were intertwined. What she did next changed his life forever.
As Alicia drove up the highway through Arkansas, she saw a strange sight. An elderly man on a bike was pulling a trailer that contained 10 dogs. Wonderstruck, she watched as he trudged his way along. It was obvious that the man was exhausted.
Alicia kept on driving, but she couldn’t get this man out of her head. She felt like something was pushing her toward him. She made a promise to herself that if she saw the man again she would stop and help him. Fate agreed, and a plan was set in motion.
“God must have put this man on that road at that time for a reason, because as I was returning to town I saw him,” Alicia shared on Facebook. She stayed true to her word and started a conversation with the stranger. What she learned changed Alicia’s perspective entirely.
The man, whose name was Steve, explained that he had been homeless since 2001. Living on the streets, he had found companionship with the stray dogs who would come across his path. He provided care and comfort for the dogs who needed it. This was how he had met the ten dogs who trailed behind him while he rode his bike.
Steve shared with Alicia that he was on a mission to see his girlfriend in Indiana. He and the dogs would travel over 2,000 miles to reach their final destination. They didn’t have much, but they always had each other.
Steve and his family traveled from city to city, always looking forward and hoping for the best. Home became wherever the gang could be together.
This story touched Alicia’s heart. She contacted her mom, who used Facebook to connect to animal lovers from all over the country. They recounted Steve’s plight on a GoFundMe page, and within hours the donations were rolling in.
One kind soul in particular went the extra mile to help Steve in his difficult situation. Kelley Seaton offered to drive the man and his dogs all the way to Indiana so he could be reunited with his girlfriend.
Thanks to the donations of many goodhearted people, Steve and his dogs were able to stay in a motel room where they were provided with food and a warm bed. This generosity meant so much to the man who gave everything to his stray friends.
Another woman, named Angela, helped Steve and his girlfriend immensely once they were reunited. Angela ran an organization that reached out to homeless people with pets. When she heard Steve’s story, she knew she had to get involved.
Angela has worked with the family each day since they arrived in Indiana, and her help could not be more appreciated.
Steve and his dogs were even able to get a new trailer. Now they will never have to be homeless again. Each of the dogs will be spayed or neutered, and their medical costs will be covered.
The man keeps up with Alicia and her mom, grateful that their selfless generosity has resulted in all of this. A simple conversation that took place on an open highway ended up changing his life forever.
Alicia’s fundraiser continues to raise money to help this man in his noble endeavor. Those involved are deeply grateful for the compassion they have been shown. Alicia thanks those who have donated to this sweet cause with wise words:
“If it wasn’t for every single one of you, this man might still be pedaling down the road not knowing what hardship he might hit next.”
A single act of kindness can set off a chain of events that can have a monumental effect. Alicia’s compulsion to speak to Steve on the side of the road that day changed both of their worlds irrevocably, and her compassion has brought many more people together in the name of a common cause. When we work together, anything is possible.
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