Greg Smith, 25, is a salesman who visits different businesses in Florida. While he would pass by many homeless people during his journey who would ask for money, there was one woman who caught his attention.
 |
| Credits: Greg Smith |
He knew there was something special about this woman, Amy Joe, 48, who wouldn't ask him for money but would instead greet him: "Good morning sir, have a great day. God bless!"
Advertisement
This melted Greg's heart and put a smile on his face every time he encountered her on the street. One day, on April 5th, when his business meeting was canceled, Greg asked Amy out for lunch.
 |
| Credits: Greg Smith |
 |
| Credits: Greg Smith |
Advertisement
 |
| Credits: Greg Smith |
 |
| Credits: Greg Smith |
The two of them went to Subway, where Greg got to know more about this homeless woman, who wasn’t in any position to refuse a free meal.
During their conversation, Greg discovered that Amy really wanted to learn how to read. But because of her homelessness, she had never been able to.
Advertisement
Without a second thought, Greg told her that he’d help her learn. “She immediately glowed with happiness,” said Greg.
Amy then pulled out a book she keeps with her—“Beyond Belief” by Josh Hamilton—which talks about finding strength to come back after hard times. Greg decided to start helping her using this book.
He would read one paragraph, and Amy would follow along, asking him any grammar questions she had.
"Once we finish this book, I'll buy her more books," Greg said.
"You never know what you can do for someone until you try."
"Who is your Amy Joe?" Greg asked at the end of his Facebook post as follows:
Advertisement
“Meet “Amy Joe…For the last few weeks each Tuesday, Amy Joe and I meet at the corner of Pine street and S. Orange ave in downtown Orlando (I work downtown and am always moving around the city). Each day for about a week I saw Amy Joe at this corner and she never asked for money…she simply said “Good morning Sir, have a great day. God Bless!!” and smiled.”
“I wear a suit to work everyday so I get asked a lot for money quite often downtown…but never once from Amy Joe. Every Tuesday Amy Joe and I now have Lunch together. For 30 min to an hour I get to hear how positive she is even though she really has nothing.”
“Last week Amy Joe kind of dropped a bomb on me…she cannot read. Amy Joe does not smoke, drink, have a drug addiction, or anything to that nature. She simply just has never had anyone teach her how to read. She told me how hard it was for her to find work not being able to read. She began to tell me any money that she can collect she uses to check out library books that help with learning to read instead of buying FOOD. This crushed me!!! She would rather learn to read to maybe find a job then eat!!!”
“I have been blessed with two amazing parents and a family that has always had resources to provide me with anything I wanted to do. Amy Joe has not. So now not only do Amy Joe and I sit and have lunch, I’m teaching her to read. I rent one library book a week and we read it together Tuesday and she practices on her own throughout the rest of the week.”
“This post is in no way to make anyone feel sorry for Amy Joe or brag about me doing something for someone less fortunate. I wanted to share this because maybe this can lead to someone helping another person. There are a lot of people out there like Amy Joe, not all are hungry, homeless, or hurt. Some could be your family or friends. Helping someone could be as easy as saying hello and smiling.
I have been fortunate enough in my finances that I can take care of Amy Joe, so that’s what I’m going to do. If this is something that hit home with you, Like & Share it…if not, that’s okay too. But you never know what you can do for someone until you try. Who is your Amy Joe?!?!?”
Send story ideas, facts, correction, or kind thoughts to hello@nostalgicgrandma.com.