A boy mistook millionaire for a homeless man gave his last dollar and was rewarded for his kindness

A boy’s generous act earned him an amazing gift from someone he thought needed help.

A 9-year-old boy from Louisiana named Kelvin Ellis Jr. saw a man who looked homeless outside a coffee shop in Baton Rouge.

So, Kelvin gave the man his only dollar, and as a reward for the boy’s generous act, he was surprised by a shopping spree.

The person Kelvin thought was homeless turned out to be Matt Busbice, the owner of a local sporting goods store.

Matt, who has built and sold several outdoor companies worth millions, was startled awake by the fire alarm in his condo complex. Rushing downstairs, he found no fire.

Despite being disheveled and dressed in mismatched clothes, he decided to go out for a cup of coffee since he was already awake, according to CBS News.

While waiting, he decided to get some coffee and stopped outside to pray.

“And I started to slowly open my eyes, and there’s a kid coming at me, about my height,” Busbice said.

When he noticed the boy’s clenched fist, Busbice initially thought Kelvin was prepared for a confrontation.

However, Kelvin surprised him by opening his hand to reveal the single dollar bill he had offered.

“‘I said, ‘Excuse me, sir, are you homeless? Because if you are, here’s a dollar,'” Kelvin recalls telling Busbice.

Kelvin explained that he earned the dollar by getting good grades.

Despite it being his only money, he was eager to give it to someone he believed needed it more than him.

“I always wanted to help a homeless person, and I finally had the opportunity,” Kelvin said.

Impressed by the boy’s generous act, Busbice invited Kelvin for a snack and spoke with his father.

Later, Busbice invited Kelvin to a shopping spree at his store, BuckFeather.

Kelvin had 40 seconds to choose anything he wanted, including a new bike.

Although happy with the bike, Kelvin clarified that he didn’t expect a reward when he gave away his dollar.

He shared that helping someone brought him joy.

“Give something away, and you feel like you’ve got a lot of things from it,” Kelvin said.

The boy’s generous act deeply moved Busbice; ‘I haven’t had that much faith in humanity in a very long time,’ the millionaire said.

“If you give, you’re actually going to get more out of that,” Busbice said. “I couldn’t grasp that as a kid. And if we can spread that around, everything changes.”

In recent years, Louisiana’s homeless population has experienced significant fluctuations, likely due to the impact of Hurricane Ida in 2021, Business Insider noted.

According to the 2022 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report to Congress, from 2020 to 2022, Louisiana saw the second-largest increase in homelessness, rising by 132.4%.

However, in 2023, Louisiana experienced the largest decrease in the percentage of homeless individuals, with a decline of 57% compared to the previous year.

How can you help the homeless?

Here’s a list of ways you can help homeless people in your community, as per Ripple Kindness Project:

• Treat them with respect: Show homeless individuals the kindness and respect you would give anyone else in need.
• Be kind: A simple act of kindness, like a friendly word or smile, can make a big difference in someone’s day.
• Provide information: Carry cards with details of local shelters to hand out to homeless individuals you encounter.
• Offer food: Take extra sandwiches or pack additional lunch items to give to those asking for help.
• Donate clothing: Give away good-quality clothes to organizations helping homeless people find housing.
• Donate groceries: Collect non-perishable items and donate them to food drives or local shelters.
• Volunteer at shelters: Offer your time to shelters, assisting with various tasks or supporting those in need.
• Volunteer at soup kitchens: Help prepare and serve meals, supporting those facing food insecurity.
• Advocate for change: Get involved in local initiatives and organizations addressing homelessness and advocating for long-term solutions.

Watch how the Louisiana boy’s generous act touched the owner of BuckFeather below: