MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A video of a Ridgeway High School student packing a bag of food, water and warm clothes and delivering it to a stranger in need is now circulating social media.
“I got him some chicken, some bread, some rice, broccoli and cheese,” said 15-year-old Robert Woods in the video. “And I got him a sweater, because It’s really cold outside right now. I got him some water. Four bottles.”
Woods told WREG he had never met the man before, but always saw him standing on Ridgeway.
“I had said that I wanted to make a bag for him,” said Woods. “I gave it to him, and he said thank you. It made me feel great, because I felt like I changed his life.”
The 15-year-old heard about Heal the Hood’s challenge. The non-profit is rewarding teens like Woods who post videos of random acts of kindness.
“It makes them feel like, you know, I’m making a difference in my life. I’m not becoming a statistic, but I’m being something different,” said Terry Pope, Heal the Hood’s youth mentor coordinator.
While the challenge encouraged Woods to make the video, his inspiration came from his mom.
Eight years ago, they started passing out holiday packages to the needy.
“That’s what we do, because just like he’s homeless, we could be in that same situation,” said Sheronda Woods.
A tradition they’ve continued, even during the hard times when Woods’ dad was shot during a robbery and hospitalized for a year.
“I was low on funds, and I had three kids,” she said.
As for Woods, he’s not looking for glory.
He just hopes his kindness rubs off on his peers.
“I hope they watch it, and then make them change their mind on violence,” said Woods.
