Philadelphia

Woman Raises Money for Homeless Man Who Helped Her

Kate McClure was heading to Philadelphia to visit a friend last month when she ran out of gas on Interstate 95

A New Jersey woman who was helped by a homeless man when she ran out of gas in Philadelphia is raising money to help him. 

Kate McClure was heading to Philadelphia to visit a friend last month when she ran out of gas on Interstate 95. The Florence Township woman pulled over and began to worry until a homeless man approached her. 

The man, whose name was "Johnny," told her it wasn't safe and he bought McClure gas with his last $20. 

"He told me to get back in the car and lock the doors," McClure wrote in a GoFundMe campaign titled "Paying it Forward." "A few minutes later, he comes back with a red gas can."

McClure promised she would return to pay him.

"Johnny did not ask me for a dollar, and I couldn’t repay him at that moment because I didn’t have any cash, but I have been stopping by his spot for the past few weeks," McClure's post read. "I repaid him for the gas, gave him a jacket, gloves, a hat, and warm socks, and I give him a few dollars every time I see him. I wish that I could do more for this selfless man, who went out of his way just to help me that day. He is such a great guy, and talking to him each time I see him makes me want to help him more and more."

McClure and her boyfriend, Mark D'Amico's GoFundMe page had raised nearly $100,000 as of late Wednesday for the former ammunition technician. 

The pair hope to get "Johnny" an apartment and help with transportation.

"Truly believe that all Johnny needs is one little break," McClure wrote. "Hopefully with your help I can be the one to give it to him."

Copyright The Associated Press
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