Sometimes you can still depend on the kindness of strangers.
An Oklahoma man who walked 17 miles a day to get to his restaurant job is getting a free bicycle and enough money to buy a car — thanks to a chance lift from a stranger.
Donte Franklin typically walked more than 8 miles each way to get to his job as a cook at the local Buffalo Wild Wings in the city of Moore, KOKH-TV said in a report this week.
On a particularly hot day last week, Franklin was lucky enough to get a ride from Michael Lynn, a stranger who took pity on the exhausted pedestrian — and changed his life.
“I’m like, man, he’s walking a long way,” Lynn told the station.
Impressed by Franklin’s commitment, Lynn took to Facebook to post about Franklin’s situation — and raised $26,000 to help him buy a car.
And while he waits to get his license, Franklin has a two-wheeled option — a local bike club chimed in by giving him a free bicycle to make due for now.
“I wasn’t expecting it, but really it was a true blessing he gave me a ride,” Franklin said. “I can really help my family with this. It’s just a really good blessing.”
Despite his lengthy trek, Franklin has yet to be late for a shift and credits his mom — who died when he was 16 — with instilling that work ethic into him.
As for Lynn, he and Franklin are now fast friends.
“I think we need to keep each other,” he told KOKH. “I love this guy like my own.”