Homeless Vet Who Saved A Woman With His Last $20 Buys House

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Homeless Vet Who Saved A Woman With His Last $20 Buys House

Elizabeth Robinson

A homeless veteran who used his last $20 to fill up a stranded woman's tank of gas has bought a house with the money raised from charitable donations.

Overcome by his generosity, Kate McClure set up a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for Johnny Bobbitt Jr., which quickly went viral.

With the help of 14,300 people, donations surpassed more than $400,000, allowing Bobbitt, 34, with enough funds to reintegrate into a normal life.  

"The feeling is indescribable and (it's) all thanks to the support and generosity that each and every one of you has shown," Bobbitt wrote on the GoFundMe page. "I'll continue to thank you every single day for the rest of my life."

Bobbitt, a former ammunition technician in the Marines and talented paramedic from North Carolina, said he had become homeless after a mix of "bad decisions and bad situations," but was hoping for an opportunity to turn his life around, and help others who are also in need.

Now that Bobbitt has these funds, he's making sure he's sticking to his word.

With the donations, Bobbitt has been able to purchase a South Jersey home and his dream truck (a 1999 Ford Ranger), along with two trusts in his name. One will be for a small salary, while the other is for his retirement, where he will be able to own a small piece of land and live in a cabin in the country.

"A bank account will be set up for him with funds for every day needs that will get him through until he finds a job. And lastly, he will be donating to a few organisations and people who over the last couple of years have helped him get through this rough patch in his life," McClure wrote on the GoFundMe page.

"This is a well thought out plan that Johnny his lawyer and financial adviser came up with in order to give Johnny the means to acclimate back into a 'normal' life and also to protect him and ensure he has a bright future," she added.

Bobbitt has also given some of his donations to another homeless man, Jeff Johnson, who also served in the military.

"I've seen this man on the streets and although I wouldn't call him a friend I think he is the perfect candidate to continue this string of kindness," he wrote.

Finally, Bobbitt said despite the hardships he's faced while being homeless, the experience has shaped him into being the man he is today.

"I will never ever regret that period of being homeless on the streets," Bobbitt told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "That alone, honestly, really changed my life. It's going to change everything from here on out."

Maya has been working at Shared for a year. She just begrudgingly spent $200 on a gym membership. Contact her at maya@shared.com