Randy Emmans-Beilin and his partner John Suazo are actively involved in helping the homeless. They collect items and food for them and recently helped a man who ended up on the streets reunite with his family, whom he hadn’t seen in 20 years.
One day, while walking her dog, Randy overheard a homeless man talking to himself. “Why is everyone looking at me and laughing? I am a very educated person. Please say hello!
Don’t make fun of me or give me such looks. “His words really touched me,” admits Randy. – Plus, I run a program to help the homeless, so I just couldn’t pass it up. »
It turned out that the man’s name was Pedro. Randy and John gave Mu one of the kits they had collected for the homeless – with clean clothes, socks, food and water – and asked him about his life.
“He admitted that he hadn’t slept well in eight years,” Randy recalls, “because it’s very difficult to sleep on the floor, and besides, he was always afraid that while he slept, someone steals his last belongings. »
Pedro confessed to them that, more than anything else, he wanted to return to his family, which he had not seen for 20 years. Randy and John started interrogating him, trying to find out at least a few facts about his family, and, in the end, Pedro remembered his grandmother’s address.
After a long search, phone calls and posting ads on the Internet, Randy and John finally found Pedro’s family. “His uncle Pierre called us,” says Randy. He saw a photo of his nephew and immediately recognized him.
He said that Pedro is a very educated person, that his uncle, nephew and many aunts are waiting for him at home. Pierre said they would reunite and fly to Los Angeles as soon as possible to bring Pedro home.
Randy and John started an online fundraiser to help Pedro. In 72 hours, they managed to raise $6,500. This money was enough to put Pedro in a hotel, buy him new clothes, a cell phone and the most necessary things.
In addition, they used this money to pay for tickets to Los Angeles for their uncle and nephew Pedro. “We gave the rest of the money to Pedro’s family to help him get back on his feet,” says Randy.
When Pedro’s family came to pick him up, Randy and John had dinner with them to get to know Pedro’s family better.
“They’re a really wonderful, loving family,” says Randy. They really love each other and 20 years of separation has not changed anything. Pedro really turned out to be a kind and smart person. After dinner, they flew to Charleston. . We promised that we would definitely visit Pedro at his place! »
“Please, if a homeless person turns to you on the street, don’t ignore them! urge Randy and John. “If he greeted you, answer him!” It can change his whole life. »
