Formerly Homeless, Man Celebrates Birthday By Giving Back

by Greg Campbell | November 19, 2015 12:20 pm

Homelessness can be a tough thing to get out from under. A vicious cycle, many who are homeless turn to bad decisions like drug and alcohol abuse and it can be very tough to stop the cycle. One man who was homeless now pays it forward and is helping others who are where he has been.[1]

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He was homeless at the age of 16, now he’s turning 25 and turning his life around.

Rashawn Higgs is on a quest to give back to the community he loves so much.

“There are a lot of people homeless and hungry,” Higgs said.

But now, a formerly homeless man is helping out. Meet Rashawn Higgs, who was homeless at 16.

“I used to be homeless down here, about five years ago,” he said. “My whole point of this was for everybody on their birthday to give something to someone else less fortunate.”

On Wednesday, Higgs turned 25 and he’s giving back, clothes and food.

“That’s what he’s doing for his birthday, that is sweet,” said Maudka McCrory. “He has a big heart.”

Higgs said he spent about $300 of his own money to buy clothes at various thrift shops. And as far as food goes, he bought groceries and made a few hundred sandwiches.

“One of the simplest things you can do is make a sandwich,” he said. “It takes nothing but a second to make a sandwich.”

“I actually left school just to come and help,” said Shelby Fouchey, 14. “This is a nice thing. Nobody has stuff and it is nice to give away when you have it to give away.”

And it was a step-brother, one of 16 step kids, that helped Rashawn get his first job at a Kroger store.   He’s had steady jobs since, but would like to go into the military.

This man’s quest is an inspiration. We all can use a little help sometimes and government is seldom the answer. Personal generosity and a heightened sense of community can truly help people.