Every once in a while, a tale of two strangers unfolds into a connection that resonates with countless people. This is one of those stories.
Sanai Graden, a 21-year-old college student from Washington, D.C., enjoys sharing her daily life through vlogs on TikTok. One day in late January 2024, while on her way to the grocery store, she turned on her camera and was approached by a man who asked if she could help him get some hot tea.
Not money. Not even food. Just a simple request for tea.
Graden informed the man that she was heading to Trader Joe's and invited him to join her for a stop at Starbucks. During their walk, she learned that the man was homeless, had no family, and was battling prostate cancer. He had recently obtained insurance, but it wouldn't take effect for another 45 days, leaving him in need of a prescription.
For the next four to five hours, Graden took the time to get him tea, assist him in filling his prescription to alleviate his pain, and even booked him a hotel room for the night. By the end of the day, she affectionately referred to him as “Unc,” while he called her his “angel.”
Before parting ways, she gave him some cash and shared her phone number, then posted a video about their encounter:
At the conclusion of her video, Graden expressed her desire to start a GoFundMe campaign for Unc, whose real name is Alonzo, and she promptly did so.
“I'm just a college student, and there's only so much I can do,” she explained in another TikTok. “I did my best. But that man was truly suffering, and it broke my heart… He was so kind… I just wanted to help him.”
Her initial video went viral, amassing over 20 million views, and donations began pouring into the GoFundMe. Within hours, it had reached $12,000, prompting her to call her parents and share the news. They reassured her that she was the right person to help him and would ensure the funds were used appropriately.
Little did she expect that the $12,000 would soon balloon to $20,000, then to $50,000, and eventually surpass $100,000. As of this writing, just two days after the GoFundMe was launched, contributions had soared past the $300,000 mark.
At this point, many people had become invested in Unc's well-being, with over 20,000 donors contributing to the cause. As one commenter aptly put it, “He's everyone's Unc now.”
The next morning, Graden excitedly went to inform Alonzo that the GoFundMe had reached around $150,000, but when she arrived at the hotel, he had already checked out. Determined to find him, she searched high and low, even renting a car to cover more ground, but to no avail.
Eventually, she shared a brief voice message he had left, starting with, “Hey, Niece! It's your uncle,” and ending with “I love you!” However, he didn't mention where he was. After more searching, he called her again to let her know he was at a church, and she urged him to stay put.
When she located him outside the church, she invited him to grab a bite to eat. Wanting to talk privately, she learned he was waiting for his aunt and couldn’t leave just yet. Eventually, she was able to sit with him in her car and explain how thousands of people were contributing to help him live more comfortably while managing his cancer.
She had to assure him that the funds were for him, not something they would share. He also mentioned that he hadn’t finished a letter he had started for her.
The first thing Graden did was take Alonzo to Target, where they purchased a new phone for him and some clothes of his choice. They shared a laugh when she suggested he pick up floss, forgetting that he didn't have any teeth.
This story is still unfolding, and there are numerous complexities to address as they work to establish Alonzo’s future with whatever funds the GoFundMe ultimately raises. Everyone wants to ensure he retains his health benefits, while also navigating various financial and emotional aspects moving forward. However, the remarkable kindness of strangers that can change someone's circumstances, starting from a single compassionate act, is certainly worthy of celebration.