IMAGE: FACEBOOK/MAT BRYANT
LONDON — A 24-year-old man from Edinburgh in Scotland is launching a campaign to try and feed as many homeless people as possible.
Last Friday, fast-food worker Robert Aitken bought 60 burgers and went out onto the streets of Edinburgh to give them to the people he found sleeping rough.
A photo of Aitken — who apparently works over 60 hours a week — was shared on Facebook by Mat Bryant.
"He pays for this from his own pocket and asks for nothing in return," Bryant said. The post has been shared almost 80,000 times since it was uploaded on Saturday.
Aitken himself also took to Facebook to tell his story, and to link to a JustGiving page he's set up in an attempt to raise £500 ($721) for local homeless people.
IMAGE: FACEBOOK/ROBERT AITKEN
Here's Aitken's story in full.
Finally heading home from Edinburgh after my very first feeding the homeless ambition. Going into McDonalds and spending £70 of my own cash in order to see these HUMAN BEINGS fight on one more day, I met so many amazing people with so many amazing, humorous and some horrible stories about these people. You luve lifes off luxury compared to these himans that face a day to day challenge to stay alive. 3 hours I have been out and I am freezing, I cannot imagine how they last the cold nights out there.
I met a man named Davie, his story hit my heart the most. He had been serving his country for 13 years and had to leave because he had ptsd. Coming back to civilization after so many years at war wasn't easy for him. He began to break down, a grown man breaking down because he has nothing. I became overwhelmed and began to cry myself. I hugged him and said your not alone. These small words can change someones thoughts about life and the future. Also giving them some food gives them that bit of hope that there is decent human beings out there. My mission when I set out was to get a smile on skmeones face and I feel I have achieved this with every person I spoke to tonight.
My only ask of this post is to simply look differently at homeless people. They are human beings. The have got feelings. They want the same as everyone else, to live a life of happiness. A simple gesture of me sitting sleaking with them, hugging, crying and laughing with them has left me feeling amazing that I have impacted so many people. I started out with 60 cheeseburgers, some fries and a few bottles of water and some cups.
I have set up a funding page to help with the financial side of things. I would be over the moon if I could get to do this on a weekly basis. Unfortunatly my income is not enough to support this challenge.
This is not a post seeking likes or shares but simply a post that is asking you to look at a different way of judging people, or making an impression of someone. Sit down have a talk with them and you will realise how similiar these great people are to ourselfs. Ohhh and please buy them some food and water. Its the vitals in life they dont care about anything else.
I have set up a just giving page for anyone who wishes to donate. Every little helps.
At the time of writing, Aitken has already raised well over £2000 ($2884) on his JustGiving page.
He's continuing to go out and help homeless people, too.
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