Former homeless man hands out roses for Valentine's Day, because it makes people happy
Valentine's Day might suck for single people, but for some, it's an opportunity to share a little bit of love.
Like for a formerly homeless man named Cameron, who pledged to hand out roses to people at Nobby Beach, on the Gold Coast in Australia.
It's a tale that's been written about in a Facebook post by filmmaker Lance Smith, who was buying a coffee when he ran into him selling the street magazine, The Big Issue.
That's where Smith found out more about Cameron's story of homelessness, of which he has been in and out of for many years, impacting other areas of his life.
"Being diagnosed with schizophrenia and suffering from depression, he has been unable to hold down full-time employment," Smith wrote.
"He started selling The Big Issue in December and told me since selling it his depression has significantly reduced, he feels like he has purpose, and genuinely enjoys getting up in the morning to go sell it. He said the best he’s sold in one day is 10, making him $35."
Smith found out about Cameron's plan for Valentine's Day, which was to give out $100 of roses to strangers.
"I asked him how much he was going to sell them for and he replied, 'Nothing, I’ll be giving them out for free. I just like to see the joy and smile on people's faces,'" Smith added.
Smith helped him go out and buy 100 roses — Cameron bought 50, and Smith also bought 50.
Since then Cameron has become something of a viral sensation, and you bet he gave out those roses.
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"It made me feel so good. I used a volunteer at a church, St John's. At the start of the day I worked in the kitchen and as the females and staff came in for lunch I'd give them all a rose," Cameron told the Gold Coast Bulletin.
"There were roses left over so I hit the street of Surfers [Paradise] and it made me feel so good so I did for three days in a row."
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The rose giving also happened to be a good bit of business, with Cameron earning $175 in magazine sales. What a good guy.
