A bus driver in Milwaukee went out of her way to help a regular bus passenger.
Natalie Barnes, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was driving a public transit bus when a regular passenger named Richard boarded the bus.
Barnes and Richard started talking when she took a break. Richard told her that he was homeless because his home had been condemned.
“I’ve been out on the streets for a week,” Richard told her.
The kind-hearted bus driver then offered to buy Richard some food. She bought him some food and asked him to stay on the bus to stay warm.
Surveillance footage shows them getting back on the bus with bags of food.
“I don’t know what to say but to say thank you. I’ll get it back to you soon”, Richard says.
“I want to help you,” Barnes replies.
Barnes then reached out to a friend and arranged for a temporary shelter for Richard.
Then, Barnes can be seen asking Richard if he needs something as she would go to a store the next day.
“Keep me posted. Let me know what happens – even tonight. See you tomorrow”, Barnes says when Richard exits the bus.
Later, Barnes was honored by the transit agency for her act of kindness. She said during the interview: “It was important that he found somewhere warm to stay for the night, at minimum,” she said.
“We talk every couple of days and he thanks me every time he talks to me for helping him. He calls me his little guardian angel. I’m happy to say that he’s progressing well.”
County Executive Chris Abele said in a statement: “Natalie’s kindness, compassion, and respect for this man in need are what MCTS Excellence is all about.”
“Natalie demonstrated what we all need to do to fight homelessness: to look out for each other, to care for each other and to work together. I’m deeply grateful for Natalie’s actions.”
Replaced!