Homeless man was about to sell his bike for a meal when a stranger made an unexpected offer

A video posted by @eatwithslay on Instagram is resonating with thousands after capturing an unplanned moment of kindness that unfolded on the streets of California. The creator, who’s known for filming food reviews while sharing meals with strangers, had just ordered more than she could eat when she noticed a couple sitting nearby. She offered them food, not knowing the man had been moments away from selling his bike just to afford a meal. While emergency housing is becoming a more and more distant dream with an overloaded system, these small acts of kindness shine through the dark.

"I was just telling my girl how good God is, because we were just sitting here trying to sell this bike to buy us some food… and here you come out of nowhere," the man said. The creator, whose real name isn’t shown in the clip, told him it wasn’t planned. "I ordered a lot of food, so it’s like, you know, I just want to share with whoever is hungry too," she said. The man thanked her repeatedly, calling her "a people person." The two shared food, laughed about peanut butter sauce, and chatted like they’d known each other far longer than a few minutes.

"This isn’t just content. It’s real life. Real hunger. Real kindness," she wrote in her caption, adding, "He told me he was about to sell his bike… just to buy food. That moment hit me so hard." With homelessness and food insecurity still on the rise, even small moments like this one remind people how close hunger often is, and how far a simple act of sharing can go. A 2023 report released by the USDA found that one in seven households (13.5%) experienced food insecurity, impacting 47.4 million people, including nearly 14 million children. Additionally, demand at food banks grew sharply through the holidays, with 65% of surveyed food banks serving more people in October 2024 than the year before, as per a survey by Axios. With the neighborhood homeless shelter buckling under the weight of heightened demand, it is our duty as citizens to lend a hand.

The video struck a chord with many viewers, who praised both the content and the approach. "I love this, and I love that you don't expose their faces — giving them grace. Bless your heart. It takes nothing for us to pay it forward," wrote @dannijenkins86. @fatimatunaisahtajuddin wrote, "I love how casually you talk to them like it was nothing. Like it was meant to be, and it's not a charity or something. Just making friends. You are making them feel good. I wish you all the best." @grvcie.a pointed out, "Takes a lot of courage to do what you do. Takes even more to love through your heart like this, like it’s so casual to do. It’s not casual. People don’t take the time like this, so thank you."

@purplemils added, "Interactions like these are what make you more than a mukbang channel. One of a kind." @inknhoney noted, "Idk if you believe in God, but that was absolutely a sign. You may be finding a new calling. Food reviews with the homeless — you’re helping both the business and humans." @haipaulinaa quipped, "Bless you, we need more people like you. Your honest review and you’re willing to share (not going to waste all the food)." @lindseydlove penned, "And you thanked them for doing the review with you. You show a lot of respect and kindness. Good on ya." Now all that's left is for citizens to mobilize to find immediate housing assistance for homeless people.

You can follow @eatwithslay on Instagram for more mukbangs and food review content.