Boy’s kind act in face of despair
Twelve-year-old couldn’t walk past homeless man and gave him his lunch.
ASouth Auckland boy has plucked a homeless man from “the pits of despair” by giving him his lunch every day for two weeks.
It was only when the rough sleeper walked to school with the 11-year-old and told the boy’s teachers that anyone found out what he was doing.
Uili Papalii couldn’t walk past Rob Millar, who sits outside the Leabank Shops in Manurewa, when he saw him in tears a fortnight ago. “I was just walking to school and I saw him cry. And I gave him my money and all my lunch. Then I just kept going back every week. He became my friend.
“He had nothing. When I gave it to him he stopped crying.”
Uili was happy to hand over his homemade sandwiches, chips and fruit to Millar. When he earned $5 pocket money for scoring a try on the weekend he’d give that to Millar, too.
He said it didn’t matter as he would eat the free fruit at school. Millar was grateful for any help. “He said I was a good kid. He asked what school I go to. He said I look good in my uniform and he said God bless.”
The lunch came at a key time for Millar. He was in the depths of depression after a marriage breakdown and he had been homeless since the beginning of the year. He lost his job as a painter and had no benefit yet.
Millar was sleeping under bridges and in doorways until a month ago when a couple let him sleep in their carport. The 59-year-old was desperate for work but believed people were reluctant to hire him because of his age.
“I was in the pits of despair and then Uili picked me up,” Millar said.
“If I could get a job I’d be there in a flash.”
Uili’s teachers at Manurewa Intermediate School celebrated his kindness with a gold award on Thursday.
Millar, Uili’s dad and older brother all attended the ceremony.
Mum Julianna Awhina Marsh-Papalii said the whole family was proud of
Uili. He is the third of seven siblings and they had all given him a pat on the back. “It touched my heart so much. But I wasn’t surprised because that’s the kind of boy he is. “He has a heart for things like this. “I always told them, ‘If you see someone in need, then give’.”
HThe unlikely pair almost share a birthday. Uili turns 12 tomorrow. He plans to take cake for Millar’s 60th birthday on Tuesday.
Uili would do it again if he came across another person who needed help. “Some people, if they are homeless, they might not have any food and they’ll starve. We need to help.” Watch the the video at nzherald.co.nz