Homeless man receives unexpected surprise

June 25, 2020 

COLUMBIA, SC (WACH)-- Chris Davis lost his job because of the coronavirus and he was devastated.

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"I knew it was coming so I was mentally prepared for it in a way but..it was a little rough," said Davis.

Davis stayed busy as a fleet cleaner in Charleston--but then the pandemic happened.

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"Hours just kept getting cut and cut. I went from making $600 a week, to $200 a week, to $100 and then finally you know I was homeless," said Davis.

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Davis wanted a fresh start so he began walking from Charleston to Columbia.

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"Highway Patrol picked me up and was like, dude, it's too hot. Towns are too far apart. You don't have no water. We are just going to take you into Columbia," said Davis.

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Davis went to Finlay Park where he ran into Eric Poston and his fiancé Felisatie Kinnarth, who say when they saw Davis he was sitting with his head in his hands.

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"He had a smile on his face that you could tell was forced," said Poston.

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Poston, who's a Columbia attorney, started an organization called Carolina Cares to help people during the pandemic.

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He helped Davis get a cell phone, a new suit, and documents to apply for jobs.

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"I was more hopeful you know, he said call if you need anything and just having someone to talk to, it helped," said Davis.

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"We started making phone calls all around the state to cleaning companies cause that what's he was doing before he got laid off," said Poston.

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Then they received a phone call Thursday.

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"We got him a job. Well, you know, he got himself a job and we helped a little bit," said Poston.

"He did tear up for a moment, and he will kill me for saying that, but it was a great moment," said Poston.

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Davis is already on his way to that new job in Greenville but will never forget the life-changing friendship he formed in Columbia.

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If you would like to learn more about the organization and possibly donate, you can find that here.