School Janitor Sets Up 'Care’ Initiative To Help Students In Need After Encounter With Two Homeless Teens

Oct 09, 2023

Across many social media platforms and around the world, people often preach about the need to show kindness. While there are many stories portraying acts of kindness, there are some exceptional situations that could leave one nothing short of inspired.

In 2018, Carolyn Collins, who worked as a sanitary personnel in a Georgia school, made news headlines when she touched lives through her personal idea of showing kindness. 

The acts of kindness do not have to be limited to material things. One could indulge in helping people fix mental health issues or being a helping hand in times of loss. 

One thing about giving and the act of kindness is that one doesn't even have to be a rich philanthropist to express it. Collins’ day job included keeping the school clean and tidy. One can deduce that she probably did not make a huge sum of money from her job, but she was willing to go the extra mile for others in need. 

Collins worked as a janitor at Tucker High School, where she kept the school tidy, but when she was not doing that, she was giving out care items to students. It is safe to say that impoverished kids can end up as adults who go into criminal activities to survive. When there is a high level of want among young adults or teenagers, crime becomes the order of the day. 

Collins was quite sensitive about this reality, and it geared her to use the little she had to help kids in need. While this was part of her motivation, the janitor herself experienced some pain due to the issue of criminality. 

Years before becoming a media sensation, the janitor from Georgia had been spreading love by collecting and distributing clothes, school supplies and food for the school's homeless students. Collins, in an interview with Good Morning America, revealed that she created her "giving closet" five years earlier, after meeting two students who were homeless. 

The woman shared that she "gave them a little bit of everything because my heart went out to them." Collins had gifted the homeless teens food, clothes, shoes and notebook paper. Per WCNC, the janitor also revealed the inspiration behind her impressive initiative:

"These are our babies, they just want to learn. I just want to take care of them. Some of them sleeping in cars, some in hotels."

Although Collins was moved by the needs of her teenage recipients, her initiative stemmed from something deeper. The custodian lost her son after being the victim of a home invasion. She revealed that she just wants to help "our young boys from stealing and killing." Collins shared her opinion on one of the reasons for the high crime rate, noting the issue of homelessness.

She also talked about her initiative, noting that the closet was filled with clothes and necessities, including messages of inspiration and hope. The students are given the privilege to take whatever they need from the closet, and they are also filled with hope that someone cares about them. The woman revealed:

"I'm doing something for the kids every day. Every day. It's part of my job."

Over the years, the closet has evolved due to donations from the community and the local church and money from Collins' own pocket. The custodian estimated that she helps between 20 to 30 students a year.

Isn't it awe-inspiring to see Carolyn Collins give back to society uniquely and magnanimously? Can you recall an exceptional act of kindness you have experienced? Let us know, and be sure to pass this on to others.