WASHINGTON — What began as a routine grocery store trip transformed into a mission to assist a man experiencing homelessness in receiving cancer treatment, marking an unexpected turn of events.
“I just didn’t want to leave him with just tea. I wanted to leave him with more so like I tried to help him as much as I could. So that’s why you saw me running around all over DC," Sanai Graden said.
A D.C.-based college student who is studying fashion at the University of California Berkeley is in the area for an internship. Sanai, known as @hustlanani on TikTok, went viral with a video where she's approached by a stranger asking for tea while vlogging her trip to the grocery store.
“He just reminded me of my uncle, so I’m like ‘unc’ and then naturally he just real cool, and real respectful and I’m just like ‘okay I like you’," Graden said.
The video, posted Thursday on the social media platform, now has more than 20 million views and inspired a successful GoFundMe campaign to aid Alonso, a man experiencing homelessness battling prostate cancer.
“He was in pain, it was really hard to watch and I’m like no I want to post this," Graden said.
“Let’s donate, let’s do something," Graden said. "Let’s see where this can go, my original goal was ten thousand dollars.”
The GoFundMe, which surpassed $400,000 raised on Monday, highlights Alonzo's challenges – homelessness, lack of family support, and the ongoing battle with prostate cancer, which he revealed after Sanai invited him to join her on her journey.
According to the GoFundMe, he initially declined food and instead confided in Sanai the urgent need for medication to alleviate his pain. In a five-hour journey around D.C., pushing her shopping cart alongside the man's suitcase, their quest for the necessary medication led them to multiple CVS locations until they found his prescriptions.
Sanai, touched by the overwhelming support received after sharing her journey on TikTok, decided to start the GoFundMe campaign, which seeks to secure housing, purchase clothing and shoes, establish a bank account, arrange doctor's appointments, and acquire a phone for Alonzo, according to the fundraiser.
Graden tells WUSA9 that she has been using her personal credit cards to help buy stuff for him since the GoFundMe funds aren't available yet.
She said Alonzo has been homeless for 7 years and found out he had prostate cancer one week ago. She paid for his phone bill for up to a year and kept in contact with him through the phone she got him. He now has health insurance and hopes she can help him beat cancer.
The GoFundMe also highlights the challenges encountered while securing a hotel for Alonzo due to his lack of identification, after Sanai learned he was staying at a church. But thanks to their persistent efforts, they were allowed to check-in.
Sanai emphasized that every contribution, whether monetary or a simple engagement with her video, plays a crucial role in positively impacting Alonzo. She has since documented the journey on TikTok, keeping supporters updated on their journey.
Sanai will create an Amazon Wishlist for essential items. It will be available to those interested in contributing or offering resources. Direct messages on TikTok are also encouraged to those aware of more resources that could further assist the cause.
Now she hopes others will think twice and do more acts of kindness.
“Be kind, because you never know somebody’s story," Graden said. "Everyone has a story and if I would’ve stay there and judged him on how he looked, none of this would’ve ever happened.”
Graden said that other different people have been reaching out to offer help from a local dentist and more. She said at this point it feels like they've really known each other for a long time.