Jonathan invited Polly to his home (Picture: Facebook)

It can be easier to ignore people in trouble around you – but Jonathon Pengelly didn’t want to do that.

When he allegedly saw a homeless woman turned away at the door after she tried to go into McDonald’s for a cup of hot water, he couldn’t just let her walk away.

So instead of walking past to put in his order for a chicken burger and fries, then forgetting about it to enjoy the rest of his night out in Cardiff, he asked what she’d like to have as well.

The result was one of the most memorable nights of his life.


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‘A lady, clearly homeless, was asking for a basic human right,’ he said.



‘My heart was shattered! So I spoke to her and told her to order what she wanted, expecting her to order everything. I was so shocked. She asked for a single cheese burger and that was it. We bought as much as we could carry so I knew she wasn’t going to be hungry.’

Well, my night took an unexpected turn! So I finished my night out, ended up in the dreaded McDonald's queue. I couldn't… Geplaatst door Jonathon Pengelly op Zaterdag 1 oktober 2016

‘I couldn’t just leave this lady go, she was so warming and so lovely,’ he said.

‘So I sat with her, on the cold hard floor, in the middle of winter and you know what I did? I cried my eyes out.’

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He said he invited Polly back to his house and he and his friends cooked enough food to feed them and their friends for the next few nights.

‘Polly and her mate have had showers, brushed their teeth and they both said they have ever felt so appreciated in their life.

‘I’m no saint, but this small act of kindness cost me about £20. I know 90% of people reading this will earn about 10 times that a day.’

His kind gesture has gone viral, with more than 150,000 likes.

McDonald’s responded

A McDonald’s spokeswoman told Metro that the woman was not denied service at the counter, but was instead asked not to come inside due to previous problems.

‘There is no McDonald’s policy to ban or refuse to serve homeless people,’ she said.

‘Working with the local police, our Cardiff stores have had to ban a number of individuals due to illegal and anti-social behaviour which is why this individual was denied entry to the store.’

The rest of his post You know if people of Cardiff walked passed them and didn’t do anything because, financially, they weren’t in the position, I would understand. But people walked passed and laughed at them. I don’t care who you are, If this was you; and you’re reading this I hate you! When I got to speak to them I was genuinely shocked at their story and how educated they were! So full of life and enthusiasm and they literally have nothing! I invited Polly and her mate back to my house and we all cooked enough food to feed them and their friends for the next few nights. We boxed them up and packed them in their bags. Polly and her mate have had showers, brushed their teeth and they both said they have ever felt so appreciated in their life. I’m no saint, but this small act of kindness cost me about £20. I know 90% of people reading this will earn about 10 times that a day. It costs nothing to be kind, and I genuinely hope people share this to raise awareness of homelessness throughout the UK! Me and Polly have chatted on the phone and I’ve promised her that she will never go hungry or cold again! I’ve given her blankets, pillows and a back pack full of food. If you see someone on the streets, don’t look down on them like they’re nothing. You don’t know what they’ve been though! spare a little thought! I don’t care if I look like shit cause I’m crying! Polly, you’ve changed me! ❤️ ❤️ ❤️