When 8-year-old Adrian Young encountered a homeless man in his hometown of Toowoomba in regional Queensland, Australia, it had a profound affect on him. Instead of standing by, he decided to do something about it. He started his "mission to make a change."

“I felt really sad knowing that there were people sleeping out in the cold,” Adrian told news.com.au.

After offering the man some money, he turned to his mum and asked if they could bring the homeless man home with them. For Adrian the injustice of someone sleeping rough on the streets while he got to go home to his warm bed was unthinkable. What he really wanted to do was buy the man a house.

Read more: Bride Who Canceled Her $30K Wedding Donated the Entire Reception to the Homeless

After using all the money, he had earned from footy tipping to buy the man a few essentials, Adrian decided to make similar care packages for other homeless people in need.

Together with his family Adrian put together 50 care packs that included winter clothing, basic toiletries and some food. The idea was not only to provide some basic comforts but also to let the receivers know that someone cared about them. But he didn’t stop there.

With the help of his mum the young empathetic young boy started a GoFundMe page, which has already surpassed its goal of $1,000 raising over $2,500.

The funds will go towards buying items to make even more care packages, which will be given to Toowoomba’s Base Services, a not for profit community development organisation, who will give them to individuals and families in need.

Read more: This Girl Captures Beautiful Photos of the Homeless — and She’s Just 17

Encouraged by the smiles on the faces of those receiving his care packs, Adrian has decided to volunteer his time with Base Services during his school holidays.

“I'm a lucky kid to have the life I have and I want to try and make everyone's life as good as mine.” Says Adrian on his GoFundMe page.

Adrian’s encounter with the man sleeping rough has obviously had an impact on the way Adrian sees the world and his own privilege. What an inspiration!

Global Citizen campaigns on the Global Goals, which at their core, are about the world stepping up to help all countries succeed in the areas of gender equality, education, health, the environement, and more, with a goal of ending extreme poverty by the year 2030. Adrian's story shows that if we look out for our fellow man, we're all better off. 

TopicsCitizenshipGlobal CitizenAustraliaHomelessnessCharityCrowdfunding

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Young Australian Boy Makes Care Packages for the Homeless Using His Own Pocket Money

By Marnie Cunningham