Austin Perine
An amazing four-year-old is setting an example by proving to the world it’s never too early to start being philanthropic, caring and ready to hold out a helpful hand. Austin Perine shows the love by using his allowance, which was once used for toys, to feed the destitute in his community. Hailing from Birmingham, Alabama, the boy turns into a superhero once a week when he dons his Superman outfit to give out food, mainly chicken sandwiches, to the displaced. The caped crusader spreads joy and hope as he says, “Don't forget to show love” to all his “customers.”
Don’t Forget to #ShowLove
— Austin Perine (@PresidentPerine) 6 septembre 2018
-CaryNorton photography
Birmingham Al pic.twitter.com/e8WtZYxAGM
Austin is even working to help feed the homeless in other states too, and he is spearheading a national movement with the help of his father. He travels around for his #ShowLove projects, with a 10-city tour being his latest charitable endeavour. The inspirational boy believes the rest of the world should show kindness and compassion. His father has set up a PayPal account and a GoFundMe page, the home of his Show Love Foundation. As well as travelling to fight hunger, the nonprofit organisation is establishing a facility that will help with food, toiletries, drug rehabilitation and shelter integration.
“It’s just the right thing to do,” Austin, who is also a youth wrestling champion, told CBS Evening News during a video interview. Wise beyond his years, the mild-mannered boy goes by the moniker “President Austin” because, as his father, TJ Perine, explained to the same network, feeding the homeless is Austin's "idea of what the president is supposed to do.”
After Austin watched an “Animal Planet” show about a young panda that was left homeless after being abandoned by his mother, he asked his dad if people could be homeless too. And when he discovered there were people in his own community without anywhere to live, he asked to visit some of them and was inspired to do something to help the less fortunate.
“Feeding the homeless is the highlight of my life,” Austin told CBS Evening News, and it seems he’s going to make it a long-term mission. “I'm gonna do it until I become PRESIDENT. I think what I do is VERY SPECIAL and when the homeless gives me hugs, it makes me feel good inside," he sates on his Twitter profile. And of course, in return, Austin, who has supporters like Burger King and Feed The Hungry, has captured the hearts of the homeless by making them feel so valued. He also has many fans around the world.
“I’m so proud of Austin. To have a kid at such a young age to want to show people how to love is a special thing,” his father has said. “I never imagined it. If a four-year-old can show this kind of love to people that are so much different, that look so much different than us, then so can we as adults.” And what a wonderful world this would be if more people followed Austin’s example.
