Share on FacebookIn Orlando, Florida, a simple daily greeting turned into something life-changing. Greg Smith, a 25-year-old personal trainer, walked past Amy Joe almost every day on his way to work. Unlike others asking for spare change, she offered only kind words: “Good morning, Sir, have a great day. God Bless!”
Her positivity caught his attention, and soon they began sharing lunch together once a week.
Discovering a Secret Struggle
During one of their conversations, Amy Joe revealed something that surprised Greg: she could not read. Illiteracy had held her back for years, making it nearly impossible to find work. Greg later wrote in a Facebook post, “Amy Joe kind of dropped a bomb on me… she cannot read. She simply just has never had anyone teach her.”
That moment inspired him to help.
Turning Lunch into Lessons
Every Tuesday, Greg now borrows a new book from the library and spends his lunch break teaching Amy Joe to read. She practices on her own throughout the week, determined to build a skill that once seemed out of reach.
“She lit up! I could see in her face that she felt amazing,” Greg told ABC News.
Inspiring Others to Act
Greg emphasized that his story isn’t about pity or praise but about inspiring others to make a difference. “Helping someone could be as easy as saying hello and smiling. You never know what you can do for someone until you try,” he said. “Who is your Amy Joe?”
Since sharing his story online, messages of support have poured in, and Greg has launched the Amy Joe Foundation through GoFundMe to help others in need.
More Than Reading Lessons
For Greg, the act of teaching Amy Joe goes beyond literacy. It’s about kindness, dignity, and proving that even small efforts can have a big impact.
As he put it, “I want to be able to help anybody, whether it be giving them some food or clothes. I don’t want to just narrow it down to helping people read because there’s so many other people that need more help.”
