Homeless man lands work at McDonald's after a police officer helped him shave before the job interview
A Florida police officer helped a homeless man get a much-needed shave before his interview with McDonald's which ultimately landed him a job with the fast food giant. He is reportedly "doing great" since he started his new gig. Now identified as just Phil, the homeless man was hired by McDonald's and started work on Friday, according to a recent tweet by the Tallahassee Police Department.
"We couldn’t be more proud! The way Tallahassee has come together to help has been amazing, to say the least. We were all reminded this week how a little kindness can go a long way," the department tweeted. Last week, footage of Officer Tony Carlson grooming Phil's unkempt beard went viral on social media.
According to the police officer, he noticed the man sitting just outside a gas station having some trouble with his razor. "He asked me if I knew anything about fixing a razor cause it was broken," said Carlson. "I looked at it and it was missing a screw. Obviously, I didn't have another screw so I just tightened up the other one to the point it would work."
In order to land a job at McDonald's, it was necessary to get a clean shave, Phil told Carlson.
As the heartwarming scene unfolded, Greg Wallenfelsz, who happened to be at the gas station at the time, captured the entire scene on his cell phone. "I thought it would be nice to share with others this selfless act of kindness this officer showed this stranger," he told CNN.
Local radio personality Greg Tish picked up the footage on social media and reached out to Phil last Sunday to talk about the whole affair. "The lady told me if I can show up Monday clean with my beard cut off, they'll promise me a job," Phil said in the video. "I was out here trying to shave, but I can't see cause I don't have a mirror, so the Tallahassee Police Department shaved me up the rest of the way."
While Carlson was showered with adulation on social media, he said that he was just helping others and doing his job. "He seemed excited about [the job]," Carlson said in a video posted to the department's Facebook page. "If he’s wanting to help himself, I need to help him out the best I can."
"This isn't ... something spectacular," he added. "It happens all the time. It just so happens that this time someone caught it on film."
Although Phil successfully landed the gig at McDonald's, he didn't possess a government ID or social security card. Fortunately, Phil's story caught the attention of Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., whose office helped him get proper identification. Last week, the city's police department posted on Facebook that Goodwill helped Phil with dress clothes before visiting the Florida State Capitol, where "he's never been inside".
In a conversation with Today, McDonald's said that Phil would be able to start janitorial with "room for growth" after he secured proper paperwork. Rachel Vasquez, owner of the Tallahassee outlet, said that if Phil is able to hold his new job for at least 90 days and works 15 hours a week, he will qualify for the Archways to Opportunity program, which helps employees earn college tuition, high school diploma, and the chance to plan a future.
On Wednesday, Phil even received "some gift cards for various restaurants" from a generous former officer of the Tallahassee Police Department.