This is the story of the Capetonian Neil Bensch and USA concert photographer Tim Castleman. They are two men who took an interesting concept (that being, how $20 can go incredibly far in a country like South Africa in comparison to the USA) and turned it into an act of much-needed goodwill.
The thread captured was earlier in July. A user named Michaela Okland @MichaelaOkla) got the ball rolling unexpectedly by writing “if someone sent me $2000 I think I’d be less stressed.”
Neil, responded with “same, but like $20 would make me less stressed even because I’m from South Africa and our currency is useless.”
Tim Castleman entered the chat with curiosity.
“I’m curious, what would $20 US get you in South Africa?”
Neil went on to express that it equates to roughly R350, which means groceries for a week or two if shopping is done smartly. He went on to add that it could also mean 10 Big Mac Medium Meals. This was where Tim decided to do something unexpected and wonderful.
He promised to send Neil the $20 to buy the Big Mac Meals, as long as Neil proved it on the socials, and expressed that Neil had free reign to do what he wanted with the meals. Neil agreed to the mission, and went on to distribute the Mc’lovin to underprivileged people in his area.
You can swipe to see the whole unfolding of the Big Mac Mission below.
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In total, Tim gifted Neil $150.
It’s stories like these that remind us that it’s not about how much you have, but rather how you delegate it.
Picture: Pinterest/ Gema Auraline