ILLINOIS — What began as a quiet evening inside a local BP gas station turned into something far greater — the start of a life-changing friendship rooted in kindness, shared struggle, and the belief that everyone deserves a second chance.
46-year-old Justin Simpson, a Maryville resident, was simply making ramen noodles at the gas station microwave when he crossed paths with Timothy Lambert, a local business owner from Troy checking his Powerball ticket. That brief exchange would alter the course of both their lives.
Both Men Had Faced Homelessness
As Simpson apologized for standing in the way, Lambert struck up a conversation. He quickly learned that Simpson, recently unemployed, had been living in his 2001 Toyota Corolla parked just outside.
Lambert knew that pain all too well — a decade earlier, he had also experienced homelessness and addiction. After entering rehab and rebuilding his life with family support, Lambert eventually started a landscaping company in Illinois.
“I’ve been in a gas station making ramen noodles when I was in that situation,” Lambert recalled. “It’s nerve-wracking. You’re tired, you’re afraid, and you’re just trying to survive.”
A Lottery Ticket Becomes a Turning Point
Lambert won $15 on his Powerball ticket, and instead of celebrating, he turned to Simpson and said:
“I want to buy you lunch tomorrow.”
He kept his word.
After learning more about Simpson’s situation, Lambert asked what three things he would need if offered a job. Simpson’s reply? Work gloves, sunscreen, and aloe. Not money, not comfort — just tools to work.
That answer struck Lambert deeply. He shared the story in a local Facebook group, not for donations, but to spread compassion and inspire action.
As KSDK reported, the post sparked an outpouring of support — strangers donated shoes, money, clothes, and job leads.
“Thank You for Being My Friend”
Simpson called the moment a godsend. After months of sleeping in a grocery store parking lot and washing up at gas stations, someone not only saw him — they stood by him.
Lambert met him again at the local library with new supplies and eventually offered him a job. Simpson hasn’t slept in a real bed for months, but this act of humanity gave him the first glimpse of stability and hope.
“When I gave him the donations, he teared up and said, ‘Thank you for being my friend,’” Lambert said.
Simpson’s kind spirit, shaped by his late grandparents, remains unshaken. “She would reach down from heaven and clobber me if I was ever disrespectful,” he joked of his grandmother.
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A Reminder That Good Still Exists
This wasn’t just charity. It was a bond between two men who understood what it’s like to be at the bottom — and to climb back up, one step at a time.
Lambert ended with a powerful message:
“When there seems to be no way, God will make a way. There are still good people in this world.”
Have you ever witnessed or experienced a moment of unexpected kindness like this? Tell us how it impacted you — or how you’re helping someone in need — at ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com. Stories like this start with one person deciding to care.
