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Why heartwarming photo of man changing woman's tyre is going viral

An image of a man changing a woman’s tyre is going viral after a cafe shared the photo online telling people not to judge a book by its cover.

“This is Chuck... he's homeless,” Utah cafe Jessie Jean's on Historic 25th said in a Facebook post accompanying an image of a man changing a woman’s tyre, while the woman waits beside him.

“I didn't see anyone else out helping this young lady,” cafe owners Anna and Ron Davidson said.

“This is ‘one of those people’ that get labelled. You know the ones everyone wants outta sight, outta mind (sic).”

Utah homeless man Chuck helps a woman with her blown-out tyre on her car.
Utah cafe owners shared this photo of a homeless man named Chuck helping a woman who had blown her tyre. Source: Facebook/Jessie Jean's on Historic 25th' and Black Lotus Coffee Roasters

Ms Davidson told US news outlet Fox 13: "I just wanted them to put a face to who they are judging.”

The homeless man known only as Chuck is a familiar face at Jessie Jean’s as he helps out at the cafe to earn meals and is currently working toward a food handler’s permit with the help of the Davidson family.

The 56-year-old man credits the owners of the cafe for saving his life.

"I wouldn't be right here, right now, talking to you if wasn't for them two," Chuck told Fox 13.

Mr Davidson said he was homeless for two years and now gave back.

The cafe feeds breakfast to 20 homeless people each week, thanks to their ‘pay-it-forward meals’ that diners can purchase for AU$9.30.

"I know what it's like to be out there when it's cold, I know what it's like to be out there when it's hot, I know what it's like to be out there hungry," Mr Davidson said.

Jessie Jean's on Historic 25th cafe owners Anna Davidson (left) and Ron Davidson (right) out the front of their eatery.
Cafe owners Anna Davidson (left) and Ron Davidson (right) wanted to remind people to not judge a book by its cover. Source: Facebook/Jessie Jean's on Historic 25th' and Black Lotus Coffee Roasters

The image of Chuck is gaining traction online, with locals praising the Davidsons for shining a light on the “amazing man”.

“Everyone of us needs to be a bit more like Chuck,” one person said.

“Chuck is an amazing individual, more people need to follow his lead,” another said among hundreds of other comments.

One man offered to buy US$100 ($149 AUD) worth of meals for Chuck and contacted the Davidsons to organise it, promising to set up a regular payments to help out the local favourite.

“Can you buy Chuck lunch for a week? I can [private message] you my credit card for $100.00 for Chuck’s meals?” he wrote.

Other people posted offering Chuck jobs, household goods and places to live.

“This is inspiring,” one person wrote, summing up the overwhelming response to the image with a reminder.

“I hope that everyone who looks at this post remembers that homeless people are still people, they are just down on their luck at this time.”

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