As temperatures dropped to life-threatening lows in the Midwest, Chicago businesswoman Candice Payne knew something had to be done for the beautiful souls left on the street. Using her own credit card, Payne booked 30 hotel rooms so that 70 homeless people could have somewhere warm to stay during the winter blast. The Amber Inn was the only hotel that would except them and the room rates were at $70 per night for 5 nights. The real estate broker then sent out a request on Instagram for anyone with passenger vans in the area to help transport them.

The 34-year old broker said it was a “spur-of-the-moment” decision to help. “It was 50 below, and I knew they were going to be sleeping on ice and I had to do something,” she said on Saturday.

The good Samaritan told the Chicago Tribune, “We had to accommodate everyone. It was really overwhelming,” Ms. Payne bought toiletries, food, prenatal vitamins, lotions, deodorants and snacks and made care packages to help make the people feel comfortable. Restaurants donated trays of food, and many people called the inn. “They were so appreciative. They couldn’t wait to get in a bath and lay in a bed.”

The manager of the Amber Inn, Robyn Smith, said “People from the community, they all piggyback off Candice,” Smith stated that other people started calling and anonymously paying for room and she lowered the price to accommodate more people.

“I am a regular person,” Ms. Payne said. “It all sounded like a rich person did this, but I’m just a little black girl from the South Side. I thought it was unattainable, but after seeing this and seeing people from all around the world, that just tells me that it’s not that unattainable. We can all do this together.”

As we celebrate our history this month, we would also like to celebrate our present. Thank you Candice Payne for the love you’ve shown to your community. You are a true angel!