When a little girl saw a homeless man outside the restaurant window, she immediately wanted to help.

Many praised her kindness after the story went viral online—it also led to an unexpected phone call.Ella Scott and her father, Eddie, were spending some time together at a restaurant in Monterey, California. They were seated by the window and noticed a man who looked like he needed a good meal.

Eddie could see that his daughter wanted to help. After being served a plate filled with delicious steak and potatoes, she looked up at her father and asked him a simple question.The 8-year-old asked: “Can I just give him some?” Eddie encouraged her to share the meal. In the video he shared in 2016, the little girl was excited to serve the man and walked outside, where she handed it over to him.

Later identified as David Salkowski, the man looked stunned by her gesture. He accepted the meal, and Ella returned to the restaurant beaming after the encounter. Her father expressed: “Ella has always had a big heart.”

The video quickly garnered millions of views, with many applauding both the youngster and her father. One user wrote: “An awesome little girl, I’m proud of you!!” Another added: “Kudos to parents. You guys are an inspiration.”

Eddie was stunned that his clip garnered such an overwhelming response. He stated: “It’s unbelievable that what Ella did has touched so many people.” They are happy the encounter spread joy and showed people the power of a simple kind gesture.

A server at the restaurant revealed that Salkowski returned the plate and shared that he was immensely grateful. After the clip went viral, Ella and Eddie received an unexpected phone call. A teary woman contacted them.It was Salkowski’s sister, Roseanne. She shared that her brother was a veteran who had post-traumatic stress disorder. Thanks to the video, she knew he was alive, and the Scotts hoped their clip would help the siblings reunite.

Another youngster helped a homeless man in 2015, and she changed his life forever. The Guilford, Connecticut resident’s simple act of kindness, which included buying him coffee and a bagel, stopped a man from taking his own life.Casey Fischer spent some time chatting with the homeless man she had just helped, and when he left, he handed her a note. He told her he planned to end his life, but her gesture gave him hope for the future.

Both Fischer and Ella were selfless, and their actions undoubtedly made a difference. They set an example that you can always lend a helping hand no matter how young you are.