A man experiencing homelessness slept in a tent in freezing temperatures. A social media post changed his life.

Brandon Whitmore remembers spending his nights in a small tent in freezing temperatures more than a month ago.

Cold and fearful he would die in his sleep from exposure, the 40-year-old man made a last-ditch effort to find warmth and survive the night: he made a post on the social media app Nextdoor asking for winter clothes. Within hours, the post generated 553 comments, all from Rio Rancho residents who wanted to help.

But that was just the beginning of things to come for Whitmore.

“I think I would have frozen if they didn’t” respond, Whitmore said. “The weather was not letting up when they got me a hotel room. I had body warmers taped all over my body, and it wasn’t keeping me warm. I was gonna freeze.”

People began asking Whitmore how they could donate money to his cause, but he said all he wanted was a warm place to stay overnight through the winter. Instead of taking the money, Whitmore asked people to pay for additional nights at an Extended Stay in Rio Rancho.

“I wanted people to see that their money was going to keeping me warm,” he said. “I wanted them to know they were giving me a chance to stay alive.”

People sent contributions ranging from $10 to $500 to Janelle Garcia, a resident who began organizing the donations after meeting Whitmore when she provided him with some of her husband’s and son’s clothing.

“I have lived in Rio Rancho for 20 years and I have not seen people in this community come together like this to help this man,” Garcia said.

Motivated to make a change and invigorated by all the community support, Whitmore decided he would walk to every business along N.M. 528 and apply for a job. He began working at Clearly Clean Janitorial Services, starting the same day he was hired.

Each day, Whitmore walks roughly 30 minutes to work, something he calls a privilege. His walk takes him past the Good 2 Go gas station and a bus stop where he used to sleep.

“I pat the bus stop bench and I walk into the Good 2 Go and say, ‘Hey, how y’all doing’ to everyone,” he said.

His good fortune didn’t end there. More people were flooding the comment section of Whitmore’s post until one reached out with an opportunity for him to rent a low-cost apartment.

Various residents would post comments on his status, creating a timeline anyone could follow. As Whitmore or others provided updates to show the positive developments in his life, more people would reach out to see what more Whitmore needed.

“Everything (in the apartment) is what people donated,” Whitmore said. “This woman said the table she donated was in her family for 45 years, and she gave it to me. I was stunned, like, ‘You believe and trust in me to take care of that?’”

Now in a fully furnished, two-bedroom apartment that includes a flat-screen television, a large dining room table and a fireplace, Whitmore said waking up and being able to shower and mop his apartment is a luxury he never thought he would have.

“I’m 40 years old and this is my first apartment that’s all mine,” Whitmore said. “It’s not an adjustment, unless you count the fact that I can adjust my water, adjust my love seat.”

“I feel at home,” Whitmore said, adding that he’s hopeful for new beginnings and wants to continue his new-found success — especially with the community on his side. He talked of longer-term goals, to continue working, saving money, getting a car and “one day put a down payment on a house.”

“I ask myself how this is possible,” Whitmore said. “I didn’t expect the whole city to help me. I can’t even describe the feeling, but it’s just amazing. This was out (of) the blue, but it’s a blessing.”