A Whitehall resident who went viral after anonymously receiving thousands of dollars for a pop-up food pantry is drawing new attention — including a message from “Boy Meets World” actor William Daniels.
On Thursday, AJ Owen, who had operated a food pantry outside his home since November, posted another viral TikTok saying Daniels, who played beloved teacher Mr. Feeney, sent him a video.
“I don’t know if the universe is messing with me, but I took the food pantry down and gave a lot of food to a lot of good families, and then I checked my email when I got back inside, like after I got settled and was sent this,” Owens said in the TikTok video before cutting to a clip of the 99 year old actor sitting in a chair.
In the video Daniels said the work that Owens was doing was “marvelous.”
“The work you’re doing is vital, not only because you’re feeding people in need, but also because you’re setting an important example so that others can see what is possible,” Daniels said in the clip.
By Friday the post had more than 26,900 views and more than 800 comments.
Owens, who is 36 and a single father, started the pantry to help people in fear of losing support from the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and as an opportunity to teach his kids — who were ages 7 and 9 — a life lesson.
Owens’ original post has now gained more than 4.5 million likes since he first posted about receiving an anonymous donation in his mailbox to help support his pantry’s growing popularity.
He told a TribLive reporter in November that he never meant to go viral, but was happy to see his video was inspiring others to start their own community food pantries.
Owens could not immediately be reached for comment about Daniels’ video message on Friday.
In the video Daniels left Owens with some inspirational words.
“I hope you continue to live by the words of George Feeney — believe in yourself. Dream, try and do good. Good luck and best wishes,” Daniels said.
@ajpgh412 Are you kidding me?! ???? #foodpantry#foodbank#pittsburgh#mrfeeny#boymeetsworld♬ original sound – ajpgh412