Charitable TikToker Visits Brooklyn Park Businesses
Josh Liljenquist, a Tiktoker known for helping others, recently made his way to Brooklyn Park.
He’s best known for his viral videos where he gives back to the community and helps feed the homeless.
“Growing up, my mom did something called Meals on Wheels,” Liljenquist said. “You know, she would give food to nursing homes and the less fortunate, and so I grew up around that and then started doing it myself.”
Now, he visits local businesses and buys food to take to those in need.
Over the last five years, Liljenquist racked up 27 million followers across his social media platforms.
He says it’s less about the food and the followers and more about the conversations.
“When you’re down there you always have to keep your guard up,” he said. “And when I go down there people can let their guard down and just tell me how they’re doing as a person.”
Giving Back in the Northwest Suburbs
Many of the businesses Liljenquist visits are more than happy to help out. The bulk end up sharing food and drinks at little or no cost.
For instance, when Liljenquist visited Sweet Taste of Italy in Brooklyn Park, they refused to let him pay.
But it’s not always easy for these businesses to afford to donate.
One of Liljenquist’s viral charitable TikTok videos featured Brooklyn Park’s Sweet Taste of Italy.
“They want to contribute, but it’s harder for them,” he said. “So I’m trying to be that vessel where they can contribute and it kind of gives them that spotlight that they deserve.”
While in the area, he also stopped at another Brooklyn Park business: Oh My Swee-Tea.
Josh Liljenquist stopped by Oh My Swee-Tea in Brooklyn Park to purchase drinks. He later distributed them to people living without a home.
The theme of generosity continued as Chi Tran, the owner of the local boba tea shop, paid for half of the drinks Liljenquist was purchasing.
“We’ve only been here recently for a year and so we were very honored for him to stop by — and honored as well to help out the community,” said Tran.
She said Liljenquist popped up on her feed one day and she loved his purpose.
“He really takes the time to know their personal stories, and their background, and there isn’t any judgement from him,” Tran said. “He just really wants to help people who are in need and really understand them and where they’re coming from.”
Looking Ahead
Liljenquist hopes to continue using his platforms to make change on a bigger scale. He reflected on the story of a man he met who had lost everything and given up.
“I posted his story online, did a GoFundMe, raised him about $15,000 or something, $13,000 actually. Then, I bought him a car, took out the backseats, put a mobile bed, like a mattress,” Liljenquist said. “He slept in the back of that van, got a job as a delivery driver, and now has his own house, car, and his family came back home.”
For Liljenquist, it’s these stories of change that keep him going.
“At the end of the day, if I’m impacting lives and making a difference then I got to keep doing it,” he said. “It’s not about me anymore, it’s about the people.”
Ellie Tulkki Reporting for CCX News
