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8-year-old girl gives her meal to homeless man and receives extraordinary call days later

After posting a video of the sweet gesture, the 8-year-old heard from hundreds of people, but one message in particular stood out.
/ Source: TODAY

When Ella Scott noticed a homeless man looking "hungry and helpless," she took action.

The 8-year-old girl stood up from her table at a Monterey, California, restaurant called Lallapalooza on Aug. 31 and brought her plate of steak and potatoes outside to the man, who was later identified as David Salkowski.

"Ella has always had a big heart," Eddie Scott, Ella's father, told TODAY. "Whenever we pass homeless people on the street, she always asks me for money to give to them."

RELATED: Man meets homeless woman every week for lunch to teach her how to read

Ella and Eddie Scott enjoying their time together.
Ella and Eddie ScottCourtesy of Eddie Scott

Scott, 38, captured the whole exchange on video and later uploaded it to Facebook, where it's been viewed almost 44 million times, and even ended up reaching the man's sister, Roseanne Salkowski.

An emotional Salkowski called up Scott on Sunday explaining that she hasn't seen her 62-year-old brother, a veteran who has post-traumatic stress disorder, since he took off from Philadelphia six months ago. She cried for the entire half hour on the phone, but was relieved to find out that he's OK.

The father-daughter duo is now on a mission to reunite the siblings.

Ella golfing with her dad, Eddie Scott, on a sunny day.
Ella joined her dad for a game of golf on a sunny day.Courtesy of Eddie Scott

"Ella learned an important lesson helping David. If anyone recognizes David please message me to reconnect brother and sister," Scott wrote on Facebook.

RELATED: 6-year-old shows compassion for a homeless man in tears

They watched through the window as Salkowski, who is missing his top teeth, took his time to cut up his food into small pieces, and proceeded to eat very slowly.

Ella Scott eating a big bowl of pasta while out to eat with her dad.
"Ella has always had a big heart," said dad Eddie Scott.Courtesy of Eddie Scott

"It's unbelievable that what Ella did has touched so many people and will also hopefully connect the brother and sister," Scott said.

This story was first published on September 21, 2016.