No one should have to walk several miles just to get to work. Especially to a job that doesn’t pay them a living wage that allows them to save enough money for emergencies.
And when they get home from that job, they shouldn’t have to live in a home that is toxic enough to make them sick.
Even children know this. That’s why an 8-year-old decided to raise money for his favorite Arkansas Waffle House waiter Devonte Gardner.
Gardner, his wife, and their two young daughters were forced to move into a motel after their apartment was infested with rats and black mold.
The apartment didn’t even have heat, but the family had to live there since it was affordable.
Paying $60 a day for a single motel room was expensive and cost Gardner all of his pay and tips.
“It’s just eating my pocket alive,” Gardner said.
He explained to the family of one of his favorite tiny customers that he was looking for an inexpensive car.
The motel was far from Gardner’s job. This forced him to walk several miles to get there daily or get a ride.
So, he was trying to earn about $5,000 to get a car and a healthy living space.
None of this sat well with second-grader Kayzen Hunter. He and his family are privileged enough to eat at Waffle House for breakfast just about every weekend.
“Devonte is just a really nice person. Really good guy. Super nice to everyone he meets,” Kayzen said.
Kayzen came up with the idea to start a GoFundMe to raise money for Gardner so he could get a new safe apartment and a car.
So far that GoFundMe has far surpassed its $5,000.
More than $112,000 has been raised for Gardner and his family.
“That’s the crazy part to us,” Korey Hunter, Kayzen’s father said. “I get it, but the goal was $5,000 and people do not care what the goal was; they keep giving and giving.”
Kayzen’s mom reported on the GoFundMe page that Gardner and his family have moved into a new apartment.
He is also looking for a car and will save the rest to ensure his daughters can attend a good school.
“It just be a blessing. You know, I’m always counting my blessings, always,” Gardner said.
“Thanks. Anything that anybody gives me. So this is … it made me almost cry,”
Kayzen said that it really made him feel good to help someone.
Kayzen’s parents say this is typical for Kayzen the little boy is always thinking about others.
While the GoFundMe cash doesn’t solve the systemic problems that leave 60% of Americans living paycheck-t0-paycheck and 56% of Americans who can’t cover an emergency expense of $1,000 or more, kids like Kayzen give us hope.
If they’re looking to help others in small ways now, perhaps they will be willing to tackle the bigger issues in the future.
Where government and corporations have failed us, perhaps children will not.
Learn more about Gardner and Kayzen’s story in the video below.
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