Boy, 8, raises $50,000 for Waffle House waiter forced to walk miles to work
Young Kayzen found out the waiter was going through a hard time, and the dad-of-two was forced to leave his apartment with his family due to a mould infestation.
A boy has raised a fortune to help out his favourite waiter after hearing he was living in a motel and walking several miles each way to work.
Kayzen Hunter, 8, is a regular at his local Waffle House, and every time he visits he asks to be seated in the same place.
It's all part of a plan to be served by his friend, 29-year-old waiter Devonte Gardner.
However, recently Kayzen found out Devonte was going through a hard time. The dad-of-two and his family were forced to leave their apartment due to a mould infestation.
It left Devonte, his partner and their two little daughters living in a motel, and Devonte walking miles each way to work at the Waffle House in Little Rock, Arkansas.
READ MORE: Prince Harry's three 'giveaway signals' reveal true feelings about eviction, claims expertHearing about his friend's plight, Kayzen set up a fundraiser to help out, describing Devonte as "one of the most joyous and positive people you’ve ever met".
Kayzen wrote: "Devonte is a hard-working dad with two little girls and a wife. He is a dedicated worker and has to walk or get a ride to get to work every day.
"He was looking for a decent-priced car, and his family was unfortunate and ended up in an apartment riddled with black mould. He had to get his kids out and it set him back a lot.
"We are now helping him get into a clean rental property and want to help him even more by raising funds so he has a reliable vehicle to drive his family and get to and from work."
Devonte was left in tears by the act of kindness. He told the Washington Post: “I started crying – I’d been quietly struggling and didn’t want to ask anybody for anything.
“We had to give up most of our belongings because of the mould, but we’re slowly working our way back. Even when you can work double shifts, it’s hard to get ahead. I’m thankful to have a job that I enjoy, but it’s hard to save enough to improve my family’s situation.”
He added: “I love working at Waffle House because I have an opportunity to make people feel good every day. I love the people who come in, especially Kayzen. For this little guy to do this out of the kindness of his heart is really humbling.”
Kayzen's mum, Vittoria, said: “He kept saying, ‘We have to start a GoFundMe and help Devonte get a car’. He didn’t give up on it. He’s a kid with a big heart.”
The fundraiser has raised over $50,000 (£42,000) so far, allowing Devonte to buy a new car and also it will pay for his family's apartment for one year.