Everyone has a favorite restaurant, and frequent visits often lead to recognizing familiar faces among the servers and sometimes even forming friendships.
This was the case for 8-year-old Kayzen Hunter, who began visiting a Waffle House in Arkansas with his parents and occasionally his grandpa. He quickly bonded with Devonte Gardner, his favorite server, who always greeted him with high fives and enjoyed Kayzen's jokes.
As their friendship developed, Kayzen noticed that Gardner often arrived at work by being dropped off, as he didn't own a car. The Hunter family soon learned that Gardner, his wife, and two young daughters were living in a hotel due to problems with their previous home.
“We wanted something affordable, so we moved to a low-income area,” Gardner shared with Today.com. “We are tired of dealing with rats, roaches, and black mold. My daughters were getting sick. Without heating, we had to use multiple blankets to stay warm during the cold.”
Gardner, his wife, and their daughters, aged 2 and 3, lived in a cramped hotel room for eight months. While hotels can be suitable for short stays, long-term living in such a confined space can be mentally and financially challenging. However, with limited options, it was their best choice.
Moved by Gardner's situation, Kayzen wanted to help. He came up with the idea to start a GoFundMe campaign to buy Gardner a car for commuting. Kayzen's mom was initially hesitant, but since children cannot open GoFundMe accounts, she eventually agreed and helped set it up.
The original fundraising goal was $500 to assist Gardner with transportation. However, as word spread, donations quickly surpassed this target. People were deeply touched by the campaign that Kayzen and his mom had created.
“Devonte is one of the most joyful and positive people you've ever met! He always greets us with a big smile,” Kayzen wrote on the GoFundMe page.”I hope you'll join me in spreading kindness. Every contribution makes a difference!”.
Gardner has significant plans for the funds raised by Kayzen. His first step is to move into a new apartment, having recently signed a lease for a two-bedroom unit. With the donations totaling $108,000 and growing, Gardner plans to save the rest for his daughters' future.
“I'm going to save the rest because I want to put my daughters in a good school and ensure they have a great environment,” Gardner told Today.com. “Most of the money is for my daughters to ensure they have a great life and we no longer have to struggle.”
Gardner continues to work at Waffle House, greeting Kayzen and his family with the same enthusiasm and high fives as always.