8-Year-Old Boy Raises $100K For Struggling Waffle House Waiter

If there’s anything we can learn from life, it’s that support often comes from the most unlikely of places. Brimming with a heart larger than his 8-year-old frame, Kayzen Hunter chose to help out Devonte Gardner, his favorite waiter at a local Waffle House.

According to TODAY.com, having breakfast at the southern diner staple became a ritual for little Kayzen, often going with his family every other week. Each visit, Gardner would routinely be their waiter, developing a friendly relationship overtime.

Kayzen’s mother, Vittoria Hunter shares, “It was about a year ago when they met. My dad started going and Kayzen would go with him. When he came home, he talked about Devonte and how much he liked him.” Apparently, Gardner felt the same about Kayzen, saying, “Every time he comes in, I always give him a high five because that’s what he expects.” He’s even memorized what the kid likes to order: scrambled eggs with cheese, no toast, hash browns covered with cheese and an Arnold Palmer. “He’s a wonderful kid. He tells me jokes every time he comes in, like, ‘Hey, Devonte, I got a joke for you,’ and the next thing you know, we’re laughing.”

As Kayzen’s family and Gardner got to know each other, they learned about his wife, Aissa, and two daughters, Jade and Amoura. Hunter shared what it was like developing a friendship with Gardner: “As we started to go more and more and we met Devonte, we realized he’s just really a light in the world. It got to the point where we always would sit in his section. Every time we go in, he’s so smiley, he’s always like, ‘Hey, Kayzen, how are you?’”

In time, Kayzen would learn that Gardner was dealing with a challenging situation. Hoping to find an affordable living situation for his family, he moved into a low income area, where they experienced pests and unsanitary conditions. “We just got tired of infestations with rats and roaches and all this black mold. My daughters were getting sick. No heat and things like that. When it was cold outside, we had to bundle up with like four or five blankets in order to stay warm. It was just horrible,” Gardner shares. As a result, he and his family decided to move into a motel. On top of it all, Gardner didn’t own a car to make it to and from work.

Once Kayzen learned about Gardner’s hardships, he was moved to help his friend out. His mother recalls his response, “He came home and told me, ‘Hey, Mom, Devonte walks or gets a ride to work and I’m gonna start a GoFundMe.’” For awhile, he would beg for permission to start one before she finally said okay. 

Initially, the GoFundMe was meant to raise enough money for Gardner to buy a car, which he had been saving for until they were forced to move into a motel. The goal began with only $5,000, starting off slow before garnering enough attention to raise a jaw-dropping $100,000. Donors were so taken by the 8-year-old’s act of kindness that they swarmed to help Gardner and his family make it through hard times.

“Hi, my name is Kayzen, I am 8 years old. 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,” the GoFundMe begins.  

Following its unexpected success, Gardner told TODAY that he has signed a lease on a two-bedroom apartment. He expressed his thanks to Kayzen and his family, “He’s a positive young kid. He has a very huge heart, and I am thankful he came into my life.” He further added, “I will be moving into my apartment very soon. We’re able to have something more stable. I’m gonna save the rest because I want to put my daughters in a good school, I want them to be in a good environment.”