Does this remind you of something, those little weekend rituals? Kayzen Hunter, 8, has one of those rituals: having breakfast at the “Waffle House in Little Rock,” Arkansas, with his family.
Often, it’s with his grandfather, but sometimes with his parents and siblings. There, he meets his favorite server, Devonte Gardner. A special bond has formed between them over the past year. My father started going there, and Kayzen joined him.
Quickly, Devonte became more than just a server to Kayzen. He even memorized his usual order: scrambled eggs with cheese, hash browns covered in cheese, and an Arnold Palmer. It became their little ritual, exchanging a high-five at each visit.
Devonte Gardner wasn’t just a server to the Hunter family. Over time, they got to know his family, his wife Aissa, and their little girls, Jade and Amoura. Visits to the Waffle House became a tradition, a way to connect, laugh, and tell jokes.
Devonte had become a light for them, always smiling, always ready to listen to Kayzen’s jokes.
One day, Kayzen learned that Devonte and his family were living in difficult conditions. Their apartment was uninhabitable, infested with rats and mold, without heating. They had been forced to live in a motel for eight months.
Hearing this, Kayzen knew he had to act. Back home, he begged his mother to start a GoFundMe to help Devonte.
With his mother’s help, Kayzen set up the fundraiser. The initial goal was modest: $500 to buy Devonte a car. But the plans changed along the way. Donations poured in, quickly surpassing the goal.
Contributions reached over $100,000. Kayzen was excited, but also a bit overwhelmed by all the attention. “I just wanted to raise $5,000 to buy him a car”. But sometimes, good deeds take on an unexpected magnitude.
Thanks to the funds raised, Devonte was able to sign a lease for a two-bedroom apartment. He now plans to buy a car and save the rest of the money to provide a better life for his daughters. “I want to put my girls in a good school, give them a stable environment,” he explains.
This story is a beautiful demonstration of the impact of kindness and solidarity.
