Child raises $30,000 for his struggling favorite waiter
3 Min Read
Eight-year-old Kayzen raises a big sum for his favorite Waffle House waiter who's been struggling with getting a car and securing his rent.
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A Waffle House in Jacksonville, Florida. (AP)
The Hunters went on their ritual breakfast at their local Waffle House as they do every weekend where they always requested to sit in their favorite waiter's section, Devonte Gardner.
“He’s the nicest person ever,” said Vittoria Hunter, 35.
Her son, 8, and Gardner joke around and Gardner always remembers little Kayzen's order.
"Devonte always treats everyone with kindness, and he always knows exactly what I want: Hash browns with cheese and eggs with cheese," said Kayzen, who is in second grade.
During Kayzen's visit to the Waffle House a few months ago, he learned a little about Garder's life.
"Devonte said he wondered if anyone might know where he could buy a cheap car — he’d been having a hard time saving for one," Kayzen said.
Gardner had been walking several miles a day to go to work and was living in a motel room with his wife and two daughters after they lost their apartment 8 months ago due to rats and black mold.
"He kept saying, 'We have to start a GoFundMe and help Devonte get a car,'" Hunter recalled. "He didn’t give up on it. He’s a kid with a big heart."
As a start, Hunter set up a GoFundMe page. The goal was to raise $5000 to help Gardner get new wheels.
Donations began to pour in and the fund soared to more than $30,000; enough money to help Gardner get a car and a year-long rent for an apartment.
Gardner, 29, was stunned by what his young customer did for him.
“I started crying — I’d been quietly struggling and didn’t want to ask anybody for anything,” he said, highlighting that he uses his tips for the motel's rent.
“We had to give up most of our belongings because of the mold, but we’re slowly working our way back,” he added.
“I love working at Waffle House because I have an opportunity to make people feel good every day,” Gardner added. “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.”
Some donors commented on Gardner's great service and attitude toward them whenever they step foot in that Waffle House. People were touched by Kayzen's empathy.
“I’m really touched deeply by it all,” said Gardner. “And as far as my little buddy goes, he’s my best friend for life.”
![In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had "engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)](https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2024/12/21/b4a69f2e-8682-43e4-9d37-49482b304ab3/3.png?v=2&format=webp "In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had \"engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)")
