An 8-Year-Old Starts A GoFundMe Page For His Favorite Server After Learning He Walks Several Miles To Work Every Day

Kindness is an often forgotten quality, but not in the case of eight-year-old Kayzen Hunter and Devonte Gardner, his favorite server at a local Waffle House.

Gardner's quality service inspired Hunter to raise over $50,000 for Gardner, especially after hearing something about his favorite server's life.

Waffle House Is More Than A Place To Eat For Kayzen

There is nothing more Kayzen Hunter enjoys than having the traditional breakfast trip to their local Waffle House.

Devonte and Kayzen
Vittoria Hunter/Facebook
Vittoria Hunter/Facebook

Besides spending time with his family, Kayzen looks forward to seeing his favorite server, Devonte Gardner.

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Can I Take Your Order?

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Every weekend, Vittoria Hunter, Kayzen, and the rest of the family eat breakfast at the same Waffle House in Little Rock.

Kayzen eating his favorite breakfast
Vittoria Hunter/Facebook
Vittoria Hunter/Facebook
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Kayzen orders his favorite meal from Devonte, who he enjoys almost as much as the food.

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"Devonte...Always Knows Exactly What I Want."

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Kayzen, who was eight at the time of the story, would order hash browns and eggs, and they both had to have cheese on them.

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Devonte Gardner
Vittoria Hunter/Facebook
Vittoria Hunter/Facebook
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Gardner made sure to make the order each time.

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High-Five!

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Besides how Devonte "always treats everyone with kindness," there are two other reasons Kayzen loves seeing his favorite server.

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Devonte Gardner and his daughters
Vittoria Hunter/Facebook
Vittoria Hunter/Facebook
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Without fail, every visit to the Waffle House guarantees he will hear Gardner's jokes and get high-fives.

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Devonte Was Struggling

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One breakfast, in particular, was more memorable for Kayzen than others. Hunter and his family learned about Devonte's struggles outside of work.

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Gardner walked to work every day, no matter the weather or shift time.

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Gardner Walked Several Miles To Work

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Gardner asked the Hunters if they knew "where he could buy a cheap car" because he was having trouble finding one.

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Devonte Gardner
Devonte Trevion/Facebook
Devonte Trevion/Facebook
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They later found out Gardner and his family live in a motel, where he walks several miles.

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Mold Forced Devonte's Family Out Of Their Home

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Devonte, his wife, and two daughters moved into a motel after being forced out of their apartment.

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Phil Hearing/Unsplash
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It was infested with rats and contaminated by mold, but the Gardners could not afford to move somewhere else.

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Vittoria Was Affected By Mold Too

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When Vittoria and her family had their mold issue in 2019, the experience affected more than her mind and heart.

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Vittoria and Kayzen Hunter
Vittoria Hunter/Facebook
Vittoria Hunter/Facebook
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"Vittoria got really sick from it, and Kayzen got rashes on his arm," said Korey.

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Mold Knows No Mercy

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Mold damage ruined the Hunter family rental property.

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Hunter Family
Vittoria Hunter/Facebook
Vittoria Hunter/Facebook
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Korey vividly recounts in an updated story, "Our water heater leaked, and mold grew in the wall and blew out everywhere through the air conditioner return."

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"We Have To Start A GoFundMe Page."

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Once he learned of the situation, Kayzen expressed his desire to help his friend.

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Devonte GoFundMe page
Vittoria Hunter/GoFundMe
Vittoria Hunter/GoFundMe
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After talking with his family, he decided to raise money for Devonte by starting a GoFundMe page on his behalf.

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$5,000? How About Raising $50,000?

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With his mother Vittoria's help, Kayzen aimed to raise $5,000 for Devonte on the GoFundMe page they created for Devonte.

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Devonte Gardner being interviewed
Vittoria Hunter/Facebook
Vittoria Hunter/Facebook
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The amount ballooned almost overnight to over $50,000 once a local news station picked up the story.

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"I Started Crying."

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Gardner was understandably emotional when recalling the moment he had found out about the generosity of the Hunter family.

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Devonte Gardner story
Vittoria Hunter/Facebook
Vittoria Hunter/Facebook
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Not only was it enough for Devonte to buy his new car, but it also paid a year's rent in a new apartment for the Gardener family.

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Gardner Suffered In Silence

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Devonte admitted to struggling to pay expenses like the $60 they paid daily for their motel bill. He said, "he didn't want to ask anybody for anything."

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Aissa Shorter and Devonte Gardner
Devonte Trevion/Facebook
Devonte Trevion/Facebook
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He used a portion of the funds raised for him to pay the bills.

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Welcome To McDonald's! Can I Take Your Order?

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The positive vibes continued for Devonte and his family. His wife, Aissa Shorter, was hired at a local McDonald's.

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Aissa Shorter and Devonte Gardner
Devonte Trevion/Facebook
Devonte Trevion/Facebook
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Their story has been an inspiration to Devonte's customers and to anyone who learns about it.

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It's All About The Family

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Shorter and Gardner were so grateful for their most recent good fortune, but it did not blind them.

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Devonte Gardner's daughters
Devonte Trevion/Facebook
Devonte Trevion/Facebook
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The couple made arrangements with their employers to work opposite shifts, so someone was always available to care for their daughters.

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Amoura and Jade Gardner Were Devonte's World

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Amoura and Jade were 2 and 3, respectively, when their family's inspirational story was initially reported.

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Devonte Gardner story
Vittoria Hunter/Facebook
Vittoria Hunter/Facebook
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What is more remarkable is that an 8-year-old boy was the source of their new life.

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"We're Slowly Making Our Way Back."

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When the dust and excitement settle, Aissa and Devonte know their journey has just begun.

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Vittoria Hunter/Facebook
Vittoria Hunter/Facebook
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They had to give up most of their belongings because they were poisoned with mold and confessed, "we're slowly making our way back," when giving a recent update.

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Despite Devonte's Struggles, Work Was More Than A Salary

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"I love working at Waffle House because I have an opportunity to make people feel good every day."

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Hunter and Gardner Family
Vittoria Hunter/Facebook
Vittoria Hunter/Facebook
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Thanks to the kindness of Kayden and his family, Gardner believes his story will resonate with others in similar situations.

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Over 37 Million Americans Live In Poverty

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The rising cost of living and the financial difficulties it brings affects millions like Gardner.

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In his research, he discovered that according to the U.S. Census Bureau, over 37 million Americans live in poverty currently.

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The Hunter's Could Relate

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The displacement of Devonte and his family struck a personal cord with the Hunters, which was another reason they wanted to help him.

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Devonte and the Hunter Family
Vittoria Hunter/Facebook
Vittoria Hunter/Facebook
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In 2019, they had to abandon a mold-contaminated rental property. While the circumstances were different, the results were similar.

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"It Was Important To Kayzen And To Us."

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Doing whatever they could to help Devonte's family was as important to Vittoria and her husband, Korey.

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Devonte Gardner and Kayzen Hunter
Vittoria Hunter/Facebook
Vittoria Hunter/Facebook
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According to Vittoria, helping Gardner's family was"important to Kayzen-and to us-to help Devonte do the same."

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The Numbers Of People In Devonte's Situation Is Scary

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Gardner also learned while researching U.S. Census Bureau statistics paint an even scarier picture for Americans dealing with poverty.

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Zac Durant/Unsplash
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The Bureau states approximately 13 million U.S. citizens are disconnected from federal programs that provide help for housing, child care, food stamps, and nutrition.

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Double Shifts Are No Guarantee For Getting Ahead

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Make no mistake about Devonte Gardner's sense of reality. He acknowledges that before the GoFundMe donations, working double shifts was not always enough.

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Waffle House Cooks
ALEX EDELMAN/AFP via Getty Images
ALEX EDELMAN/AFP via Getty Images
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Gardner said, "Even when you can work double shifts, it's hard to get ahead."

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The Hunters' Careers Helped To Deal With Things

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Korey Hunter is an electrician, and Vittoria is a real estate agent and owns a small business.

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Vittoria and Korey Hunter
Vittoria Hunter/Facebook
Vittoria Hunter/Facebook
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Their struggles made it easier to identify with Devonte's family. Korey stated, "It took a long time, but we're thankful that we could rebuild our lives."

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Many Of Devonte's Customers Wanted To Help Him

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When word traveled about Devonte's plight, it inspired the Hunters and many of his other customers.

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Waffle House customers
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MICHAEL MATHES/AFP via Getty Images
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A man who donated $25 to the GoFundMe page said, "This guy is ALWAYS in a good mood and a hard worker."

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Devonte Quickly Found Out He Was Far From Alone

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A woman who donated $20 shared her personal story and said she had experienced what Devonte had.

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Amoura, Jade, and Devonte Gardner
Vittoria Hunter/Facebook
Vittoria Hunter/Facebook
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She said she knew what Devonte, "is experiencing, and I love it that he continues to spread joy despite his struggles."

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The Support From Others Surprised Kayzen

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Kayzen was no ordinary 8-year-old boy. He displayed the kind of empathy for Devonte that takes years to learn.

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Kayzen Hunter
Vittoria Hunter/Facebook
Vittoria Hunter/Facebook
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Hunter was happy and a little bit surprised by the overwhelming response from others wanting to help.

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"Sometimes People Need A Little Help."

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Anyone learning of Kayzen's kind deed for his friend Devonte will immediately discover his maturity beyond his young age.

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Helping Hands
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Austin Kehmeier/Unsplash
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Kayzen remarked, "Devonte is a positive person who works hard to make everyone happy. Sometimes people need a little help."

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"He's My Best Friend For Life."

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Not only was Devonte moved by Kayzen's kindness, but he also vowed to be friends with him forever.

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Kayzen and Devonte
Vittoria Hunter/Facebook
Vittoria Hunter/Facebook
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Gardner said, "I'm really touched by it all. And as far as my little buddy goes, he's my best friend for life.

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This Story Has An Even Happier Ending

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With the generous amount donated to his GoFundMe account, Devonte wasted no time securing his family's future.

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Kayzen Hunter and Devonte Gardner
Vittoria Hunter/Facebook
Vittoria Hunter/Facebook
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A month after Gardner's story came to light, he got a one-bedroom apartment for himself and his family and bought a brand-new car to go to work.