A student who had to walk 7 miles to and from work every day was blown away when a woman gifted him a new car in an act of kindness.
The 18-year-old student from Georgia, would walk every day in the hope of saving up money for a car.
Jayden Sutton, a high school senior from Cobb County, received a new car at a local Honda dealership Thursday after a fundraising effort organized by Lavonda Wright Myers who said she met him first time when he was walking on the road in the rain in December and wanted to help him.
The Atlanta resident said, “We need more love in this world,” she said. “Hate and division has plagued this world and I’m determined to do my part, one person at a time.” She crossed paths with the boy on Dec. 10, 2020, as she was driving through Powder Springs and ended up giving him a ride to his job.
While talking with him she learned that he was walking 7 miles each way to work because he couldn’t afford Uber rides and was saving up his paychecks to purchase his own car. “Once I dropped him off to work his heart and determination filled my eyes with tears. He said ‘Ma’am, I walk because I have to,’” Myers said. “He was smiling in good spirit and that’s a child worth blessing.”
Myers shared Sutton’s story on a GoFundMe page and, two days later, raised $6,365 in donations, she purchased a vehicle for Sutton this week at Nalley Honda in Union City using a $7,000. She added $635 of her own money to reach that amount after the general manager of the dealership lowered the price from $7,800.
The bit arrived at Nalley Honda, unaware of what was going to occur. “I love her for it,” he was heard telling Myers after being presented his new vehicle. “I just want to thank you so much, you don’t even understand how much.” He said he would get home from school around 3:30 p.m. each day and then “go straight to work” for 6 to 7-hour shifts at a restaurant, and then would again walk back home.
“I knew that if I had to walk to work every day to get a car, that is what I was going to do,” he said. Sutton received his car at the right time as his mother recently was involved in an accident that totaled her own vehicle. Myers said she found out that was one of the reasons why he was walking. “This family could use a blessing and helping hand,” Myers said.
Sutton has a powerful message for all those who are trying to attain their goals, “If you’re doing something good or trying to reach a goal keep doing it,” he said. “You might get some help. That’s what happened to me.”