One at a Time

In these days of racial tension and hatred, here's a story that balances the scales a little. Fred Barley is homeless and pedaled on a bike with all his worldly possessions to Gordon State College in Georgia to begin Fall classes. Barley wants to eventually go to medical school and was eager to start the journey. When he learned that the dorms didn't open until August, he simply camped out in bushes on campus to await the dorm opening, believing that it would be safer than elsewhere. Enter the local police who had received a report of a suspicious person on campus.

Two officers showed up and interviewed Barley but instead of running him in after listening to his story, they paid for 2 nights at a local motel for him out of their own pockets. Things began to snowball from there. The wife of one of the officers put up a Facebook post and suddenly hundreds of people from town and around the country stepped up to help this young man. He is now well-equipped to enter school when it starts. 

Responding to all that has happened, Barley said:

"Some of the gifts aren’t as important as the friends I’ve made. More important than everything -- the clothes, the shoes -- the relationships mean so much more to me..."

He went on to say that God was the one who kept him going and thanked all who helped him in a video post that is well worth watching. This is how to build something that lasts, one at a time, step by step.  

www.wsbtv.com/news/local/homeless-teen-bikes-6-hours-to-get-to-college-sleeps-in-tent/401160413