A Texas couple has raised nearly $40,000 for a bullied boy who knocked on their door looking for some friends in a heartbreaking moment caught on a doorbell camera.
Brennan Ray and Angell Hammersmith started the GoFundMe last Wednesday hoping to make Shayden Walker’s summer after Ray posted the video.
It showed the boy approaching their Amarillo house and asking if they knew of any children between the ages of 11 and 12 because he ‘needs some friends really bad.’
Walker, wearing a Jaws t-shirt, then explains that some neighborhood kids had been bullying him.
The video has since been viewed more than 66million times, with TikTokers from across the world commenting that they hope he finds some ‘REAL friends soon’ and saying ‘I have never wanted to hug a kid so bad in my life.’
Walker’s stepfather now says Shayden’s a ‘totally different kid’ than he was just last week, while the young boy said in a video posted to his father’s TikTok page that ‘Y’all have touched my heart so much, it’s just literally to the point where I want to cry.’
Shayden Walker knocked on his neighbors’ door in Amarillo, Texas last week looking for friends
Homeowner Brennan Ray, left, posted the doorbell camera footage to TikTok and he and his wife, Angell Hammersmith, decided to start a GoFundMe for the bullied boy
The online fundraiser netted more than $37,000 for the boy and his family before Walker’s mom asked to halt donations on Friday
In the doorbell camera footage posted online Wednesday, Ray could be heard asking the boy ‘What’s up man?’ as Walker approaches his door.
At that point, the boy replies: ‘Hi. I just wanted to see if you knew any kids around like, 11 or 12, maybe, because I need some friends. Like, really bad.’
Ray then directed Walker to a house down the road, where he said he knew two children lived.
But Walker replies, ‘Well, um, they’re not my friends anymore because they’re bullies to me.’
He then decides to ask Ray if he has any children, to which the homeowner says he does — but his daughter is only 2 years old.
‘Oh, OK that’s great,’ Walker replies hopefully. ‘I love 2 year olds to be honest, they’re just the most cutest things I have ever known,’ telling how he enjoyed playing with his younger sister when she was 2.
Instead, Ray promises to say ‘hi’ to the boy whenever he sees him in town.
‘Ok, you have a good day,’ Walker says before he walked away.
A follow-up video posted to Ray’s account showed Walker approaching the house just about half an hour before, but shying away.
In that video, Ray says he and his wife would start a GoFundMe for the boy ‘to help him get a dope gaming set up, some school clothes [and] amusement park tickets.
‘Let’s come together and show him he’s got some friends.’
The fundraiser had netted more than $37,000 for the boy and his family before Walker’s mom asked to halt donations on Friday.
The family said they are not seeking any money, as they shared how Shayden enjoys playing Fortnite, his PlayStation and the game Rainbow Six Siege.
Shayden’s mother, Krishna, turned off donations for the GoFundMe on Friday saying the family is not seeking any money
Walker’s stepfather, Dustin, posted a video saying his stepson is a ‘totally different kid’ than he was just last week as Shayden thanked everyone for their support
The young boy enjoys playing Fortnite, his PlayStation and the game Rainbow Six Siege
Many people from across the world also shared their support for the young boy, with one man commenting: ‘Shayden, you are a strong kid. No one deserves to be bullied or made fun of.
‘You are incredibly brave to be putting yourself out there and actively looking for friends instead of staying in the house.
‘I know you are young, but the best advice I can give you is that you do not need anyone’s validation but your own to know your worth,’ the man commented. ‘If you love yourself, you will never be alone.’
Another person added: ‘This kid, like many, are special and just want a place in this world… this family shared a memorable moment with the world and it was beautiful!!!
‘Our kids need genuine kindness.’
After closing out the GoFundMe Friday, Ray and Hammersmith posted another video saying they were not expecting the level of support ‘at all,’ noting they had just an initial goal of $7,000.
‘We’re thankful we’re able to do this for this young man and we’re thankful for y’all,’ the couple said, with Hammersmith noting they were trying to set up a time to meet with the boy.
They also said that Walker’s mother has turned off donations, but the money will remain in the GoFundMe until she says otherwise.
