AVON, Ind. -- An Avon teen is inspiring people this holiday season after a customer posted a photo of him working at Chick-fil-A in a neck brace and sling.
It’s not just the fact that he’s working after being in a car accident that has people talking – but the reason he says he’s doing it – because he needs the money to help feed the homeless.
It all started with a Facebook post.
Cameron Nelson wrote that he went into the restaurant and saw Jakeem Tyler working, in a sling and neck brace, so he asked him what happened.
Jakeem told him that he had been in a car accident but he was working because he needed the money for Christmas presents and to help feed the homeless.
Nelson was inspired by the teens story so he snapped a photo and posted it online. From there, it took on a life of its own.
“For that Facebook post to go viral, that was truly breathtaking to me,” said Jakeem.
Nelson also created a GoFundMe page to raise $2,500 for the teen’s efforts. The page has already raised over four times that amount.
Jakeem said his father battled cancer, years ago, and he believes it was prayer that pulled him through that pain.
So now, he plans to keep working and saving, hoping that he can help someone else overcome their troubles.
“The homeless are people too,” said Jakeem. “They deserve the best that anyone could ever be treated because they are struggling too.”
Jakeem graduates from Avon High School later this month and said he is planning to study two majors in college, including biblical studies.
