Shayden Walker Amarillo, Texas boy knocking on his neighbor’s door looking for friends leads to GoFundme donations totaling $37K after homeowners set out to help bullied boy.
A Texas boy has become an internet sensation after video of him knocking on a neighbor’s door pleading for friends going viral.
Amarillo boy, Shayden Walker is captured ringing the doorbell of the home of Brennan Ray and Angell Hammersmith, with the boy asking if they knew of any children between the ages of 11 and 12 because he ‘needs some friends really bad.’
Walker, then explains that some neighborhood kids had been bullying him.
‘I have never wanted to hug a kid so bad in my life.’
The video which had been viewed more than 66million times, led to an outpouring of support from TikTokers, with many 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.’
The outpouring of support led to the Shayden being described as a ‘totally different kid‘ the boy’s stepfather said with the boy posting on his father’s TikTok page, ‘Y’all have touched my heart so much, it’s just literally to the point where I want to cry.’
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.’
Neighbors initiate fundraiser to kickstart new friends
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. ‘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.
Ray in turn 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 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.
The posting led to 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!!!
@nosrettap2♬ original sound – nosrettap
40k for hobbies. No.’
‘Our kids need genuine kindness.’
Not everyone was enthusiastic about the boy receiving the degree of donations that he did.
Wrote one commentator: ‘He said he needed friends why does he need $40k? The parents will be buying new cars.’
Posted another: ’40k for hobbies. No.’
While another wrote, ‘He didn’t say he was broke, he said he wanted friends.’
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 had turned off donations. It remained unclear if the parent would return the donations.
