Ryker

Ryker is a funny kid. He’s very soft-spoken, quiet.

He doesn’t call attention to himself – unless that attention has something to do with his hair. He cuts it himself every two days. He does not miss a day.

So you might guess what he wants to be in his work life. A barber, yes. And he’s going to make a fine one.

He just graduated from high school –

And that fact alone is miraculous when you know what his life has been like. Because when Ryker came to us – he’d been homeless. He’d been out of school. And his only goal was to sleep in a bed.

His own bed.

He was not pulling anybody’s leg. He meant it.

So when he got his own bed and room, Ryker could not believe his good luck. And he got comfortable with that arrangement pretty fast.

But there were other things about living with us that did not connect so easily. And this is a big one:

Ryker could not accept or believe that he mattered. No matter what we said, what we did – he would not believe that anybody on our staff cared what happened to him.

And he said this to us over and over.

Because – everything in his life had pointed him to one conclusion: He did not matter.

His parents split when he was younger. And they began to pass him back and forth. Back and forth across state lines every 6 months – neither one wanting him.

It started when he got in trouble for stealing. He was taking food and clothes for himself and siblings. It starts likes this more than you’d think – when there’s not enough at home.

And his mom was OK with the stealing – until he got caught. But once he got caught – once he was in trouble – he was not worth the trouble of parenting.

This boy was never a priority.

But here is an important point about Ryker and his story:

The fact that he is where he is today can be credited directly to you – our supporters.

Because of you –

• Ryker gradually warmed to the idea that he is worthy of love
• He realized he can have some control in his life
• He has a food service job, saves his money
• He is enrolling in barber school – we are paying – so he can be a self-supporting, tax paying, productive adult one day. He’s learning to speak up for himself.

He’s got hope now. And it’s because of you.