Community Chat

[MyGirlsMom]

When police received a report over the weekend of a tent pitched outside of Gordon State College in Barnesville, Georgia, they headed over and asked the occupant to come out with hands in sight, the Herald-Gazette reports.

Fred Barley, 19, emerged from the tent and told the officers his story, according to WSB-TV.

A homeless biology major who’d come to register for his second semester, Barley had pedaled a 20-inch bike six hours from Conyers in the scorching Georgia heat with just his tent, a few belongings, some water, and a box of cereal, setting up his tent until the dorms opened in August so he could look for a job.

The officers were stunned and brought him to a motel and paid for two nights. “I could tell he was a good kid … who had been dealt a bad hand,” Officer Dicky Carreker of the Gordon Police Department told the Herald-Gazette.

Carreker’s wife posted Barley’s story on a community Facebook page, and that’s when things really started to change for the student.

Not only does Barley now have a place to stay—the motel owner and a local resident, Casey Blaney, have paid for his stay through Monday, when the college will allow him to move into the dorms early—but he also now has a job at a local pizza joint and has been showered with gifts from strangers, including a new bike, clothes, and school supplies.

Blaney also started a Success for Fred Facebook page and GoFundMe page, which has already raised more than $36,000. “More important than everything—the clothes, the shoes—the relationships mean so much more to me,” Barley tells WSB.

Barley thanked those who have helped and supported him since his story has gained nationwide attention in a heartfelt and emotional video, which can be viewed below.

[Citrine1]

So nice to see a "feel good" story.  Reading this made my day!

[MyGirlsMom]

I liked the story too!  The community's outpouring of help is so heartwarming...for a young who wanted to help himself.

[Lila Belle]

That's wonderful!

Thanks for posting this!

[DoneTryin]

Nice to get some good news for a change.  Thanks for posting!

[JaneMarple]

This is what I love to hear about. 

[Irshgrl31201]

That is wonderful. What a dedicated kid, I am glad he is getting the help he needs that he will no doubt take advantage of. It is also wonderful hearing a nice story about police. I know the majority do nice things everyday and lately with all the negativity surrounding the police, it is nice to hear something positive they did. 

[Drythe]

Thank you for a ray of light!  Let's keep our eyes open for them.

[MyGirlsMom]

It's been a sad few weeks and this story is uplifting ..kindness in a large way.

[newziesuzie]

@MyGirlsMom

Thanks for this uplifting story! 😊

Wish we had more of them here

but for some reason they don't get

much attention or replies.