Good News Stories

Five year old Jerald Reb, is a child of God who at his young age already understands what it is that Jesus wants us to do. This extraordinary little boy already knows what it takes many, a life-time to understand about compassion and caring for others. This is a story of how he shared the love of Jesus with the homeless and needy and touched the hearts and lives of many people.

Jerald’s Mother Kelly Reb , related how this came to be. She said that just before Thanksgiving, in November of 2003, she and Jerald were driving somewhere and having a conversation regarding Thanksgiving, and what it means to be thankful. Jerald who was four years old at the time began relating what he was grateful for. “I’m grateful for Thomas the Tank-Engine and all of my toys,” he said. His mother quickly guided him away from those things and explained that He should be grateful for a family that loves him, a nice warm house and a bed of his own to sleep in. He was told not everyone has those things. His mother explained that many people were homeless, and slept in the streets and on park benches.

Jerald was told about homeless shelters where these people could go to get food and clothes and a bed to sleep in. He seemed particularly touched by those people who slept in the streets and on park benches. “Well I am going to give blankets to these people. If they don’t have a bed, they should at least have a blanket.” This began a journey of giving to the homeless.

With his Mother’s help they made phone calls and sent E-mails to ask friends and family to donate blankets and winter clothes for Jerald to give to the homeless. He even called his Uncle Michael and told him to bring a donation or he couldn’t come to his house for Thanksgiving dinner. In his new realization of homeless people, he became a zealous young champion.

He also learned that there were children that do not have toys to play with and this lit a new fire of determination to give toys to homeless children. He and his siblings emptied their piggy banks and asked for that money to purchase toys. It was enough to buy toys for 40 needy and homeless children.

The next job was to see that these things got in the right hands. A number or organizations were contacted by phone or E-mail and surprisingly there were no responses. They had collected thirty blankets and boxes of other donations. Then they were told about a shelter in Wilmington and Jerald was able to pass out toys to the children there and other donations were given to those on the streets.

In the Fall of 2004, Jerald announced that he wanted to start collecting things again. He and his Mother began contacting folks just before Thanksgiving, and by Christmas, their house was over-flowing. By his own initiative he collected $500 ($50 of his own) over 50 blankets, 20 bags of clothing and several boxes of hats, gloves and scarves. This time they heard about the Sunday Breakfast Mission. They loaded up their van and he followed his heart that lead him to give things to people on the street.

His Mother said this is not really about Jerald. She said if you can get him to come out of his “shell” he will tell you it is all about Jesus . He said he didn’t do it for any other reason than “ Jesus wants me to.”

Her final comment was that it has been amazing to watch this little five-year-old boy’s faith grow as he has seen God answer his prayers and listen to the whispers of a little boy with a big vision.

This young boy is letting Jesus lead his heart and in five short years stands as an example to us all.

This is a story of how he shared the love of Jesus with the homeless and needy and touched the hearts and lives of many people.

More Good News Stories

Clean from everything Read Rick's Story and how God opened the door to a new life.