BARNESVILLE, Ga. (AP) — A homeless teenager found sleeping in a tent outside a Georgia college after biking six hours to get there is receiving an outpouring of help and support from across the country.
Police officers discovered Fred Barley, 19, on Gordon State College campus last weekend, media outlets reported.
Barley told officers that he rode his little brother’s bicycle more than 50 miles from Conyers to Barnesville with two duffel bags and two gallons of water to register for classes for his second semester of college.
The biology major, who dreams of attending medical school one day, planned to stay there until he could move into the dorms July 18. He had been spending his time during the day job-searching.
Gordon Police Officer Richard Carreker said officer asked him where he was from and Barley told them the story of his bike ride from Conyers, northeast of Atlanta. “I’m like, `Man, this is crazy,”‘ Carreker said.
Instead of ticketing Barley for trespassing, the officers put him in a motel room.
“He was deeply thankful he wasn’t going to sleep in that tent,” Carreker said.
As word of Barley’s story traveled, people have donated clothes, school supplies, shoes, a new bike, and he was even offered him a job at a local pizza shop.
“I created a position for him before he walked in my door. I didn’t know his name. I didn’t know the color of his skin. I didn’t care. I’ve been there so I guess I had a soft spot for anyone who is that determined to succeed in life,” Debbie Adamson, owner of DB’s Pizzeria, said.
Barnesville resident Casey Blaney set up a GoFundMe page for Barley, which had raised more than $184,000 as of Monday morning.
“I was shocked by how much support people will give from Lamar County and counties all over and even people from across the country that I’ve never met just wanted to help so much in my life. I was just so shocked and grateful,” Barley said.
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