Starting a new school can be scary at the best of times, but for Michael Todd he had the added challenge of having to wear the same clothes each day.
The teen was entering his freshman year at MLK Prep in Memphis, Tennessee, but sadly it wasn’t the experience he was hoping for.
Michael was forced to wear the same clothes every day. Unfortunately, it didn’t take long for his classmates to notice and start bullying him.
“I’ve been bullied my entire life,” Michael told CBS17 News. “I really don’t have clothes at home. My mom can’t buy clothes for me because I’m growing too fast.”
For three weeks in a row, Michael faced taunting and teasing at the hands of his classmates.
Fellow student and football player Kristopher Graham noticed Michael was being teased and decided to help him.
He started looking for clothes in his own closet that he could give to Michael and even texted his friend and teammate Antwan Garrett for help with his secret plan.
During third period at school Michael was asked to step into the hallway where he finds Kristopher and Antwan standing there waiting for him.
The students gave Michael bags of clothes and also apologized for laughing at him.
“Awesome. The best day of my entire life basically,” Michael said after he received the clothes.
Kristopher said it was good to finally see a smile on Michael’s face.
“I told him, ‘we’re in the same third period and I apologize for laughing at you and I want to give something to you to make it up.’
“When I saw people laugh and bully him, I felt like I needed to do something,” Kristopher added.
Antwan said Michael’s reaction almost left him in tears.
“And then I cried at lunch when he (Michael) said, ‘you two are the only ones to give me a gift,’” Kristoper added.
Michael told the two big-hearted boys, “You guys are the best guys of my entire life.”
These two boys are an inspiration. It took nothing for them to look through their closet and share what they had with a boy in need.
Such a wonderful gesture that I hope inspires other people to help people in need. Well done boys!
