His name is Xavier Elliot and he’s the most amazing 10-year-old you’ll ever meet. Like many 10-year-old boys, he loves playing video games. His dad is a disabled veteran and his mother is an avid veteran advocate on her own time. He uses his allowance to buy fabric to make clothes for homeless children in Phoenix, Arizona. And what’s even more amazing is that he used to be homeless too!
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Xavier’s father served in the U.S. Army in Iraq and experience post-traumatic stress disorder and their family ended up in about six different homeless shelters. According to the Huffington Post, the family is now out of the shelters and Xavier’s dad is volunteering with the Honor Guard. Xavier’s experience hasn’t hardened him, it has made him empathetic for the people who are the shoes he and his family were once in.
He wanted to help. He would sit with his mother as she sewed and while she was making a purse one day, he wanted to try sewing too. Xavier started using his mom’s sewing machine (and he still uses that today until he gets enough financial support for his own machine) to make the clothes.
“I think the idea came to him from everything we have endured and wanting to make a difference for other people. I think he took the volunteering he sees now and made it his own.”” Xavier’s mom, Stephanie Elliott said. She runs Arizona Veteran Families, an organization that helps vets and their families find resources and support.
As he completes the clothes (pictured above), he will give the donations to local shelters, including the Salvation Army, Crisis Nursery and UMOM New Day Center — one of the largest family homeless shelters in Phoenix.
“I hope it [encourages] other people to help me,” Xavier told KPNX. “So I could help other people.”
Ugh, we’re all the way inspired. Where do we sign up?! Donate to Xavier Elliott’s amazing cause here!
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