Morgan Claffy

10/16/2014
Feature Story
One Heart can Change the Life of Another
Many children in Pulaski face adversity within their family life and need a place
to call home.
One individual in particular, Peter Huber, took a young boy who was in need
and changed his life forever, when he decided to care for the boy like he was part of the
family.
After attending a field trip with the fifth grade class at a local Pulaski
elementary school, met a young boy named Lonnie, and little did he know he would
changed Lonnies life forever. I got to know Lonnie on the field trip and began to see
him around town more often after the trip, Huber mentioned in our interview. We
started talking more and more about things going on in his life and I was there to listen
to him and help him through difficult times.
Lonnie became increasingly more comfortable with Huber, and started asking
him for rides to different places and meals when he was hungry. Lonnie lived with his
grandmother, but she was unable to take care of him and provide for him. I was glad
to help and enjoyed getting to know him better, Huber mentioned during an
interview. The more Lonnie called, the better Huber got to know him on a more
personal level.
Lonnie loved playing basketball and was on a team, but needed rides to and
from practice. Lonnie had trouble waking up in the morning when I came to pick him
up for basketball practice, which led to him staying the night at my house more often,

Huber said. Lonnie lived with his grandmother and was raised by her as well, but
with lack of transportation he started staying with me and my wife; it was an adoption
of the heart.
Lonnie became part of Hubers family, where they gave him a roof over his head,
hearty meals to eat, and rides to school and basketball practice. It came the time where
Huber offered to send Lonnie off to college to further his education. Huber had every
intention of letting Lonnie choose where he wanted to go to school, but a rather ironic
scenario played out. The funny story is Lonnie chose Emory Henry College, which is
where me and my wife went to college, Huber said. We never told him we went to
Emory and we find it funny that he decided to go there on his own. Lonnie ended up
receiving a four-year scholarship to attend the college, which made Huber and his wife
very proud.
Lonnie is African American, and when we are out in public people never
associate the two of us together, Huber exclaimed. We could be standing side by side
ready to order food and the cashier would ask if it was a separate order.
Although a color difference may make Lonnie stand out, it has never prevented
him from fitting right in with the rest of the family. My wifes side of the family always
meets up during the summer to get together at a lake house and play basketball games
and enjoy each others company, Huber said. Lonnie fits right in and plays basketball
with all the other family members. It is a great joy to see him and the others so happy.
Lonnie is just one of eight other children in his family, three older siblings and
four younger. The Huber family has touched the lives of all of his siblings, including
three of his youngers sisters who live with the Hubers now that Lonnie is away at

college and one of his older sisters who lived with the Hubers, but is grown up and on
her own now. It is always rewarding to see people do well, Huber said. Our journey
with Lonnie has not been a fairy tale the whole time, but the biggest impact he has had
on my life is watching him be happy, succeed and do well because that is what makes
me happy.
Huber has created miracles with Lonnie and his siblings. While it was a blessing
to Huber to watch Lonnie grow up into such a
successful young man, he has changed Lonnies
entire life and gave him the love that Lonnie was
missing.
This extraordinary act of kindness is similar
to a program in Pulaski county called the big
brother/big sister program. This program is
designed for children in low-income homes with a

Figure 1 Big brother/ big sister playing in local public pool

Credit: Big Brother Big Sister website http://bigslittles.org

single parent, or households where a parent is incarcerated. The children are paired
with an adult to form bonds that the children may not have at home.
Reverend Desmond Barrett, who also works with the Pulaski County
commissions, spoke about the different opportunities given to children who enter the
big brother/big sister program. We like to create a healthy community bridging
children from adolescence into adulthood, Barrett proclaimed. We try to work with
pastors like myself and others around the county to bring spirituality to the children
and families.

Giving the children a sense of connection with God and other people who know
what they are going through helps the children
cope with other problems within their lives.
The big brother/ big sister program
targets a large range of children and gives them
the opportunity to have a normal life like other
children they may go to school with. These
children build bonds with others to make them
feel like they have a true family connection. In a way,

Figure 2Big brother/ big sister program Credit:

Big brother/ big sister program website.

Huber did this with Lonnie, taking him under his wing and providing for him. Huber
did not do these things for profit or for the recognition; he helped Lonnie and his
family out because of his heart. Just that one act of kindness changed that boys life
forever.

http://bigslittles.wordpress.com/volunteer/school-based-program/
http://roanoke.macaronikid.com/article/714603/non-profit-of-the-month-bigbrothers-big-sisters-of-swva