While many students are counting down the days until holiday break and looking forward to video games and time off, 10-year-old Shalon Byrd is preparing something very different. The Lake Ridge New Tech Middle School student is assembling his next set of gift bags for people experiencing homelessness—an outreach he says God placed on his heart.
The idea surfaced about three months ago when Shalon asked his grandmother, Nikki Byrd, if they could talk. She braced for what she thought might be “the talk,” but Shalon shared something unexpected instead. He told her he felt called to help people who needed care. His plan was simple: she would drive, and he would do the rest.
According to the annual Point-in-Time (PIT) Count—a one-day census required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)—Lake County identified 272 people experiencing homelessness in 2022. Local service providers caution that this figure represents only a fraction of the true need in cities like Gary, where many unhoused residents are not in shelters and therefore are not counted.
Outreach groups note that individuals living in abandoned buildings, vehicles, or temporary arrangements with friends and family often fall outside PIT reporting, meaning the actual number of people struggling without stable housing in Gary is likely significantly higher than official estimates.
Using his weekly allowance, Shalon purchased enough supplies to assemble 10 gift bags—each containing personal toiletries, snacks, and water. His grandmother also adds a stamped envelope to every set so recipients can write to a loved one if they choose. Shalon says his favorite item to include is the pocket-sized Bible, which he pairs with two single-dollar bills as a gesture of encouragement.
In a brief interview conducted by Kim Robinson in the Gary Crusader office, Shalon emphasized that he does not want attention for what he is doing. “I just feel bad for the people who are less fortunate than me, and I do this out of the kindness of my heart,” he said.
Shalon, who is being raised by his grandmother, serves on the Senior Usher Board at Family Christian Center in Munster, where he hopes one day to become a pastor like his spiritual leader, Pastor Steve Munsey. After learning about his outreach, Pastor Munsey and several church members contributed donations and formed a small advisory “team” to help Shalon prepare for his next giveaway.
He recently shared that the first unhoused person he met—a man waiting at a bus shelter on a bitterly cold day—has since moved into Brother’s Keeper, a development that Shalon says inspires him to keep going.
As he prepares his next round of bags, Shalon remains clear about his mission: helping others quietly, faithfully, and without seeking the spotlight.