Boy, 11, Provides For Orphans In Africa

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Many stories of heroes involve people who give of themselves in order to help others, and one such story involves a person who doesn't fit the typical mold. He's not even 5 feet tall.

Just like most kids, Hunter Frey spends a lot of time playing video games. Every 11-year-old likes to rock out on Guitar Hero, but that's where the similarities end between Frey and most kids his age.

Hunter is involved in an international assistance program -- something most kids and many adults never think about.

"Starting at like 5 years old in kindergarten, I mean, there was definitely things that he would share with me that led me to believe that he wanted to make sure that someone he thought needed help would get help," said Robin Frey, Hunter's mother.

Hunter's drive for helping began years ago when he found out that not all of the orphans in Central Africa receive toys.

Hunter's one-man campaign has resulted in hundreds of Beanie Babies and Hot Wheels race car sets donated to kids in Central Africa.

A highlight to Hunter's goodwill mission came when he was finally old enough to get shots so he could travel to the area.

"It was kind of sad because everyone just saw people when we had to walk down on the streets seeing everyone like on the streets that don't have a home and then when you go see people with a home, it's just made out of wood and leaves or it could, if they're lucky enough to have a concrete home without anything in it," he said.

Hunter's personal commitment to the orphans of Central Africa is also an eye-opener for him as he tried to relate to people his own age and the challenges they face.

"Yeah, they're poor, but still even at their age, they're doing things that adults here would do, like seeing most of them don't have parents because of AIDS and all the diseases over there, you have to go get water and food for their family and everything, so it was really inspiring," Hunter said.

Inspiring enough that Hunter is sponsoring two brothers he calls his own -- Cedrick and Paturn. But, once in Africa, Hunter learned the sponsor of their sister Bernice had died. She became just one more person for him to spread his goodwill.

"I think, if anything, he should be an encouragement to everybody to step out of the box, strive to do something that's just a little idea of our own that you might not think could make a difference and the little things are what counts. They make a huge difference," Robin said.

Beyond the toys and treats, Hunter is now focused on a bigger project.

"He's really had some great ideas and … he wants to now raise funds to put a medical facility in a school in Bangee Central Africa Republic," Robin said.

"I don't really feel like special or anything, like something God has given me and opportunity to be able to talk to people and communities like this, miles away," Hunter said.

He uses bake sales, the money he earns from the rabbits he raises for the state fair and any other source for his mission.