Work Week: Kyle’s Story
The streets of Bellflower are filled with stories, and when those stories come from one of our neighbors or GSI participants, we love to shine a light on them. This week, I’m honored to shine that light on Kyle Heard, a GSI participant, Community Center regular, and staple at our weekly bible study. Kyle once walked these sidewalks in darkness. Homelessness, isolation, and a life that was just… there. But today, he strides with purpose and a sense of dignity. This is Kyle’s story, and it’s a good one.
Kyle, a Bellflower native and huge Dodger fan, knew of KCB for years. The Community Center was a landmark he’d often pass by, head down, convincing himself he didn’t need help. “I thought I could handle it, but deep down, I was drowning.” Back in the day, he was all about restaurant work.. bussing tables, helping in the kitchen, thriving in the rush of a busy shift. But life threw him a curveball. Two years of leaning on state assistance just hadn’t been enough. Living in his sister’s garage, he felt trapped in a vicious cycle, each day blurring into the next. Pride is a tough beast that kept him from knocking on KCB’s door, but a quiet voice (that I’d argue was God Himself), whispered it was time to try.
That whisper led him to KCB’s bible studies. At first, it was just a seat in a circle, a place to listen, another theology to ponder and question. But those Thursday mornings cracked something open in Kyle. He started talking, sharing, and accepting help from a community that didn’t judge him for the truth he shared. It was there he learned about GSI. “I had to humble myself, I was ready to be a team player.”
One day, I told Kyle about a mini connect event going on in Norwalk, a resource fair where organizations share services for people facing homelessness or instability. He was on the fence at first but agreed to go. I offered to drive him, and that ride changed the course of his journey. I asked what music he liked, cranked it up, and we got to talking. Really talking. I shared my story, how Jesus has shaped me and keeps pulling me forward, and Kyle opened up too. He spoke about his struggles, his dreams, his thoughts.
Before KCB and GSI, Kyle’s life was a blank slate, marked only by struggle. Homelessness stripped away his stability, and isolation became his norm. “I shut every door of opportunity,” he said. “I couldn’t stand being around people.” But GSI handed him a key to another door that he didn’t shut. The work wasn’t just about earning some money.. it was about finding purpose. Kyle chose to show up, day after day, learning skills, and trading loneliness for a crew with the same goal. “I went from nothing to something.”
One moment stands out, vivid as an Ohtani home run. When Kyle got his second paycheck, he didn’t just see numbers, he saw possibility. For the first time, he took his loved ones to dinner. Picture it: Kyle, grinning ear to ear, swapping laughs and stories over a meal. “I felt capable,” he told George, “and proud.” That night, he wasn’t just feeding others, he was feeding his own belief in himself.
KCB’s support stretched beyond that paycheck. We were able to give him jackets and warm clothes. When his old shoes worn thin from endless walking and now working, we handed him a new pair.. a small gesture that felt huge for Kyle. “Those shoes carried me,” Kyle said. We were also able to connect him to a local shelter, a stepping stone off the streets. “They didn’t just give me work,” he says. “They gave me tools to succeed.”
The community at KCB became Kyle’s anchor. When his own family turned away, KCB was there. GSI staff like Tim, who matched Kyle’s quirky humor, made him feel at home. “He lets me be myself.” Then there was George, who’d dive into talks with Kyle about God, the stars, and life’s big questions. “George showed me how much there is to discover,” Kyle said, “in the world and in me.”
The most important part I’ve seen though, was that faith became Kyle’s compass. “KCB guided me back to Jesus,” he shared. “Without Him, I’d still be in that garage, lost.” . At Bible study, he’s the guy with questions, eager to grow. His faith, much like his Dodger pride, now seems unshakeable. I see him talking to other neighbors at bible study offering some of the same advice I gave him on that car ride. He’s carrying himself like someone who belongs. And that’s a big one, too. Belonging? That word’s everything to Kyle now. “It means being accepted. Quirks, flaws, and all,” he told George. “I’m seen, heard, valued. For the first time, I’m home.”
The old Kyle, who hid from the world, is gone. Now, he’s sharing his story, hoping it lights a fire for someone else. “A year ago, I’d have laughed if you said I’d be doing this.. now, I want everyone to believe in the process.”
Last Friday, June 20, Kyle hit a major milestone: his first day working at a local restaurant. That restaurant passion he’s always had? It’s back, and we hope he kills it! Especially now with this new opportunity, Kyle’s dreaming big, saving for an apartment, getting smart about money, and aiming to become a kitchen manager. “These goals sound simple,” he said, “but to me, they’re everything.”
Kyle’s learned some real talk along the way too. “Accountability’s key,” he told George. “I can’t blame anyone else. Change starts with me.” His new motto, “Be the change you want to see,” isn’t just words.. it’s his life. And to our donors, he’s got a message: “Your support changes lives. I’m proof. It’s a ripple effect, helping folks like me help others.”
As Kyle walks Bellflower’s streets now, that Dodgers cap still tilted, he’s carrying more than ever. He’s got purpose, faith, and a community that believed in him when he couldn’t believe in himself. He puts it best: “Kyle is Kyle again.”
“Be the change you want to see.” – Kyle Heard
Until next time…