SAINT JOHN, N.B. – Bobby Hayes could talk to you for days about the children he’s spent all he has trying to help.
The Saint John man has hundreds of real-life stories about pulling kids from the worst of situations, some that would never have had a chance if he wasn’t around.
“There’s kids that are slipping through the cracks, at a very frightening and alarming rate. We’re missing them,” Hayes said in an interview with Global News.
In 1993, Hayes founded the Joshua Group. He’s become a guardian, best friend and provider for hundreds of at-risk youth, most from Saint John’s poorest neighbourhoods.
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To help them, he needs the community’s help. Help that’s starting to dry up.
In 2012, Hayes found a permanent home for the group in the city’s north end. He thought he’d be finished renovating the building, but the work has stalled.
“The unit is $65,000 and it’s a refrigeration, an air exchanger and heat unit all in one,” Hayes explained. “There’s a lot of work and engineering that needs to go into this but it’s holding us back right now.”
Hayes doesn’t have the money for the unit, and it’s halting the rest of the work that needs to be done to the building.
“It’s a big issue right now, and that’s the hold up, but when that gets in and these kids get in here, it sounds like a lot, well, what’s the price of one child’s future or their life?”
Although he doesn’t have enough to complete the building, Hayes always makes sure the 100 or so kids are fed, clothed and happy. He goes fishing and hiking with them, teaches them how to fix a bike and play basketball.
He’s calling out election candidates, saying if they want to make a difference, they’ve got to start thinking about the future.
Because he can’t recall one politician coming out to see the difference he’s making.
“I’ve been here for years, and I haven’t bumped into any.”
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