ST. LOUIS — In a room filled with hopeful faces, an unlikely hero was about to work his magic. Not with a wand or a spell, but with a mop and a heart of gold. Meet George Love, the custodian at Walbridge Elementary in the St. Louis Public School District who cleans the hallways and clears the way for students to see a brighter future.
"I feel the pulse beat of these kids, you know, when they walk through the school," Love said.
In 2017, while earning less than $12 an hour, Love's faith handed him a new master key to unlock the potential of the students he saw every day. He said God told him to make a difference for those kids.
"My wife asked me, 'What do you mean you heard God?' And I said, 'I heard him distinctly, audibly speak to me.' 'Audibly? You gotta be kidding me, George,'" he said.
Despite having a leaking roof and overdue bills, Love set out to turn his modest means into life-changing opportunities. By moonlighting as a Lyft driver, he began funding $500 college scholarships, enough for a senior to buy a new laptop.
It was during one of these Lyft rides that fate introduced him to Taj'Marie Lane.
"He was telling me about his program and how I should look at it, look into it," Lane said.
Four years ago, Lane lost her North Star when her grandfather passed away. But she said in Love, she found a new guiding light.
"Now that he's gone, I'm glad I have another person that can look out for me. Even though he doesn't know me, he's looking out for me. And that's a big thing for me. 'Cause not too many people would do that."
Since he started his scholarship program 7 years ago, Love has swept 107 students onto a path paved with possibilities. These aren't the straight-A students with other scholarships, but students who work hard, like Land.
"I mean, there's nothing better than pouring into the life of our future and changing the trajectory of their mindset and letting them see that where they are at is always where it's going to be," Love said.
For Love, being a custodian isn't just about keeping a school clean. It's about scrubbing out the challenges that stand in the way of students' dreams.
"I don't know where it's going, but I just want to stay focused and know that this, I dedicate my life to doing this," he said, ensuring that every student has a chance to shine brighter than they ever thought possible.
Making A Difference
Is someone in your community making a difference? Text us at 314-425-5355 or email Mike Bush at mbush@ksdk.com.
See more stories of people Making a Difference here.