Ryan McEvoy’s faith-led nonprofit isn’t only a safe haven for Uganda’s orphaned children — it’s a haven for hope.
For Ryan, owner of Jeff’s Bagel Run in Wake Forest, the urge to serve came in 2019 when, a decade after he cofounded the uBreakiFix franchise, he felt a divine calling to pivot his life’s work.
Ryan McEvoy, founder of 127 Haven
“I just felt God calling me to do something different,” Ryan recalls about the decision to sell 900 uBreakiFix stores across the country and establish 127 Haven, an organization dedicated to building families and not orphanages. “It was like my faith became real to me when I read James 1:27, which emphasizes caring for orphans and widows,” he says.
As a Christian, the verse — “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” — awakened in Ryan the desire to transform his faith into purpose. “I wanted to live out this verse and take it seriously,” he explains. “Caring for orphans is a selfless act, and I was ready to commit my life to that cause.”
Putting compassion ahead of convenience, and admittedly with little preparation, though at the time feeling “strongly like this is where I needed to go,” Ryan traveled to Uganda. Once there, he connected with a close friend who shared his vision of helping children in need. Lynette had once been an orphaned child rescued from the streets of Uganda, just like the kids 127 Haven sought to help.
Ryan says this parallel “hit Lynette in the chest,” and she shared with him that she would “love to save kids the way I was saved.” An inspired Ryan then purchased land in Uganda and began the process of creating families, the first of which includes Lynette and her husband David serving in the role of legal guardians for orphaned children who otherwise might have fallen victim to trafficking or may not have survived at all.
127 Haven has indelibly changed Ryan and is never far from his mind.
127 Haven operates on the principle that a family atmosphere should be fostered. “We take orphaned children off the street and build families out of them,” Ryan says. He emphasizes that the nonprofit isn’t running another orphanage, which can be a grim environment for children; instead, it is building “small homes where children can grow up in a loving environment.” This approach to growing disciples is rooted in faith, as Ryan explains: “I believe that Christ died for our sins, and we’re all orphaned from Him. I want to teach these children about the love of Christ and give them a chance at life.”
The organization currently provides a home for 10 children, some of whom are siblings, with plans to expand in both Uganda and elsewhere in the world. The Philippines is of particular interest, as 127 Haven is focused on children who have been rescued from human trafficking or are at risk of being trafficked. But first, the plan is for more families to be grown in Uganda.
Finding children in need is a thoughtful and prayerful process, Ryan explains. “In the beginning, we just prayed about it,” he recalls about founding the organization and determining which children to take in, and “God has provided each child perfectly.” 127 Haven works closely with local social workers who help identify children in need and are supportive allies because they recognize that real families are being created and as a result are firm believers in the cause.
Recently, Lynette and David have been preparing to welcome two new children, a 3-month-old and an 8-month-old, into their home. “We don’t say yes to every child we hear about,” Ryan says, citing 127 Haven’s need to ensure that the children can be cared and provided for all the way through their university education. “We pray and make sure it feels right.”
All bagels and craft coffee are made fresh daily.
None of the bagels are toasted, with boiling being the standard for Jeff’s Bagel Run.
The first child that 127 Haven, and Lynette and David, took in was at the time a young teenager. She is now, as Ryan describes her, “a beautiful young lady” who, despite being behind in school due to her prior living circumstances, is now 19 and wants to become a lawyer.
But the 127 Haven journey hasn’t been without its challenges. The hardest part, Ryan admits, has been navigating the cultural differences, bureaucratic hurdles, and legalities surrounding child welfare in Uganda.
Fortunately, the 127 Haven board comprises a small team of trusted voices with a deep-seated desire to help the most marginalized members of society. There are no associated admin fees — nobody is getting paid, and Ryan asserts that he will never take money from the organization. Even for his regular visits to Uganda, he pays personally for travel expenses.
Ryan’s time in Uganda is cherished and provides additional opportunities to grow the foundation and serve children in need.
Digital communication allows hearts to remain connected across continents.
“I hate asking for money,” Ryan admits about funding 127 Haven’s inspired work, “but I know people want to help.” The best way to do this, he says, is to sponsor a child in the 127 Haven family. Just $40 a month — which for many people would be a small sacrifice — can have a significant impact and change a life. Helping to raise a child through sponsorship will include ongoing communication and other elements that make the relationship personal over pecuniary.
Community involvement can take more than one form, though, as Ryan explains: “We need people to support us, whether through sponsorship or simply spreading the word about what we do. Together,” he encourages, “we can create families out of orphans and give them a brighter future.”
127haven.com
jeffsbagelrun.com
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