Not only is this a great lesson for the students at this school, but it’s also a beautiful reminder for the world. We should all do what we can to help our neighbors!
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Getting to and from work has been an uphill battle for Robert Reed for as long as he can remember.
Robert has worked as a custodian at Farmington Elementary School in Germantown, Tennessee, for the past four months. Each day, he leaves home about three hours before he starts because he has to take three buses and walk 2 miles to get there – all before most of us have our first cup of coffee.
GoFundMe
Once he arrives, he cheerfully goes about his day, where he becomes an inspiration to everyone he meets. “His work ethic is unbelievable,”teacher Elizabeth Malone said. “We want our kids to pick up on that.”
Then the school day ends, and he retraces his steps on his three-hour trip home. His coworkers help him out whenever they can, which Robert thoroughly appreciates. “All the teachers have taken me to the bus stop,” he said. “They even gave me money when I didn’t have any. I’m telling you, Farmington is a family here.â€
Recently, his community decided it was time to find Robert permanent transportation. They started a GoFundMe hoping to raise $10,000 so he could purchase a used truck. Just one day later, they’d brought in over $7,000! A local news station was there to capture Robert’s reaction when Elizabeth told him about the money, and it was priceless!
WMC Action News 5
He was so overwhelmed by the wonderful news that he dropped to his knees and started to cry! “You deserve it,” Elizabeth told him as they shared a hug.
Robert couldn’t stop weeping as he expressed his gratitude to everyone who made his life easier in such a meaningful way. “I love these people up here,” he said. “I love them! And I couldn’t have made it without them. It’s a joy to work here. Pure joy.”
The joy didn’t stop there! After his story aired, his GoFundMe donations really took off. They’ve raised almost $50,000, and they’re still going! “Each morning when we give him an update, he just cries and cries… and so do we,” Elizabeth wrote. “He is so very humble and completely overwhelmed with gratitude.”
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