It's not unusual for parents to reach out asking for their bus driver's contact information—usually around the holidays or end of the school year when families want to show their appreciation. But this week was different.

 

Several students who ride Saugatuck Bus 2 decided their driver deserved something extra special. So they did what kids do best—they took action. Setting up a lemonade stand in their neighborhood, these young entrepreneurs worked to raise money for an end-of-year appreciation gift for their bus driver.

 

A few days later, students met with their driver to present their thoughtfully chosen gift. The scene was filled with genuine smiles and celebratory fist bumps all around. The students shared how much they love their driver, explaining that he starts and ends every day with a smile. They told stories of him singing "Happy Birthday" to riders on their special days and how he knows each student by name—small gestures that clearly mean the world to these kids.

 

For Ken, this was his first year driving a bus for Westport, and the students' gesture left him deeply moved. After the presentation, he shared how touched he was by their thoughtfulness and how truly welcomed he feels by our community.

 

As one parent put it, "Our kids really are great in this town!" We'd like to add that our drivers are pretty awesome too. It's moments like these that remind us how special it is when kindness flows both ways—when a caring driver's daily acts of warmth inspire students to give back in their own meaningful way.

 

Here's to Ken and all our bus drivers who do so much more than safely transport our children. And here's to the students who remind us that appreciation, no matter how it's expressed, always makes a difference.