Wayne Price didn’t start as a bus driver for Montevallo, Alabama schools.
He works full-time in youth ministry.
But his friend, who used to be a principal, convinced him that it would be a good idea to help him be a part of the larger community.
“I was just amazed at how quick I fell in love with the kids,” Price told ABC News 3340. “I work with teenagers and college-aged students for most of time dealing with youth ministry, but God developed a love in me for all the ages.”
Price says that his job still affords him a way to reach the youth, even though it doesn’t take place in a religious setting.
“You do not have long to talk to them on the bus, but you have a lot of time to influence them,” Price said. “It is amazing what a kind word, just a smile can do. You get to set the example when they have struggles and frustrations of responding differently than what the world tends to train people to respond.”
One December morning, he also got the chance to show the children who ride his bus that there are people in the world who love and care for them.
People that aren’t related to them, but live in their community.
Price got a call early one morning advising him that school would start 2 hours later because of the icy and foggy weather conditions.
While most people who attend or work in schools celebrate those extra hours to sleep or relax, it immediately worried Price.
“For a lot of students that means that they won’t get to eat,” Allison Campbell, Principal of Montevello Elementary, told TODAY. “It speaks volumes to [Price’s] character that he was attune to that.”
About 75 percent of children in the 2018-2019 school year at Montevallo Elementary School participated in the National School Lunch Program, which offers students from low-income families free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch.
Price knew that having an empty stomach was no way to start the day. He wanted to make sure the students had full bellies before class began.
So, he stopped to buy breakfast sandwiches for every student on his bus.
Price spent about 50 bucks on 50 biscuit sandwiches for the kids. He said his students couldn’t have been more appreciative.
“I got some sweet kids and I get really attached to them … they were really appreciative. I dunno. I just love my kids. I got lots of fist pumps, lots of high-fives, lots of ‘Love you Mr. Price,’ lots of ‘Thank you Mr. Price,'” Price said.
Some of the students asked if he was rich.
Financially, Price isn’t.
And Price says his act of kindness wasn’t done just because it was the holiday season. He just saw it as him taking his family for a bite to eat.
“When it came down to the financial side, it was just second nature. I really did not think about it. I thought, ‘Hey this would be neat. I bet they will like this,'” Price said. “I’m driven by faith and Christ.”
Learn more about Price’s act of kindness in the video below.
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