When significant winter weather strikes in the South, everything seems to shut down. The slightest amount of snowfall or freezing rain throws everyone off course.
When a December snowstorm swept through Alabama, school officials snapped into action. They issued a late start for school because of the ice, but one man knew that move could be detrimental for students.
Wayne Price has driven students to and from school since 2013. He has developed a bond with his passengers and loves his job as their bus driver.
He knew that many of the students in Montevallo rely on the National School Lunch Program and they would miss out on an important breakfast because of the ice storm. So Wayne took action.
Braving the roads himself, Wayne popped into a local McDonald’s and bought biscuits for every student who would be boarding his bus that morning for the late start. He shared with ABC 33 that it was approximately 50 sandwiches.
“One of the kids said, ‘Oh, Mr. Price, you must be rich.’ I am not rich. I am in full-time ministry . but you sit there and think about it, you take your family out to dinner, and you can drop $50 going out to dinner, and it was nothing more than taking my family out to dinner. 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.”
Wayne told Today that as the students stepped onto the bus, he told the kids their breakfast options. They were dumbfounded.
“When the kids got on I said, ‘So, what do ya want? Sausage? McMuffin?’ . 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.'”
The students truly couldn’t believe what Wayne did for them. Fifth grader Elizabeth Lopez told ABC 33 she couldn’t believe what Mr. Price did for them.
“I did not think he was going to do it. I am really thankful for having him as a bus driver, and he feels like a dad to me.”
Montevallo Elementary School shared on its Facebook page that Wayne “truly demonstrates the spirit of Christmas.” He filled a void that had been created by the weather and didn’t think twice about doing it.
“What a kind act that our students will forever remember! Thank you, Mr. Price, for making a lasting impact in the lives of our students!”
How incredibly sweet and compassionate this man was for making sure students’ were prepared for the start of the school day with a warm breakfast on such a cold and stormy day!
