This is our first letter from participants in one of the programs for kids. I'm sure it will touch your heart as it has mine. Thank-you Lynne and Larry for your contribution it goes a long ways to showing the world that truckers are people who care. I invite any who are involved in programs with kids to write and I will do my best to post your letters here. It is our hope that through the reading of the experiences of others in our profession and the lives they touch that many more will join them in supporting these organizations in thought and deed. Please read on about the experiences of Lynne and Larry and the organization they are members of.

My husband and I have been Trucker Buddies for 4 years. We have always dealt with special needs kids because it is very close to both our hearts. The first two schools we had were one in Canada and one in the States.

The Canadian school was in Kitamat BC. The kids there were in Grade 3. The kids sent us many beautiful pictures most of the class did not know how to write but the pictures told us more than words could ever do. We never got a chance to go and see the kids but we always wished that we had. To meet and put names and faces to the pictures we had received would have been great.

The States side school was in Dalton Ga. This school was for Phyically, Mentally and Emotionally challenge students. With this school we started out with one class and ended up with the whole school, which totaled 55 students. We had a chance a few times to go and see the school and the looks on all their faces when we pulled into the school was great, the amazed awe when they saw the truck for the first time touches your heart in ways you can’t explain. With these kids because we got to spend time with them we both had special kids that we got close to. With my husband it was a mentally challenge boy. He was 18 and in grade 6.They made a connection and every time we were there this boy was there helping my husband to show all the other kids around the truck and trailer. With me it was a little boy who had just come to the school, he was emotionally challenge. When he came to the school through Childs Services they had no idea what had happened to him but he did not speak or participate with the classroom. There were only 2 people that he would have anything to do with, that were his granny and his teacher. The first time we came to the school I went over and asked him if he wanted to come and see the truck. He didn’t answer me or even look at me. When we left I made a point of going over and saying bye to him, at that point he looked at me. The next time we went to the school, I went over and asked him again if he wanted to see the truck he looked at me and shook his head. Again when we left I said bye but this time I told him we would be back as we were going down to Miami and would be back through in a few days. The third time we got there he was one of the first kids to come outside and when I asked him if he wanted to see the truck he nodded. I took his hand and showed him the truck when I took him back to his teacher he said “thank you” to me. Those two words sounded better to me than someone telling me I won a million dollars.

This year we have two schools in the States one is in Chippewa, Wi and the other is in Oceano, Ca.We have not had a chance to see either class yet but we are hoping to soon. We write all the time and talk to the classes on the phone. I had to come out of the truck on sick leave since just before Christmas and we haven’t stop writing to each other. The kids send us pictures and letters all the time. At Christmas the Oceano school sent us homemade Christmas ornaments with their pictures in them and the Chippewa Falls School sent me get wells cards with their pictures in them. We have talked and written to these kids so much that I don’t even have to look for the name now I know whom the letter is from just from the tone of the letter. I find myself looking forward to getting something in the mail from the kids. It really makes you smile even on the worst day when you get one of these letters. It is very hard to explain in words how good these letters can make you feel, but there is one this I can tell you I will always feel blessed for being part of Trucker Buddies.

e-mail Lynne and Larry at mommatrucker24@excite.com or click here