Trucker Buddy News

Trucker Buddy news

Driver, wife come through for inner-city kids

When Scott Sexton delivered Trucker Buddy logbooks to the fourth-grade students in the inner-city classroom with which he was matched, it was just the beginning of an educational experience the students would never forget. Trucker Buddy is an educational program that
is driven by professional drivers who volunteer their time to supplement elementary schoolchildren’s education in geography, mathematics and other subjects through a pen-pal relationship. Many times, however, Trucker Buddies also teach their students life lessons.
     Sexton is a special Trucker Buddy who goes above and beyond the requirements of the program. To recognize the efforts of Sexton and his wife, Lisa, he was named the ACS MultiMedia Trucker Buddy Driver of the Month for March 2007. Sexton is an owner-operator leased to 2nd Chance Transport of Piedmont, SC.
     When Sexton arrived for his class visit in Pennsylvania last October, some of the children didn’t have coats to wear to ward off the cold. This troubled him, so he called his wife, who started seeking donations from family, friends and businesses in Greenville, SC where the couple lives. 
     In early December, Scott and Lisa drove their own truck and a rented U-Haul up to Pennsylvania filled with clothing, school supplies, playground equipment, water and an assortment of other items. “Because he is ‘our’ Trucker Buddy, my class got the first pick of things,” remembered teacher Peggy Columbus, “but there was enough for every teacher in the building to come and take supplies they needed.”
     “I would like to nominate Scott, because he came to our school and saw a lot of kids who don’t have much clothing and drove home and told his wife. She got on the phone, called friends and family, and they donated lots of things like clothes,” said student Elyjah.
     “I think that Scott should be Trucker Buddy of the Month because last month he came on his own time and gave my school stuff we needed,” added student Vanessa. “I’d also like to thank him for the lesson of his truck.”
     The teachers were so grateful, they took up a collection to help with the couple’s out-of-pocket expenses. “I’ve since learned that in-stead of using that money to cover their costs, they are using it to buy things for their trip back to us in the spring,” Columbus related.

Photo caption:
Scott Sexton with his wife, Lisa.