Janitor Who Walks Miles To Work Falls To His Knees When Coworkers Raise $7,000 For His New Car

Jun 26, 2020 by apost team

Robert Reed, 60, is a janitor at Farmington Elementary in Germantown, Tennessee. His sunny disposition and willingness to help people made him a staff favorite in the school less than a year after he started the job.

Many at the school, however, noticed that Reed lacked a car to get him around, something which often meant getting to work could be challenging. That's when people at the school decided to take matters into their own hands by raising money to help him buy a truck.

Life is no picnic when you have to take three buses to get to work, walk miles, and do the physical labor involved with cleaning an entire school. This was what Robert did every day of the week. When his workday was over, he had to get on three buses again and walk an additional 2 miles to get back home.

“Let’s say I get off at 3 o’clock,” Reed told WMC-TV. “I would get home around 7 because I stay at Millbranch and Winchester.”

Because Robert was so well-liked, co-workers would drive him to the stop where he caught the bus. 

“I have to catch three buses and walk about two miles. All the teachers have taken me to the bus stop. They even gave me money when I didn’t have any. I’m telling you, Farmington is a family here,” he told WMC-TV.

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Elizabeth Malone, a teacher at Farmington Elementary, decided she wanted to do more for Reed; so she started a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds to buy him a truck.

"His manager says he LOOKS for jobs to do around the school, after he has completed his daily tasks,” reads the description for the fundraiser. “Every day he goes above and beyond taking care of the needs in our facility.”

In less than 24 hours since it had gone online, the fundraiser reached $7,000–and people kept giving. On February 19, the staff approached Reed and told him of their plan, to which he fell to his knees in disbelief. The 60-year-old teared up as Malone explained they were raising money to buy him a truck. 

“His work ethic is unbelievable, and we just want our kids to pick up on that,” Malone told WMC-TV. “Not only to have a good work ethic, but also if you see someone that has a need that it’s important for you to — if you can, give — that it’s important for you to do that.”

The fundraiser is now close to $50,000 at the time of writing–that's five times the amount Malone sought out to raise. In May, Reed got the truck of his dreams: a 2019 Chevy Silverado 1500 in red–his favorite color. Now, he's running his very own lawn business on the side, with many local businesses coming together to offer him the equipment he needs. 

“I love these people up here,” Reed told WMC-TV of his colleagues at the school. “I love them! And I couldn’t have made it without them. It’s a joy to work here. Pure joy.”

What did you think of this heartwarming story? How would you react if you found out your co-workers came together to help you in such a way? Let us know in the comments and make sure you pass this along to your friends and family!