Trucker Buddy News

The gift of giving

For Trucker Buddy Brenda Meacham, the best birthday present of all is the gift of giving. In 2006, she surprised her class with bicycles on March 24, her birthday. In 2007, Meacham gave her class laptops. Not a woman of means, this feisty truck driver knows how to reach out to family, friends and employers, seeking their assistance with fulfilling dreams and needs for children. “I am just the cheerleader,” she said modestly of her endeavors.
     Indeed, this is an inspiring story of a modern-day tale of Aladdin. When a student in her 2005-06 Latham Elementary Trucker Buddy class wished for all people to have a house to live in, this genie in Trucker Buddy disguise raised money in his honor for Habitat for Humanity. Other Trucker Buddies, family and friends, co-workers and even people Meacham barely knew contributed money for Habitat for Humanity, as well as to the school supplies fund. Bob Mazurek, owner of Carolina Southern, donated the money for the rest of the students’ wishes.
     In recognition of her efforts as a Trucker Buddy and an ambassador for the trucking industry, Meacham was named Trucker Buddy Driver of the Month for April. She has been nominated twice by her teachers at the Winston-Salem, NC school. In 2006, second-grade teacher Lillian Wilson wrote a glowing recommendation, “She has been very involved. Brenda is just an all-around nice person. We love her here at Latham Elementary.”
     Earlier this year, her current teacher, Ms. Jenkins, nominated her again on behalf of her fifth graders. This class of 35 worked hard on projects through the Trucker Buddy pen-pal program, said Meacham, explaining that they had to write essays about making America better. As a reward, Meacham again championed the cause, and she and Carolina Southern made the laptops possible.
     Each Trucker Buddy Driver of the Month receives a personalized jacket, along with a check for $300 to spend on the class and $200 in Trucker Buddy merchandise, compliments of program sponsor ACS MultiMedia Advertising. Meacham is among some 3,500 other professional drivers who share their time with elementary classes throughout the world. The only criteria to be a Trucker Buddy is to be a professional truck driver willing to send a postcard each week to a class in grades two through eight. Drivers can find out more about the program by visiting www.truckerbuddy.org or calling 1-800-MY-BUDDY.

Photo caption:

Trucker Buddy Brenda Meacham visits the fifth grade students she corresponds with at Latham Elementary.