At Belle Morris Elementary, a staff member recalls the story of a Kindergarten student who utilized the Walking School Bus last year. The student’s mother worked long hours, and he was supposed to go to a nanny’s house after school. Unfortunately, he had no way to get there! The nanny couldn’t pick him up, and there were no other neighbors or family members that could help out. That’s when the Walking School Bus program came in.
The Walking School Bus is a program that provides an alternate way for children to get home from school if they have no transportation. With two adult chaperones from the school that volunteer to walk the route with the kids, students are provided a safe route home each day. Best of all, the students get ample exercise every day- keeping them healthy and happy.
The Kindergarten student joined the Walking School Bus and not only was he given a safe, healthy way to get home, but he connected with other students on the “bus” and made lots of new friends.
United Way of Greater Knoxville is proud to support a program that not only gives children a safe and sociable way to get home, but also gives them the opportunity to get exercise and stay healthy while doing so. Change doesn’t happen alone. To live better, we must LIVE UNITED.