Chris Jackson, a custodial worker at a Georgia elementary school, was shocked when he saw what his colleagues had bought him: his dream car. A now-viral video of the scene, found here, captured his heartwarming reaction to the kind gesture.
Jackson was struggling financially and faced difficulty commuting to work each day. He was forced to either rely on an unreliable bus route or commit to an hour-long walk.
The heartwarming tale comes as schools nationwide grapple with the uncertainty of returning to campus amid the nationwide surge of Delta cases. In Georgia, cases have specifically ramped up among school-age children.
As of Friday, more than one out of every 100 school-aged children in the state had been diagnosed with COVID-19 over the past two weeks, and those aged 5-17 were overall more likely to have been infected with the virus than adults. Additionally, over 60,000 students have been affected by school closures.
Jackson's story offers a bright spot amid a difficult period for schools around the region. When teachers at Henry County Unity Grove Elementary School saw the beloved custodial worker needed help, they did not hesitate to intervene.
A video of the big reveal, posted to the elementary school's Facebook page, has gone viral, racking up 1.6 million views. In the clip, Jackson appears stunned as he is brought to the car and handed its keys. Eventually, he looks up at the sky, pumps his arms, and breaks into a massive smile.
"We love you, Chris," say his coworkers off-screen.
"I never would've dreamed of something like this," said Jackson. "This is mind-blowing to me."
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Up until then, Jackson's commute to work had been difficult—but he always rose to the challenge.
"We had buses, transportation, but I was quicker than the bus. It would add an hour, hour 45. And I was only an hour from my job. So for me, there's no stopping me," explained Jackson to 11Alive News.
"But I didn't quit," he added. "I didn't run away. I just stay. I put my pride aside. I just come to work, smile, be me."
As head of the school's "Sunshine Committee," Special Education Teacher Jodi Combs spearheaded the purchase of the community-funded gift. The committee consists of a "group of staff members ... who help celebrate the good things that happen with staff members ... and also help out when things are not so great."
After the committee learned that Jackson had "fallen on some hard times" earlier this summer, they decided to reach out. Explained Combs to Newsweek: "Through a conservation with him we realized ... he was without transportation to work. We knew he had some money saved up to buy a vehicle but nothing ever panned out."
When another Unity Grove teacher eventually saw a 2005 Chevy Impala for sale on Facebook, the committee jumped into action. Combs and the community raised the remaining funds needed to buy the car "in less than a few hours."
Coincidentally, the Impala was Jackson's dream car—a fact the teachers weren't aware of at the time, but which made the gift that much more special.
"His reaction was priceless and not one I will ever forget," Combs told Newsweek. "He is so genuine and truly cares for others and puts his heart into everything he does."
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
