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When a beloved Texas elementary school crossing guard’s car broke down, a selfless group of dads rallied to raise nearly $7,000 in less than a week to buy her a new one.
Moss Haven Elementary School crossing guard Trecia Crawford had trouble getting to work after her car stopped running in October. She was forced to start commuting to work by Lyft, and later by bus when she “ran out of money.”
Despite her woes, Crawford carried on with a smile.
“I had to do what I had to do,” she told KTVT.
Not everyone knew about Crawford’s transportation troubles.
So when the Dallas-area school’s dads club found out, they quietly launched a campaign to buy her new wheels — and raised $6,800 in less than a week, according to a blog post by the Richardson Independent School District.
The dads club, whose members endeavor to “better the students and the teachers’ environments,” work closely with Crawford “to make sure everything’s running smoothly” in the mornings, parent Luke Wagner explained to the outlet.
The school community relies on the crossing guard for steady mornings and dismissals.
She’s typically found ushering the students and their parents across the bustling streets while greeting everyone she knows by their first name, the KTVT reported.
“Sometimes I have to tell them, you don’t run in the crosswalk. And they know what Ms. Crawford says. ‘Safety is first,’” Crawford said.
Ultimately it took a few months for the dads to collect enough to purchase a car for her.
Marcus Waither, hailed as the club’s “driving force,” and member Adam Tharp spearheaded the fundraiser.
Tharp, as the general manager of a local auto repair shop, was able to sell a white Jeep “at a significant discount” and promised a few free oil changes to boot. The leftover funds were used to cover Crawford’s car insurance, the blog said.
Seven dads with the club were finally able to gift the spick-and-span car to Crawford this month.
In a photo, the philanthropic group beamed beside Crawford, who was wiping away tears as she thanked them.
This isn’t the first time the men stepped in to support their favorite crossing guard.
In May 2023, Crawford’s car was totaled in an accident, and she suffered minor injuries. The club organized a GoFundMe “to support her financially during this hardship” — which doubled “as a year-end gift.”
“She has faithfully helped care for our children, so now let’s help care for her!” the club wrote.
That fundraiser generated nearly $5,000.
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