Firefighters Come From California to Bring Gifts to Children After Texas Bus Crash

After a Texas school bus crashed and rolled over on Aug. 13, the San Francisco Firefighters Local 798 team decided to help the kids heal by paying them a visit. The firefighters brought gifts to the 42 kids and their friends, all the way from California.

A Community Already Suffering From Tragedy

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The bus had crashed due to a curve along a nameless road in the Sandy Creek area near Austin, Texas. Sandy Creek is already recovering from the aftermath of the July floods that took several lives and destroyed properties.

The driver, along with 17 of the 42 students he was transporting, suffered injuries from the bus accident.

"This part of our Leander ISD family has been through so much already this summer with the floods. This tragedy this afternoon is really breaking our hearts," Superintendent Bruce Gearing said at the time. "We want each of the students and their families to know that our prayers are with them, our thoughts are with them, and we will do everything that we can in our power to support them."

California Firefighters Bring Gifts

The California firefighters drove their U-Haul full of donated toys and school supplies for a day and a half to reach the children.

"I used to, I loved to go in the bus and then like all my friends were telling me the first day of school how they would flip the bus and we were like all scared, shaking," said one boy, Jesus Diaz.

These gifts acknowledge what the children went through and show them that they have widespread support.

"I mean, the kids were shaking, and I heard one little girl, the parents told me it was her first day of kindergarten, and she came out and she just said she didn't want to ride on the bus anymore," said Dwight Bailey, executive director of the Austin Disaster Relief Network.

It Takes a Village to Heal

"It just made it all more important to bring back the relevance of what happened here," said Michael Guajardo, Director of the San Francisco Firefighters Local 798. "As much as it is important to get the roads, and the schools, and the buildings back together, let's not forget that the children are going through this at the same time."

What a wonderful way to help this community heal from the accident. Their families are grateful, and video footage shows some very happy children opening their new gifts!

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h/t: CBS Austin

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Michaela Gordoni is an avid reader and part-time globe-trotter. With a bachelor's degree in International Relations and experience in the non-profit world, she has a passion for people and reporting. You can check out her portfolio here.