Caden Filler rides the bus every morning to the Keller Center for Advanced Learning, and every Monday and Friday, he's greeted by bus driver Gail McDaniel, affectionately called "Ms. Gail."
Filler and McDaniel grew close over the year and through their conversations, he learned that she was trying to become healthier and was saving money for a bike. Filler tells NBC DFW he wanted to repay the kindness Ms. Gail showed the entire year, and "ensure that she knows the kids on the bus also care about her."
So Filler started collecting donations from fellow students and people all over the world to raise funds for a bike. He initially sought $600, and ended up collecting $800. He said, "This extra support overwhelmed me, and I realized how many people in the world are willing to help if they just receive a cause. Thanks to all their support, I was able to get a bike, helmet, water bottle and a gift card for shoes. All of these people helped and trusted me to serve a bus driver who always serves others.
A couple of weeks ago, Filler surprised Ms. Gail with her new bike. Filler said, "She covered her face in amazement and struggled to get the bus to stop. She opened the bus doors and repeatedly yelled, 'is this for me? Is this mine?' before getting off the bus. She ran up and hugged me, then my parents, while constantly thanking God, then immediately took her new wheels for a spin. Every person she saw she would call out to in pure joy, still not fully believing she had received a bike."
Filler says this was a reminder for him to never underestimate the power that small acts of kindness have.
