Henderson's Amazon gift benefits Kindness Fund

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Nate Henderson is a driver for Amazon. 

Because of his employment with the company, families in the Wayne Community Schools will be helped in time of need.

Henderson is self-contracted and works through Lazy Acres in Wakefield. He delivers packages within a 10 mile radius of Wakefield on a daily basis.

He said that late last year the company offered a promotion entitled "Alexa, thank my driver" which customers could thank drivers for delivering packages,

"The first one million drivers who received thank yous earned $5 and the top five drivers each got $10,000 for themselves and $10,000 to donate to a non-profit in their community," Henderson said.

After not hearing anything for some time, Henderson learned he was the top driver in the competition.

After Henderson found out he was one of the recipients of the $10,000, he and his wife, Andrea, began the process of deciding which organization would benefit from the winnings.

The couple found out about the Kindness Fund at Wayne Community Schools and said it was "exactly what we wanted to give to."

"It took some time to work through the process and finally, in early April, the check came and we are able to help those in need," Nate said.

The Kindness Fund at Wayne Community Schools has been in existence for nearly 10 years.

According to Special Education Director Misty Beair, who helps coordinate the distribution of the funds, "the Kindness Fund is designed to help kids and their families with needs that can't be met through other avenues. We try to help with things that would impact the education of these students."

Beair shared several instances of how the Kindness Fund has assisted students, including providing for dental work and surgical expenses, to providing holiday meals.

"The Kindness Fund is so private - no one knows who is receiving assistance. There are ways to help the kids who need it and people in the community have been extremely generous in supporting it," Beair said.

Wayne Community Schools Foundation Director Rusty Parker said of the donation from the Hendersons, "The Wayne Community Schools foundation is very grateful for this donation and thank them for thinking of the Kindness Fund with this money."