‘I do what I can for those who need help’: Meet a Zum attendant who devotes her life to helping others

Lori Gafford has lived all over the world and had several different jobs, but they have one thing in common: They all involve helping people.

“I try to make sure I do what I can for those who need help,” says Gafford, a Zūm school bus attendant in San Bernardino, CA. “I guess, as my mom would say, I have a very big heart.”

Gafford, 62, spent 17 years in the military and served overseas for seven years before returning to the States. After working jobs including security for film and TV studios (“I’ve been around lots of VIPs and politicians”), she found she enjoyed helping students. For the last 18 years, Gafford has worked as an attendant, ensuring all children have a safe bus ride to and from school. 

“I just love being around the kids,” she says. 

Each weekday after her morning shift at Zum, Gafford volunteers as a counselor at the Department of Rehabilitation. (Gafford recently earned her master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling — an achievement that took her 13 years to complete while working multiple jobs.)

“We have clients who are going through cancer, mental health issues, substance abuse issues,” she says. “People’s mental health is important to me because there’s so much that’s going on.”

Later, Gafford returns for her afternoon shift at Zum, where she often calls upon her counseling skills.

“I can tell if a kid has something that’s going on with them,” she says. “When my students are not having a good day, I’ll sit and talk to them. And even when they do have a good day, I’ll still talk to them about different things. If you just take your time and talk to these kids, you know what they’re going through.”

“Ms. Gafford often underplays how much of a positive impact she has on our students, her coworkers and our staff,” says Eric Huegerich, Senior General Manager at Zum. “Her experience, insights, feedback, and caring demeanor have had an impact at every level of our San Bernardino City School District community.”

On the weekends, Gafford enjoys spending time with her mother and sister and working with her church’s food distribution program. At home, she makes paratrooper bracelets for different charitable organizations. (She makes Alzheimer’s awareness bracelets in honor of her father, who passed away from the disease.)

“Even if I’m down or if I don’t have the funds, I will find the funds to help someone,” she says. 

Gafford says it brings her joy to work with students and be part of their daily lives.

“I have students who I’m the first person they see in the morning. For some, we’re the last ones they see at night, too,” she says. “I just try to make sure they’re OK. … I have to say I’m blessed.”