In Omaha, a Zum driver takes care of the kids on her bus as if they were her own
The students on Kimberly Booth’s bus are always happy to see her — but on a recent Friday afternoon, they had an extra-special ride home.
“Today is pizza day, so they’re excited,” Booth says. “I love my kiddos.”
Booth, a Zum driver for Omaha Public Schools, is known for her kind, generous spirit. At least once a month, she buys several pizzas out of her own pocket for the elementary and high school students who ride her bus. It makes them happy, and she enjoys knowing that she can play a positive role in their lives.
“You never know what some of them are going through at home—they may not even get a decent meal. So I try to give them something,” Booth says.
Two years ago, Booth’s youngest child, J’Trell, passed away after receiving a heart transplant. Today, most things she does are a way to honor him, from becoming a bus driver (J’Trell had talked about getting his CDL) to helping her community in every way she can.
“When I’m not working, to be honest …” Booth pauses. “I spend a lot of time at the cemetery. My son was a sweet, gentle kid. After he passed away, I made it my mission to feed the homeless. Sometimes my daughter, son and I will just go by the homeless shelter with a whole bunch of food, set up tables, and give them a full-course meal.”
Booth loves to cook and even brings homemade meals to her co-workers at the Zum bus yard.
“I cook!” she says, laughing. “I’ll get beef chuck rolls, put some carrots, onion, celery, potatoes in there. I’ve made green beans with smoked turkey, chicken alfredo, tacos …”
“Kim is a tremendous asset to our team and work family,” says Gary Driskill, Senior Location Manager – Nebraska at Zum. “The effort and care she puts into every day epitomizes Zum’s core values. She comes to work daily with a contagious smile and attitude and sets the bar of what it is to make a difference at work, for her co-workers and for the kids we safely transport. She is amazing!”
Recently, Booth was promoted to being a Pre-Trip Trainer, where she checks buses before they head out on their routes. More than anything, she says she enjoys being around people, whether it’s students or co-workers or neighbors in need.
“I love communicating with people, period,” Booth says. “To talk to different people, to get to know different cultures … It’s just nothing short of amazing to me. And I love the conversations me and my kids have. They treat me like I’m not only their bus driver, but somebody special and important to them. They confide in me about a lot of things.”
In a few weeks, kids on Booth’s bus will receive special Halloween baskets. Before the seniors on her bus graduated from high school this year, she treated them to Subway sandwiches.
“One of my students told me, ‘I can have a bad day at school and be struggling all day, but the highlight is knowing that you’re gonna be there at the end, and you got something for us to snack on.’ When he said that, that kind of brought tears to my eyes.”
She adds, “I just treat them like I would treat my own kids.”