Jim has been the Trucker Buddy of Ms. Marilyn Slaters 3rd grade
class at Jesse Keen Elementary School in Lakeland, Florida for
over two years. Jim drives for Gene Hyde out of Lakeland, Florida
and has been with them since 2003.

This past year Slim Jim as he is known to his class constantly went
out of his way to help the students in Ms Slaters class. For their Fall
Festival Jim got donations to pay for everyones admission and to
give the children extra spending money to buy treats while at the
festival.

Not only did he correspond frequently all year, but he also visited the school as often as he could, making sure each child could actually touch his truck and get their pictures taken while standing in front of it.

Some of the comments from the students about Slim Jim include, He is the best of all the other truckers, and I wish to be like Slim Jim when I grow up, I would like Slim Jim to be nominated because he is the best Trucker Buddy I have ever had. He is nice to me and he lets us look in his truck. He gives us Slim Jims every time he comes over to my school and he is a very hard working man. That is why I think Slim Jim should be nominated.

In reading the letters from the students the compassionate caring nature of Jim Crofut is comes through clearing in between the lines as well as in the words.