How much of a gift for School Bus Drivers?

[grlpwrd]

I have a neighbor who bakes pies for the bus drivers for major holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. She gives them when they drop off the kids. I wish I was on her list. lol

I usually give a $20 GC and a card thanking the bus driver on behalf of getting all of our children to school and back home safely. There are major problems in Virginia Beach which seems like there's consistently an accident (sadly) so I really value our drivers. I live a ways from there, but it hits home nonetheless.

We have very safe and conscientious drivers and I want to thank them for it...oh...plus the times that some families are running late and the parents drive to the next stop and they will stop and wait safely for the kids to board.

Money is very tight for us, too, as we have 5 kids, but I really think it's the thought that counts as some years I just give cookies or biscotti or even a little bag of chocolates or candy canes. In fact, 2 years ago my kids made reindeer candy canes.

 

[ElizaB39]

I asked my friend who is a bus driver what she likes to get and she said no matter what amount, even a $5 one, gift cards are the best. Her DH is a teacher and she is a bus driver, so $$ is tight. She said the gift cards are better than anything else.

I plan on getting our drivers $10 gift cards to the local convenience store, everybody goes to WaWa for coffee or gas.

 

[clh2]

Now for middle school, not sure if I would do that or not.....middle schoolers are moody that way....heaven forbid we embarrass them.

Heh - I tell my DD (6th grade, also 1st year in middle school) that it is my job to embarass her least once per day!

 

[gr8ful4Him]

Oh Deb where are you? What were your favorite gifts?

For myself I spend around 3-5 on sale but worth more.

Here I am!
I have appreciated the many different gifts I've gotten over the couple of years I've been driving. I don't think I've gotten any gift cards and that's ok by me. (I definitely wouldn't complain if I did get one though! lol) I've never looked at a gift and thought about what it cost, after all, it really is the thought that counts.
One of my favorite gifts is a handmade Santa Ornament I got last year with the child's name and year on the back of it. When I hung it on the tree this year, it brought a smile with it. It's a gift that "keeps on giving".
Deb

 

[mudnuri]

We do homebaked gifts for these type of things. Usually a little tin with fudge in it, but this year I think it will be more of a combination of cookies/fudge/candies....not quite sure yet, we'll see what i accomplish today!
I do include some candy that is store bought because i know the bus drivers wife is diabetic, and i'd hate for her to feel left out! My girls have the same bus driver I had when I was in elementary school!

Brandy

 

[txgirl]

Just a little gift to say "thanks" and they can throw away when their done...

I loved the idea on another thread about using holiday paper napkins and plates tied up with a bow. They can use them and be done-no clutter! They had cute ones at the dollar store this year.

 

[mickeyfan2]

OP, that sounds good to me.

 

[gr8ful4Him]

OK, just got a gift this morning that is adorable and might interest some of you. It is really cute and simple.
on the top it says "To My Bus Driver" and then has the following poem:

The wheels on the bus go round & round,
The children on the bus make too much sound,
When you need to relax at the end of the day,
Here's something to drink the stress away.

It is a little bag with a candy cane, a couple of gingerbread men and a pack of Hot Apple cider mix.
I personally think it's adorable and thoughtful!

 

[GillieRose]

My daughter has a different bus driver in the morning and afternoon. Both of the drivers gave the kids small gift bags. So Gillian took a box of candy and card to them today. She was so excited to give them to the bus driver.

 

[etwinchester]

OK, just got a gift this morning that is adorable and might interest some of you. It is really cute and simple.
on the top it says "To My Bus Driver" and then has the following poem:

The wheels on the bus go round & round,
The children on the bus make too much sound,
When you need to relax at the end of the day,
Here's something to drink the stress away.

It is a little bag with a candy cane, a couple of gingerbread men and a pack of Hot Apple cider mix.
I personally think it's adorable and thoughtful!

I may use that for my handmade mug and with our hot chocolate packet inside. We made the mugs from construction paper and left the top open to insert the packet.

I also put a warning label that states "DO NOT use mug supplied"

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I just got both of them a box of candy. The one driver my ds had a few years ago. They never give my kids anything. Alot of the other bus drivers give the kids tons of stuff. The bus drivers here get paid pretty well and they want our kids routes because they are the mini vans for the private schools. They dont even give the kids a candy cane or anything. I feel that is good enough.