Hanceville Elementary student raises $200 to buy lunch for classmates

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HANCEVILLE, Ala. – Hanceville Elementary School 2nd grader Aistin Jeffrey (AJ) Gable was recognized for his “charitable spirit” by Mayor Kenneth Nail at the town council Wednesday night. AJ gave $200 to his school’s cafeteria to help classmates pay lunch fees. 

AJ was at the meeting with his parents Jeff and Amy Gable, his principal Tommy Johnson and his 1st-grade teacher Michelle Pender. Amy Gable describes AJ as “not wanting to be the center of attention.” She explained, “AJ came home from school and said ‘do you know some moms and dads forget to put lunch money in their kid's lunch accounts?’" She told her son that sometimes parents have a hard time paying all the bills. 

AJ decided that he could help. He began doing extra chores and selling old toys to earn extra money. He raised $200.

At the meeting, Mayor Nail read a proclamation listing other ways the youngster gives back to his friends and community. AJ is involved in the Campus Clean Up Crew, Hanceville’s Knapsacks for Kids, Bulldog Pantry and Hearts for Homeless. 

The proclamation described AJ as “a 2nd-grader in Monica Brown's class who enjoys writing and illustrating comics, pulling pranks and helping others.” He also has a great sense of humor. He took advantage of his moment with the mayor to ask for “his own day and to be able to skip school that day without getting in trouble.”

Mayor Nail and Principal Johnson joked that AJ could take next week off. “That’s what’s right with our kids,” Nail said.