LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Larry Darnell Farrish Jr. drives Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) Bus 1311 and he's now gained national fame for his heartwarming act of kindness.
Before he took WHAS11 for a drive around the block at his home bus compound, on Friday, Farrish took a quick look around his yellow ship, inspecting every detail.
"I hope my bus isn't too messy. The kids didn't tear it up, did they?" he wondered aloud, but even after a full morning driving kids to school, the rows of seats were impeccable.
At the helm of his ship, Larry is watchful.
"They can't see me in the mirror," he explained, "but I can see everyone."
He's stern too. All it takes is a tap on the console above the driver's seat—and the bus is in order.
"They'll look and I'll be like, 'sit down,'" he said, laughing.
But it's all to keep the kids aboard safe. They're why he loves the job.
So when bus rider Levi had no pajamas for 'Pajama Day,' Farrish made a special delivery.
"When I seen that, it made me sad," Larry remembered. "Knowing that I helped, I was right back to happy. I was right back to it. And he was right back to it. And so he was the Levi I was always seeing every morning."
The heartwarming story has taken the pair to unexpected places, like New York, where Levi ate his first slice of NYC-style pizza.
Back home, Amanda Mills with community-support group South End Street Angels raised money for the trip—and more. Over $2,000 was donated to help Levi's family and give his siblings a shopping spree on Saturday.
"We were able to able to purchase a new portable wash machine, which is the reason why Levi didn't have pajamas that day, for the mom," she said. "And we will be able to purchase a toy or item of their choice and provide them with a meal. And then, one of my favorite things to do is, when we leave, we're gonna stock their house with groceries."
Even with the support and attention, Larry's humble about the exposure.
"I want to give recognition to all my bus drivers," he said. "All the staff that actually do what I have done that hasn't been recognized. I just want them to know, we see you, we're here, and we're together in this."
Together in making a little differences that go a long way.
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