Gainesville boy treated to special day as part of ‘Walmart Heart’ program
Corbyn Treat was made a Walmart Heart honorary truck driver during a special event held in his honor June 1 in West Plains.
Corbyn Treat, 8, stands with his uncle Levi Treat (third from left) and other truckers and emergency responders who were involved with his special day June 1 at the West Plains Walmart. Pictured, from left, are: Walmart drivers/employees Gene Day, David Tabor, Levi Treat (with Corbyn) and David Manche; MSHP Trooper D. Nash; West Plains Fire Department Engineer Alex Brooks; Howell County Sheriff’s Deputy Koleman McDaniel, Deputy First Class John Thomas and Deputy First Class Adriel Lisboa; and driver Mike Wilson.
Corbyn Treat, 8, of Gainesville, and his family were honored by these Walmart employees June 1 as part of the Walmart Heart program. Corbyn was nominated for the program by his uncle, Levi Treat, also of Gainesville, who is employed as a Walmart truck driver out of the St. James location. Corbyn is the son of Shane and Amanda Treat and is a student at Gainesville Elementary.
Corbyn Treat rode in the front passenger’s seat of this semi, driven by his uncle Levi Treat, with a parade of emergency vehicles and other Walmart semi trucks in front and behind him as part of an escort to a special event held in his honor June 1 at the West Plains Walmart.
Eight-year-old Corbyn Treat, son of Shane and Amanda Treat of Gainesville, had quite the special day June 1, thanks to his nomination as an honorary member of the Walmart Heart program, an effort to recognize and celebrate children with special needs, terminal illness or life-altering experiences.
Corbyn, who was diagnosed with autism when he was 2 years old, was nominated by his uncle, Gainesville resident Levi Treat, who is a driver for Walmart Transportation in St. James, Missouri.
A day for Corbyn
The big event started with Corbyn meeting several area police officers, firemen, state troopers and Walmart truck drivers. The emergency responders and truckers then hopped in their vehicles for a convoy ride through West Plains, led by Ozark County’s own MSHP Trooper Dakota Nash, and featuring other police vehicles, semis and fire trucks. After driving through town, the convoy pulled in to the West Plains Walmart with lights and sirens blaring, letting the large group of waiting friends, family and Walmart employees know that the special guest was on his way.
Corbyn arrived riding in the front passenger’s seat of a semi truck driven by his uncle Levi, donning a pair of cool blue sunglasses, Walmart hat and a collared truck driver shirt, embroidered with his name and clipped with special name tag designating him as a Walmart Heart honorary driver. His photo was displayed on the cab of the semi, and the truck was pulling the official Walmart Heart trailer.
Levi, Corbyn and Corbyn’s dad Shane exited the truck and were welcomed by West Plains Walmart manager, who handed Corbyn a large cardboard heart bearing a key to the Walmart store. “He said it was actually the very first ever key to the West Plains Walmart,” Amanda, Corbyn’s mom told the Times.
After the grand entrance, Corbyn was escorted into the Walmart store where employees had set up balloons and tables that held two large cakes decorated with Corbyn’s photo and a photo of the Walmart Heart truck and trailer. They also had pizza and Corbyn’s favorite yogurt and crackers ready for the group.
The Walmart staff gifted Corbyn a new bike and let him ride it through the store. To top off the excitement, he was led on a shopping spree that was gifted to him by the Walmart truck drivers from St. James.
“It was an amazing experience. They went above and beyond to make Corbyn feel extra special,” his mom told the Times. “Even though Corbyn does not show his expression very well, we, as his mom and dad, could see the excitement and happiness this day gave him. We cannot thank everyone enough for all their generosity and compassion.”
The Walmart Heart program
A Walmart driver told the group that the Walmart Heart program was first organized in 2006 by a group of Walmart truck drivers who had come together to brainstorm ways to give back to their community.
“It actually started with a young man named Jack Scott from Palestine, Texas, who was diagnosed with a disease that required a lot of testing. One test required him to stay awake for 24 hours prior to the test. She went to a Walmart store overnight to try and help him stay awake, because it was the only location in that area that was open 24 hours. While she was there, a [Walmart truck] driver was also there and saw Aunt Penny and Jack walking around the store. She went up and asked what was going on,” he said.
That’s when the aunt explained about the testing requirements, and how she’d hoped being at the store would help the boy stay awake.
“[The driver] got with another driver, along with the people at the Walmart store, and they helped transport Jack to his testing the next day - seeing a need and opportunity where drivers and associates could actually help some of these children in need in the community in a good way.”
Then, during the meeting in 2006 when drivers were brainstorming ways to give back to the community, the story of Little Jack was shared by drivers Rickey Oliver, Phillip Hargrove, Danny Ewell and Greg Carter. They told the driver group at the meeting that they thought they should replicate the way the drivers helped Little Jack with other sick and special needs children around the country.
According to a news article in Trucker News, the four truckers who pitched the idea divided up the country into territories and started visiting distribution centers to recruit drivers to participate in the program.
When it started, there were about 300 drivers who were participating. Drivers can come and go in the program as they wish, participating at their leisure. It’s unknown how many drivers have participated since the program launched, but it’s estimated that thousands of truckers are now participating.
Nominate a child
Nominations for children to be honored as part of the Walmart Heart program can be made to David Manche by calling 573-513-3022 or made to the manager of any local Walmart, who will then relay the nomination to the Walmart Heart program.
Manche told the Times that the program is open for those age 17 and younger who are terminally ill, have special needs or have had a life-altering experience such as being involved in a serious or traumatic car crash or other incident.