Nearly $10,000 has been raised for a former Long Island bus driver who lost her job after being caught driving students while drinking White Claw.
As previously reported, 60-year-old Amal Hanna - who had been a school bus driver for the past 15 years - was let go from her position after she was caught drinking an alcoholic beverage while driving students home from Smithtown High School West.
However, in an emotional interview with News 12 Long Island, the devastated former driver revealed that she was unaware that she was drinking an alcoholic White Claw hard seltzer, and believed it was just an ordinary fruit-flavored seltzer.
She also said that due to her chemotherapy, she has been left unable to taste - and couldn't detect any alcohol in the beverage.
Additionally, she says her treatment has also influenced her teetotal lifestyle.
Pointing out the small warning of alcohol content on the White Claw can, Hanna said: "For people like me that don’t drink — how are they going to know this is alcohol?"
"I have been crying and crying, I don't even have any more tears. It was just a mistake, it was a mistake," an emotional Hanna told News 12.
Nevertheless, Hanna has been terminated from her role at WE Transport Inc - a Long Island-based school bus company - despite her sincere explanation. A company spokesperson affirmed to The New York Post: "This alleged conduct is completely unacceptable and the driver has been immediately removed from service."
Mark Secaur, Smithtown Central School District Superintendent, was firm in his stance. While Hanna was "promptly taken from the bus," Secaur reiterated the district’s "zero tolerance for this behavior."
Fearing the repercussions not just for her reputation but also for her livelihood, she also expressed concerns about how she would financially afford her cancer treatments.
Some within the community did rally behind Hanna, with one parent describing the driver as "so sweet" and "kind" to the students, emphasizing: "I can’t imagine she would ever do anything to harm them."
After Hanna's story caught traction on social media and in the headlines, a GoFundMe was launched for her.
The description on the online fundraiser reads: "Miss Hanna has been a beloved bus driver for 15 years. The children on her bus said she was is [the] kindest woman who was like a grandma to them. She is undergoing chemotherapy and made an honest mistake that cost her her job.
"My children were on the bus that day. They knew the circumstances had to be a mistake. Emotionally and financially she needs help. Please take a moment to watch her story and consider helping her to recover in peace."
As of this writing, over $9,000 has been raised.
In another small ray of good news, the Suffolk County Police Department did find Hanna's story credible and opted not to press charges against her.
However, there's more than just money she will miss, as she said: "I go in the morning, so happy, see the kids, say ‘Good morning, how are you,’ give them a big smile." She says she has now lost the "bright spot" in her life.