Hunter Cmelo, a six-year-old at Lincoln Elementary School in Grants Pass, Oregon, faced an unjust situation when his mother’s car broke down, causing him to arrive a few minutes late. Despite it being beyond their control, Hunter knew detention awaited him, which left him in tears.
When Nicole Garloff, Hunter’s mother, checked on him during lunch, she was shocked to find him isolated behind a white partition with a “D” cup symbolizing detention. This punishment was particularly hard on Hunter, who was rarely late.
Nicole shared a photo of her son’s punishment on social media, leading to over 75,000 shares and public outrage over the school’s detention policy. Many criticized the school’s handling of the situation.
In a heartwarming turn of events, the community rallied to support the family. Local businesses, an auto dealer, and Bill Meyer provided the family with a new car and covered maintenance costs. They even gave them a $100 gas card.
Hunter’s father, Mark Cmelo, expressed his amazement and gratitude for the community’s support. Nicole hoped the story would show Hunter that people care and come together to help those in need.