Every Wednesday at Isabella’s Childcare in Donabate, more than fifty children gather at the school playground to shout their biggest hellos at our driver and helpers. It’s part of our weekly routine, but on the 10th of December, we decided to do something different:
We parked our newly branded lorry and stepped out from behind the glass to meet our fans.
Cocoon’s Room
The moment our driver, Gabriel, climbed down from the truck, Cocoon’s Room rushed out to greet him. Their hero was standing right in front of them, smiling and handing out goodie bags packed with surprises. But the children had something special of their own to share. Luke proudly handed our driver a beautifully crafted card, reading “Thank you for everything bin man!”
Caterpillar Room
They had spent days cutting, painting and colouring. Their masterpiece? A group card that read: “Thank you for visiting us and for your services.”
More cards followed, each one bursting with colour, scribbles, and love. It was clear these kids had poured every drop of enthusiasm into thanking our staff.
Around the Truck: Up Close with the Big Machine
Wearing their tiny high-vis vests, the children stepped outside and circled our lorry in awe. Some even practised pressing the truck controller’s buttons. Others watched from a distance, trying to absorb every detail.
Then came one of the morning’s favourite moments: the Air Duster demonstration! Giggles, squeals, and smirks echoed around as each kid tried this blast of air for themselves.
The Goodie Bag Reveal
Once back inside, it was finally time for what these children had been waiting for…
Fionn (aged 4) was the first to dig into his goodie bag. “Bubbles, my favourite thing in the world”, he squeaked. He immediately began blowing bubbles across the room, declaring that this year, Christmas had come early.
Then Olivia and Brian joined in, unpacking colouring worksheets, “odd colour out” activities and multi-coloured pencils. They quickly grabbed their supplies, and the whole classroom suddenly transformed into a busy, creative workshop.
Time to Say Goodbye
By 12 PM, the moment had come for our driver Gabriel and helpers Catalin and Madalin to get back to their route. But not before the children rushed outside one more time to say goodbye and watch as their bins were collected and returned. Then came the final chorus of cheers, honks and waves as the lorry rolled away.
Mornings like this remind us why we do what we do. Inspiring young minds and building connections with the very communities we serve across Ireland.
If you spot one of our new Panda trucks on the roads, make sure to snap a photo and share it with us. We love seeing our team and vehicles in action!
