FOURMILE, Ky. — Lone Jack School Center in Bell County received an early Christmas gift this year: a $50,000 donation from a Dollar General to benefit the children and literacy programs.

Jonathan Defevers is the principal for Lone Jack School Center, just outside of Pineville, Kentucky. From preschool to eighth grade, Defevers said all students are his biggest priority, and he wants to enact positive change for future generations.

“That's our why if you ask any principal, 'Why do you get up every morning, and why do you come to work every day with the stress and the headache of the different scenarios that arise?' It's because of the time. It's investing in their lives because I know what it's like to be that kid that lives in the head of the holler," Defevers said. "I know what it's like to be that kid that comes from the impoverished neighborhood and I see every day, that not only myself but my teachers and resource directors and my professor, we're making a change."

Over the past year, the pandemic has been difficult for staff and students, but Wednesday morning Defevers was in for a surprise.

“I know this last year has been so hard but we're so excited you guys are all in school and all together and it's taken a lot from our community with everything that has happened with COVID But we know that this is a super strong community,” Regional Director for Dollar General, Tracy Sartin said.

Sartin visited the school to deliver a special, $50,000 gift.

“I had no idea that it was going to be this amount and it is overwhelming the emotion that we've got right now,” Defevers said. 

With the Reading Revolution Program, Dollar General donated the money to help Fourmile's school with their literacy programs to purchase resources like computers and books. Defevers said this money will make a change not only in the school but in their community.  

“In Eastern Kentucky, everybody knows that we've been with the coal industry and the loss of the coal industry. Our population has decreased, so having this money and investing in these kids is, it's amazing," Defevers said. "It's unfathomable to think about that we've got $50,000 to invest in our students lives."

Each child will be impacted through this gift, and Defevers said he looks forward to providing new opportunities for his students.