Mother Takes Photo Of Lunch Boxes For 'First Day Of School' 4 Years After Children Were Killed By Drunk Driver

Sep 30, 2019

The first day of school is usually a day filled with excitement as parents and students prepare for a new academic year. However, a heartbreaking photo posted on Facebook by a Canadian mom to commemorate the first day of school is striking a somber chord with parents around the world. 

Jennifer Neville-Lake’s photo shows three lunch boxes sitting on a grave marker in a cemetery. Her post indicates that her children would have been starting the year in eighth, fourth, and second grade if a drunk driver had not caused the accident that ended their lives in 2015.

The tragic accident occurred when Jennifer’s three children were in a vehicle being driven by her father. A drunk driver failed to yield at a stop sign and collided with the family’s van. Jennifer learned about the accident when her parents were extremely late returning the kids home and she was unable to reach them by phone. She found out about the accident on the evening news and instantly recognized her van.

As she told Good Morning America in 2015, “I remember saying to the doctor, ‘All of my children? All of my children are gone? This can’t be true.’”

Her children died as a result of injuries suffered in the accident, and to make matters worse, Jennifer’s father was also killed in the horrific crash.

As a tribute to the family members she lost, Jennifer started a non-profit organization that uses the arts to help children process trauma called Many Hands, Doing Good. She hopes that her story serves as a reminder of the consequences of drunk driving.

Modern life can be very hectic, but this heartbreaking story is a reminder to take time to cherish the ones that we love. Send this story to someone you know who needs a reminder to take time to smell the roses each day.