2013 Drive Thank You

I've said it before and I'm saying it again: YOU are the true heroes for my kiddos. For the first time EVER, I have enough private donations (in addition to everything people are bringing us starting next week) to get every single 2nd grade kiddo (all 100 of them) a new pair of pajamas and possibly even a small toy. As I write this through my tears, I just am so humbled at how much stinkin' good there is in the world, even when daily life makes us think otherwise.

I can't wait to post the pictures next week of all the kids with new pajamas, new hoodies, new coats, new books, stockings stuffed with treats, new blankets, new toothbrushes, socks, gloves, hats, scarves and gosh knows what else. From all the kids and their families, I'm thanking all of you. This is amazing.

2013 Christmas Drive Update

I'm posting a few updates to the Christmas drive because I know how many of you follow this eagerly every year and I wanted to keep you informed:

We have 2 weeks until Dec 14 when I need all the donations in, and so far, you have again astounded me with your response to what the kiddos here in Commerce City are needing.  I've had boxes of hats, coats, gloves, and mittens dropped off in the office without even a name.  I've had money sent from church congregations who wanted to help get some jeans and sweaters.  I was able to order every single 2nd grader (all 95+ of them!) a brand new book at their reading level and gosh, that was fun to do!  I've never been able to just order books like that before. I have students from other schools making crafts to sell to raise money, and all the other very important but too numerous to mention donations that are going to make such a difference to these kiddos.

Please accept my sincere thank you to all of you.  For reading my original plea for help, for forwarding my email, for going shopping, for working extra hours so you can buy more blankets, for putting gift cards in the mail, and most of all, for loving these kiddos who you've never even met.  This is without a doubt, the absolute highlight of my year.

                          Just a sample of my student's "Letters to Santa" they wrote last week...

However, this drive isn't going to be as amazing as in years' past as the United States Air Force who have been so integral in helping me get gifts for all the kiddos have run into a snag.  Due to government regulations, we aren't sure they're going to be able to get what they have in the past.  So, I'm sending out another plea for help.  If you've ever seen kids zip up their thin sweatshirt to go home when it's 6 degrees out (as it's supposed to be next week) because they don't have a coat, or a child tromping through the snow with no socks, I ask for one more thing: we need Target cards to get hoodies, coats, pajamas (if I can), and socks.  Without the guaranteed help of the Air Force this year, I'm going to be stretched thin and anything you can send will go to use.  Please forward or paste this if you can...and click here to see the results of last year's drive and click here to see what happened when we rallied the troops and people around the country to help one of my students who was suffering from a brain tumor.


Together we can do that again.  It will be the highlight of your holiday season just as it is mine.  It's something that is never forgotten.

Thank you.

2013 Christmas Drive Letter...My Kiddos Need Your Help!

Hello all my friends and family,

 It's that time of year again, Christmas time! Please take a moment to read the following letter and possibly even forward it along if you see fit:

 I work in a very impoverished school district. At last count, my school is over 95% free and reduced lunch, and our annual residential turnover (how quickly kids come and go) is 36%. (which means kids are constantly moving, staying with relatives, switching schools, etc…)

My second grade class are a lively bunch of 8 year olds who have a wide range of talents and challenges between them.  We have 12 boys and 11 girls who to put it bluntly, need more for Christmas than I’ve seen in years past. 2 of them are homeless: they either live in shelters or with other family members. Some of them don't have their own coats, boots or enough food to eat at night. They are constantly asking for “more breakfast please” and they tend to save some of the snacks we get to take home to their siblings. Whenever we serve fruit for snacks, they always grab some to take home to be sure they have a snack later. The school provides free breakfast and lunch that we serve every day and for some of my students this is the only time they even get to eat. Two of my kids have family members (a mom or dad or brother) in jail, and the vast majority of my kids don't have enough books, pencils, paper or even crayons at home to do their homework. One little boy told me last week that instead of having extra recess for his reward for doing a good job, could he please have a box of crayons for his house because he’s always wanted a box.  Another little boy told me he couldn’t come to school last week when it was cold because he only has one hoodie and no coat and didn’t want to be cold here at school.

 It's not that all of the parents are deadbeats or don't care: I've met all my parents and most of them are devoted to their kids and passionate that their kids MAKE IT: they want their kids to rise above their situation and become better than they themselves have it.

This is my 8^th year helping to provide a little bit of holiday cheer for my class, the 2^nd grade, and with your help, the entire school and it is the absolute highlight of my year.  Words can’t describe the joy I feel when 2 years later, I see younger brothers and sisters running around the playground wearing a coat you donated 4 years ago.  Or when a parent comes in to thank me and give me a hug in broken Spanish to tell me that without the boots you sent, their child would have to walk to the bus stop every day with holes in their shoes.  Or the happiness that we see when a child holds on to the one Christmas present you sent because she wants to take it home and open it there as she knows it will be the only one she receives this year.  Or the feeling that someone cares about them when I’m able to give a family a gift card that you sent to buy a turkey for their Christmas dinner. Or watching a child walk down the hall with new jeans, or a new sweater and not having to keep their hands in their pants to hold them up because the only pair they have is too big and they don’t have a belt. Or the pride in the 8 year old’s eyes when he zips up his new coat to go outside to play soccer with his friends for the first time. Or watching children squeal and run around on the playground all bundled up with new hats and gloves and with the spring in their step that you put there for possibly the first time.  Or a grandmother of 4 girls that I had continually over the years coming back to give me a hug and tell me that without our help, her grandchildren that she’s struggling to provide for would not have had a Christmas for years.  Or the outpouring of gifts, money, food, clothes, and love from all over the world you gave to my student and his family who was suffering from a brain tumor and had to ride around in a stroller at 9 years old because his single mom couldn’t afford a wheelchair. Or the 25 handmade quilts that were sent so each child in my room could cuddle under a warm blanket when a few of them shared towels that were used for that purpose. I could keep going, but I want to make sure that you know that you have made all of that and so much more possible over the years, and again, I’m asking for your help.

This year, I’m hoping to again provide at least one present for the entire second grade of 98 children.  Instead of asking for any and all donations, I instead am asking for two small things that will make their holiday just a little bit brighter and will remind them that despite the circumstances they were born into, there are people out there that care about them and want them to succeed.  I would love to be able to get two things for all the second graders in my school: a new pair of pajamas, and a new book at their reading level.  This may sound small to you, but please believe me that even a new pair of pj’s and a book from a stranger will be just the boost kiddos need to remind them there’s a big world out there with people who care about them.  I will also be making sure every child in my room has decent shoes, coats, socks, and clothes to get them through the winter which can be bitter and even one pair of new socks can make a huge difference.

As always, we are in desperate need of socks, underwear, coats, hats, gloves, and gently used clothing for most kids in the entire school in every range of sizes and styles.  Many children have siblings that are also in desperate need of help, and anything you send will find its way to good use.  If you’d like to contribute anything at all, please send Target Gift Cards in any amount to:

Mara Kimling

c/o Alsup Elementary School

7101 Birch Street

Commerce City, CO  80022

I will make sure every child receives a gift for Christmas and the children and families who are desperate get their needs met.  I will need all donations at my school by Friday, December 13, 2013 so I have time to get everything wrapped and distributed by the holiday break.  As I know most of you reading this have forwarded, collected, donated, visited, and had their companies match their donations over the years, instead of closing this letter with their “Dear Santa” letters which are as heartbreaking as ever, I’m going to leave you with a few of the “Thank You” quotes from last year. 

Simply saying “Thank You” is never enough, but I hope reading these touches your heart as it does mine and impels you to take action as it does for me each and every year.  I thank you in advance for the love and generosity and spirit you show to these kiddos.  Please believe me, it lives in all of our hearts for years.

Ms. Mara Kimling

“…I really like what you gave me because I was brock and I berley had some soks now I hav plenty of soks.” ~Aaliyah 

“…thank you, it was my best day!” ~Juan

“…thak you for presns bekze santa detent com to my howz.  I like the spidrmn glvs!” ~Axel

“…I know you really care about us and spended a lot of money but do you know how happy Miss Kimling was she was crying because she never ever seen us so happy.” ~Esynce

“…Thank you for all the stuf you got me I wos so happy I almost fanted and it is a day I will never forget.” ~Emily

“…thank you again and can you please come visit one time?” ~Christina

“…thank you for buying me presents and I hope I can see you some day!” ~Nickolas

“…I appreciate all the presents we had was greater than anything and it was better than a best party and awsome.” ~Adrian

“…thank you for everything! It was awesome that day and I was so happy!” ~Mckayla

“…thank you for the socks, hat, gloves we needed all of that stuff!  Thank you again and I hope I see you around! I will do very good in school!” ~Robert

“…Thank you for all you bot me. I am really appreciateing because I needed soks and hats and more swuetrs.” ~Karla

“…it was the becst day of my life and I will never friget it and thank you for all the stuff!” ~Eric

“…I also liked the cloths that you gave us because I didn’t have harly any cloths but now I do so thank you very much!  I will do what you said I will do good in school.” ~Gabriel

“…Thank you for all my stuff!  My mom and dad were surprised when I brouth all the stuff home and I love my new stuff!” ~Valery

“…Also it was fantastic because nothing like this hade happen and I like the sweter because it was fluffy and I promise to be good in school.” ~Jasel

2012 Christmas Drive Update and Photos

Christmas Drive pictures and update:

I hardly know where to begin this.  I’ll start by posting the link to the pictures that were taken during Dec 12-20, 2012.  These have been approved by my school district,  so feel free to share:

Alsup 2012 Christmas Drive Pictures Link

I’ll explain now what you were able to do when you reposted my original plea for help to your Facebook wall, sending my email to your friends and family and asking them to forward it as well, and by taking action.  You all took action for a group of children that you’ve only heard of from me.  I know I’ve said this before, but I’m saying it again: YOU are the angels for these kids.  I looked around the playground today and saw kids running around in the coats you bought.  I saw children in jeans that fit them and they were playing basketball without tripping over old shoes, or having to hold up their older brother’s pants.  I saw kids in hats and gloves and throwing footballs that you sent to the school.  Every single child in my classroom returned their homework I assigned over break.  They finished it with the pencils and crayons you provided, cuddled under the blankets you sent.  As they were talking to each other about what Santa brought, I heard two kids saying things like, “Santa didn’t come to my house because my parents didn’t have any money, but he came here so that was okay.”  I overheard one child say to another teacher, “My Christmas was here at school.  We didn’t have one at home.” I tried to imagine what it would have been like for these kids if you HADN’T taken the action you did, and it hurts my heart to even think about it, so I haven’t.

I just want to thank you.  For all the smiles, for the love, for the generosity, for the amazing spirit and soul that you gave to not only my class, not only the entire second grade, but to my entire school.  I saw 5^th grade girls proudly walking into school today in the “new” clothes that you provided for them, I saw little kindergarten boys zipping up their new coats, and I saw smiles.  I got more hugs from parents today, more “thank you” letters, and more contented faces than I’ve ever seen on the first day back from winter break.  I don’t know how to convey my gratitude any more than to just tell you that the action of you, your family, and your friends has created joy beyond belief here in Commerce City that will last long after Christmas has past.  I offer my heart-felt “thank you” to you all.  You have done more good than you can possibly know.  These kiddos will be forever changed…as will I.

Please forward this to anyone and everyone who you think may have helped.  They need to see what they have done.  Thank you.