Hello all my friends and family,
Please take a minute to read a few unedited
excerpts from the letters my students wrote yesterday:
“Dear
Santa, My sister needs boots because I can wear her boots but she has no bigger boots to wear."
“Dear Santa, I really need undeware. I don't have but one pare."
“Dear Santa, I could use a backpak to carry my homework. Ms. Red can't get me one yet so can you please?"
“Dear Santa, I want boots and a warm warm cote for when it is so cold outside."
“Dear Santa, I need a soft blanket because my old sooft blanket is small for my bed and my houze gets cold at nite."
“Dear Santa, I need just one glove because I have one but I losted the other one so if you could just please bring one glove I would thank you very much."
“Dear Santa, My family lives in the bottom of the chruch becuase we do not have a home. I would like a home please if that can fit in your slay?"
“Dear Santa, I need more food I eat all of the food every day at school but we do not have very much at home, just food from cans, can you please bring hot food?"
I could continue, but I’m pretty
sure you get the gist…
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 the bare necessities for Christmas and the winter
season that is coming. One of my kiddos
lives with a foster family because her parents disappeared last year and she hasn't seen or heard from them since. Another family has been living in their church basement since last year with no end in sight. Most of my kids 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. One little girl has extreme ADHD and starting this week, her family told us they can't afford her medication. Every single kiddo this year asked for a new toothbrush and toothpaste and the vast majority of my kids don't
have enough books, pencils, paper or even crayons at home to do their homework. Whenever I pass out extra pencils or crayons to take home, they all fight over them. Only a few of them have boots, only a couple of them are expecting anything at all in terms of "fun gifts" for Christmas. We are gearing up to try to provide Christmas trees and even just a turkey dinner for at least 15 families and we can't do any of this without your help.
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 10th year
helping to provide a little bit of holiday cheer for my class, the 2nd
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 carloads of food you sent to my family who had just moved from the homeless shelter into their own apartment and just didn't have anything. 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 brand new glasses you were able to send to not only a student who needed them who couldn't afford them...but enough for her mother to get a pair as well.
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.
One of my favorite moments from each Christmas Drive is always when, after I've gone shopping at Goodwill or Target, I invite the kids who are truly needy into my room to go "shopping" from all the pants, coats, sweatshirts, sweaters, jeans, socks and you can't imagine how excited they are when they each get to choose their own clothes from the massive stack that you provide.
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 or checks to be used for clothes at Goodwill in any amount to:
Mara Redenbarger
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 11, 2015 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, helped with organization, created videos, visited, and had their
companies match their donations over the years, I’d like to end this letter
with a link to watch what YOU were able to help me accomplish last 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.
Mrs. Mara Redenbarger
Please click HERE
to watch the 3 minute video of what we have done together. I promise you, it’s worth your time.
