When Ruth Espiricueta asked her first-grade students to write letters to Santa, she expected the letters would be filled with requests for toys. But, one girl who was always smiling revealed a sad truth. She was not only hungry, she also needed a blanket. That was what she wanted Santa to bring.
“I have [been] good this day. This Christmas I would like a ball and a food. I need a [blanket],” the little girl wrote to Santa Claus. She told her teacher she would rather have a ball than a doll so her brother could play with it as well. She requested eggs for food from Santa.
“I never expected for students to ask for things we usually take for granted,” Espiricueta shared with ABC News. “I was heartbroken because no one should ever go hungry or be cold on winter nights.”
The teacher felt the need to share her student’s letter with others. She wanted to encourage people to be generous towards children such as her student this holiday season.
“I had no idea she was going through hard times being that she is always at school with a big smile,” Espiricueta said of her student. “Her act of unselfishness made me realize that I needed to share this with others.”
The Texas teacher reports this child wasn’t the only one asking for basic necessities from Santa. “Some of my students were not even excited about Christmas because they know that their parents can not afford to buy a Christmas tree or gifts for them,” Espiricueta said.
The principal at Monte Cristo Elementary School wanted to do something that would benefit all of the students at the school. When she heard about this letter, she organized a blanket drive so every kid could have a blanket. So far, 616 blankets have been donated. The first-grade teacher reports her student is happy that all of her friends will be getting a blanket this Christmas.
With so many children having more than they could ever want, there are still plenty of children needing the basic necessities and that is what they want for Christmas. Thankfully, because a lot of generous people stepped up, they will at least get a blanket.
Share this to remind people this season is truly about giving!
Source: ABC