Every year in late fall/early winter I send out an email requesting help for my students. Each winter, from our population of 80% low-income students, we choose students from every team to take on a shopping spree. These are our neediest students, those who come to school every day in the same pair of uniform clothes, who wear a rope to hold up a pair of pants three sizes too big because they have nothing else, who don't have gloves and hats to wear when winter comes. They shiver in the classroom without sweatshirts and get soaked in rainstorms because they don't have umbrellas or raincoats. I have girls with last year's too small shirts and boys with pant legs too short as they shoot up in height. One day V told me she loves purses and dressing pretty, but everyday she comes in a grubby white polo shirt too large for her and pants sagging down, both of which were passed down from her older brother. Oh, the indignity for a middle school girl – a BOY's hand-me-downs! (And no purse.)
The school is filled with students like V, who would love to look nice but whose parents can't even afford to pay for food, utilities, and rent, leaving many kids dependent on free breakfast and lunch since that might be all they get to eat that day and moving from apartment to apartment when their parents can't afford to stay in one place.
Despite this, the students have the great ability to be compassionate and accepting. They step out of the way when a kid in a wheelchair comes down the hall or fight over who gets to help them. They don't even look twice when one of the autistic students starts squealing or banging on a table, even if they're right there at the table with them. How many of us could say we would do the same?
Last year the generosity of all of you allowed me to raise $2214.16 in addition to the $1000 raised by the rest of the school; you all provided twice what the rest of the community brought in! I will be forever thankful for this. This meant that Brandon, who came to our attention at the last minute, was able to be added to our list the week before our shopping trip. All 3 of his younger siblings were Angel Tree children through the Salvation Army, but he had been rejected as "too old." Eighth grade, 13-years-old, and too old for a Christmas present. Thanks to you, though, he was able to get a gift beyond his wildest dreams. He had been teaching himself how to play guitar from a library book, practicing the finger movements with nothing in his hands. That early December morning he cast a longing gaze at a $90 guitar; even the teacher with him didn't believe we could afford it. But with that extra money from you, we could. When Brandon was told he could get the guitar, he couldn't contain his excitement and began jumping up and down, crying in excitement. His parents did the same when he walked past the cashier and said, "Mom! Dad! Guess what I got?" Tears and hugs over an inexpensive guitar from Wal-Mart.
I know finances might be tighter than normal this year, but I think the holiday season is a time to remember that there are those who have ALWAYS been a lot less fortunate than us (and still are). If you can spare even a dollar, send the money to my kids. Cash or a check; American, Canadian, or Australian dollars, pounds, euros, whatever - we can use your money. Checks can be made out to Lassiter Middle School, and any funds can be sent to me (Ms. Rachel Davis) courtesy of:
Lassiter Middle School
8200 Candleworth Drive
Louisville, KY 40214
Write in the note on your check or in a note in the envelope that the funds are for the "Wal-Mart Kids." My kids - Lassiter's kids - need your help. (I also accept donations via PayPal to racheldavis7 [at] gmail [dot] com.) Tell your family, tell your friends, tell whoever you want. Give them my name and the school address (give them the story and this whole email if you want). My kids need your help. Money will be accepted until the shopping spree on December 13th.
Please, please, please help my kids. Can't you imagine just how amazing it will be for these poverty-stricken kids to be able to just go into a store and buy whatever they need and also things that they just want?
