“Thank you thank you thank you”
From a teacher:
Dear Sars,
Today I walked into my classroom at East Valley High School. Iwas still missing a desk, which means I have two students, A and R,who are squished at one. The floor still has the unidentified sticky goo fromthe night before. When I left at 5:45 PM the night before, I was too tiredto erase the board, so the assignments for the End of the Year/Best ofEdition of the “Newspaper” (and yes. I have to use air quotes because it’sreally not a newspaper at all) were still on the board.
I was feelingtired, enervated. And really? I just wanted to go home.
But when I camearound to my desk, I noticed there were 3 boxes from Barnes and Noble. I toreinto them and found the books that had been funded a few days before thanksyour blog challenge. I was so excited. I think I even let out a little meepof gratitude as I fondled the covers of Wuthering Heights, Sir Gawain and theGreen Knight and Last of the Mohicans. It was gratifying to see support ofeducation so physicalized, especially since I had just been told that thebooks I need for November 15 (65 copies of the Handmaid’s Tale) won’t be paidfor by the school.
So thank you for participating and pushing yourreaders to donate.
I can’t express how much it means to teachers likeme.
Best,
Kathryn Gullo
East Valley High School
LAUSD
Ms. Gullo, it’s our pleasure.
Readers, we’re at $62,500 as I write this, and it is has just gotten quite dusty in my apartment.
Tags: contests friends snif!
Oh man, I dontated to that one…damn these seasonal allergies!
And, damn, lady what are you waiting for? Get your next project up…no way I can deny students the opportunity to read The Handmaid’s Tale!
I sincerely hope to have achance to fund that challange!! Way to go everyone. I really do love hearing how we actually make a real difference. :)
United States of Awesome, indeed! This teacher’s “little meep of gratitude” is just one sound in a symphony of admiration for the accomplishments and generosity of Sars’ readers. As the person referred to in the previous post, I reiterate Sars’ comment: I am entirely convinced that TomatoNation readers will donate enough cash to push Sars onto that Amtrak and change history for a lot of kids. Frankly, I think that between you, you have enough heart to power her into earth orbit.
This is wonderful! And it seems like everywhere I go has been dusty lately – home, the office, the coffeeshop. Pretty much anywhere I read about the projects and how much they mean to everyone. Sniff!
This is wonderful.
I didn’t contribute through the Tomato Nation challenge (I got to Donorschoose though TN but I found a project in my hometown to fund) but I will go back if it looks like a few extra $20s will be needed to get the matching $10K. I just wanted to thank you for bringing this charity to my (and a lot of other people’s) attention. I love knowing that my $80 will have a definite impact , even if a smal one, instead of feeling like it ends up in some big pot of money that pays admin expenses in addition to eventually filtering down to a good cause.
*sob!*
This is so awesome, and really cheered me up on a crappy day. And dang, there is totally something in my eye.
Oh man. Okay, time for another $10. I’m simultaneously incredibly heartwarmed by that and incredibly angry that the state of our education is so shitty that they can’t pay for BOOKS out of school budgets. What is up with this nation?
Oh well, if the larger nation can’t get its act together, the TOMATO nation at least will!
I have to a meep of gratitude right back to Ms. Gullo for not only caring so much about her kids but for taking a job in a disadvantaged school in the first place. A lot of the time teaching is a thankless job as it is, but working in a school where so many students have so little makes it even harder.
Ms. Gullo, you’re one of those teachers your kids will remember for years.
Damn, these Starbucks napkins are abrasive on my delicate tear ducts.
Awesome, awesome, awesome. And Ms. Gullo, get your next project on up there so we can back up this truckload of Atwoods, yo!
Imagine my surprise when on one of my random perusals of this blog, I see your effort has funded a good friend of mine! I love hearing her talk about teaching. Thanks to you and all your readers!