Since our first wish was granted this year we've been at work sorting wishes and working on ways to pull things off. Some wishes cost us nothing but many wishes have a monetary value involved. So we are always raising money. This year we tried something new as a fundraiser, we decided to host a Halloween dance for families at the elementary school. In preparation we made flyers and posters and posted on social media. We bought decorations and lots of concessions and had student council kids and faculty members all there to work. We opened the doors and were very excited to welcome the families. Well the families that came had a great time but unfortunately not many came. It worried me and even depressed me a little. I was counting on us raising around $1,000 for Winter Wishes that night and instead we went in the hole. We have been working to break even by selling the left over concessions at school during the day.
Then today happened. An elementary principal walked in my classroom and handed me a really soft teddy bear that was holding a rose and wearing some kind of necklace. He also handed me a card and said someone had brought it to him this morning as a donation for Winter Wishes. Then he handed me an envelope. I opened the envelope that held a check written to Winter Wishes for $1,000. There it was, the money I was convinced we needed to raise. I opened the card and realized everything was from a group of kids called Mission Kidz from a local church. They had written in the card that they were praying for our wishes and signed their name. There were 72 of them and the necklace around the bears neck when I opened the "locket" it said 72 praying. The money was generous put those prayers are priceless to us. I got to share all of this with 28 kids who were sitting in my classroom.
Lots of wishes often seem "pie in the sky" to us. But we try, with enthusiasm, anyway. We probably send 5 or more emails or Facebook messages a day to celebrities. Some are A list celebrities and some are more like G or H list but if they are a big deal to our kids then they are a big deal to us. I almost feel bad for the people who work for the Ellen show, I think I write them at least once a week. Well recently I wrote to a little known "celebrity" and kindly asked them to do something nice for one of our kids. Today they wrote back! They are in and are doing something great for a kid who is sweet and kind and I can hardly wait for Wish Week for the world to find out.
Anita and I spent a couple of hours sitting in the lobby of the gym tonight with a donation jar for anyone who wanted to donate. We only raised about $12 but we got to talk to some parents about our kids and some of their wishes. One parent told us that this upcoming Saturday is her daughter's most favorite day of the year. It's the day we take student council kids to go shopping for some of the wishes. That made me happy knowing our kids are "all in".
After that we stopped by a local business because one of my former students from years ago found out about Winter Wishes on Facebook and asked me to meet up with her so she could make a donation. I haven't seen her in nearly 17 years and it was great to see her again and then she gave me a donation and said she knew it was going to a good cause. Every donation is generous and a big deal, but when it comes from one of "my kids" well it is just takes on even more meaning for me. It's good to see my kids grown up, successful, and paying forward kindness.
It's time to tweak a wish spreadsheet so that's all for now. It's been a good day.
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