Hundreds of donations have poured in at Monte Cristo Elementary School in Edinburg after a 7-year-old’s letter to Santa went viral.
After first-grade teacher Ruth Espiricueta taught her students the difference between wants and needs, she asked them to write a letter to Santa, asking for two wants and one need.
But, Espiricueta never expected one of her students needed something as simple as food.
“I have binde good this day. This Christmas I would like a ball and a food. I need a blancet,” wrote 7-year-old Crystal Pacheco.
“I started reading them and it’s like, I did not expect her to say, ‘I need food. I want food, but I need a blanket more,'” Espiricueta said. “And I asked, ‘Well, why do you need a blanket more than the food?’ ‘Well, I get to eat at school—sometimes I may not have at home, but I get to eat at school. A blanket I have one, but it’s not warm enough.”
Espiricueta posted Pacheco’s letter to social media, and since then, hundreds of donations have come in to the Edinburg elementary school.
Pacheco’s mother, Maria Cortez, teared up as she reflected about her daughter’s words.
“I’m just very emotional and proud of my children, because I raise them to appreciate the little that we have,” Cortez said.
