These days I’m always on the lookout for acts of kindness. So I was delighted to find this lovely story about an effort to honor Tanya Becker, a beloved reading teacher who recently passed away, by arranging for books for every student and teacher at her school, Gomez Heritage Elementary School in Omaha, Nebraska.
I contacted Susan Thompson-Gaines, the woman behind this terrific effort and the fabulous Kindness Activist Blog (how great is that?) to arrange to donate copies of Teaching with Heart. I was fortunate that Susan lives in the area and could stop by and pick up the books. It gave me the chance to meet her and thank her in person for all that she’s doing for this school. And I was delighted when she gave me a Kindness Activist button! 
Something I’ll wear with great pride!
I hope you’ll join with me in supporting this great effort! Let’s Flood Gomez Elementary School with Books!
YOUR Kindness Needed Now – Please Help Keep A Reading Mission Going
– Susan Thompson-Gaines
There are times in everyone’s life that are hard. Difficult periods. Rough patches. And this is most certainly that time for the students, faculty and staff of Gomez Heritage Elementary School in Omaha, Nebraska.
My sister Sherry is a para at Gomez. It is an amazing school, full of kids who come from homes with very hard working families, many of whom have immigrated to the United States. They come from homes filled with hope and full of love. The majority of the students do not speak in English at home. School is a place where they not only learn subjects like math and art, but they also work hard to develop English as a second language.
Gomez Heritage Elementary School
Gomez Elementary is FULL of caring, inspirational teachers and staff. The adults at the school work very hard and are deeply committed to the children they work with. They see the big difference they are making in the lives of these kids, and that gives them strength to continue through the tough times, like this week.
One of their own suddenly passed away.
Tanya Becker, the literacy coach at Gomez, was only 48 years old when she died in her sleep. I can’t imagine how hard the loss must be for her children, her family, and her students. She was a beloved teacher at the school, and touched the lives of many students and parents during her nine years working there.
My sister Sherry was understandably upset. She explained how Tanya was the “sunshine” of the school. She met the children at the front door when they arrived at Gomez every morning. She often put her hands into a heart shape on her chest to show the kids how much she loved them. And it was Tanya who rallied everyone at Gomez to become “Team Sherry” and help her get thru treatment when Sherry was diagnosed with breast cancer last year.
At times like this it is often difficult to know what to do or say – how to help. I would like to ask for YOUR ASSISTANCE to do something to keep the mission of Mrs. Becker going, to remind her students of the importance of READING. In honor of their reading coach, I would like to make sure each and every Gomez student has a new book to read. I will place stickers in each book reminding them how loved they were by Mrs. Becker and how important it is to continue her mission of reading.
Can you please help me out with this massive goal? Gomez serves children pre-K – 4th grade. We need 875 books for students, and 140 adult books for faculty and staff, who miss their colleague dearly. Can you donate a few new (or gently used) books to this cause, or perhaps a gift card to a book store we can use to get enough books? Is your child ordering through Scholastic at school and willing to share a couple of books with some “new friends” in Omaha? Can you share this request for help with your circle of friends and family to get the word out?? I would be very appreciative of any help you can give.
Please email me at: kindnessactivist@gmail.com (email link here ) for a mailing address to send books or gift cards to. If you are local to the DC metro area I will happily come to you to pick up whatever you can donate. I hope to have all books collected and ready to hand out to the students by March 26, 2017.
Here are some links to online ordering resources:
Again, please share this request with others. The more people willing to pitch in and donate, the sooner those kids will have books honoring Mrs. Becker in their hands. THANK YOU for reading, for caring, and for helping.
Here is the Gomez website: Gomez Heritage Elementary School
If you would like a flyer to hang in your workplace, school, or place of worship to help bring in more donations, contact kindnessactivist@gmail.com.
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