Joe Malinconico

Paterson Press

PATERSON — Eager to open their holiday presents, about 100 fourth-graders at Community Charter School of Paterson sat restlessly in their seats Monday afternoon.

Some children pulled on the colorful wrapping paper to try to peek inside. Others shook the boxes and listened for clues to the contents. They giggled and fidgeted, waiting for their teacher, Jennifer Olawski, to do the countdown.

When the time to open the gifts finally came, the youngsters erupted in delight. All of them received coloring books, winter hats and gloves and Slime Kits purchased with donations raised through a GoFundMe campaign orchestrated by Olawski.

“I love Slime,” screamed 10-year-old Divine Kirby. The jelly-like substance is a perennial favorite of children.

“This is so cool,” proclaimed his classmate, Xavier Sepulveda.

By the end of the day, all 500 students in at the school’s Spruce Street branch, which houses grades kindergarten through four, would get presents through Olawski’s efforts.

The 31-year-old educator, who grew up in Wayne and now lives in Riverdale, said she was inspired to buy all her students gifts by a conversation she had with little girl in first grade last year. Olawski said she had asked the student if she was excited about the holidays.

The child shrugged off a question about gifts, the teacher said. “I don’t get presents for Christmas,” Olawski recalled her saying.

The girl’s words jarred Olawski, and she decided to buy the child a gift. Then she thought about her other students. Almost 90 percent of the children at Community Charter come from families living below the federal poverty level, according to school officials.

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Last year, Olawski — who has the words “Have a little faith” tattooed on her forearm — collected about $2,500 through the GoFundMe website and bought every student at her school an art set. This year, she started her online appeal right after Halloween and raised more than $4,500.

“I was surprised we got so much money,” she said.

But raising the funds was only the beginning of Olawski’s mission. Three weeks ago, with the help of family members and friends, she went on a succession of shopping trips to buy the 500 presents, which ended up filling half her living room.

Then it was time for the wrapping. People would visit Olawski a few hours at a time to pitch in to get the gifts ready for distribution. How long did it take to wrap 500 presents?

“I have no idea,” Olawski said, smiling.

Finally, Olawski and two other Community Charter employees spent three hours on Sunday hauling the gifts from her second-floor apartment into a van, and then to the school.

“When I’m carrying the boxes up the stairs, I say, ‘This is it. I’m not going to do this again,' " said the teacher. “But when you see their faces, you know it’s all worthwhile. Even the toughest kids, they show emotion.”

Olawski is now taking contributions for next year on her GoFundMe page.

Olawski said her efforts are about more than just giving the children presents. “It teaches them to give to others,” she said. “It teaches them about kindness.”