When I first signed up for Reddit's Teacher Gift Exchange and started writing my list of much needed supplies, I was hoping to get one, maybe two, things from my list. On the day the gifts arrived, I came home from school, opened the door to my house and my boyfriend said, "I think your Reddit gifts are here..." and pointed to the two huge boxes on the living room floor (he was just as excited as I was to open them). Inside the boxes were: 32 spiral notebooks, 3 boxes of pocket folders (25 folders in each box = 75 folders!), 6 packs of construction paper in assorted colors, 8 bottles of Elmer's Glue, 6 boxes of pre-sharpened No. 2 pencils, and 8 boxes of tissues - I was COMPLETELY blown away! Not only did I get every single thing that I had asked for, there were enough supplies left over to share with other teachers at my school who also needed supplies for their students.

The incredible generosity of my secret gifter has sincerely overwhelmed and moved me. The fact that someone out there, who has no idea who I am, doesn't owe me ANYTHING, signed up to spend their hard earned money on school supplies for someone they don't even know, brings me to tears. I know that's what RedditGifts is for - to give to others out of the kindness of one's heart - but it still amazes me that someone who may not have a lot of extra money to spend on themselves, let alone a stranger and a class of twenty-one 7 year olds, is willing to take the time to do this. It's just awesome, and I want that person to know how truly grateful I am, but more importantly, how fortunate and thankful my students are to now have the supplies they need to make their second grade school year a much better one.

So, THANK YOU, you amazing, thoughtful, kind, and generous person you! The impact you have made on the quality of learning for my students this year is tremendous. I will certainly pay it forward.