Schools

Girl Eschews Birthday Gifts to Help Other Kids

Jenna Shea passed over birthday gifts and asked for school supplies to donate to Rupert Elementary School students.

Students at Rupert Elementary School in Pottstown were the recipients of a gift that may come once in a lifetime; an eight-year-old girl, eschewing gifts for her birthday, instead asked others to give her school supplies that she could then give to students at Rupert, according to a media release from Pottstown School District. 

Jenna Shea passed over toys and video games to give supplies to the children at the school where her mother Tanya used to be a substitute teacher.

“It makes me feel good inside to know that I have been able to help other kids,” Shea said, in the release.

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At Shea’s August birthday party she decorated a box with Hello Kitty paper where guests could drop the school supply donations that she had requested in her party invitation.

Friends, family and strangers donated three big containers of school supplies.  They went to the classes of Cindy Bartolucci and Laurie Gresko, personally presented to the school by Shea.

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Said Rupert principal Matt Moyer in the release, “What a wonderful gesture from a young person to help our students by giving up the types of birthday presents that most eight year-olds would enjoy.  It is truly a sign of her maturity and caring well beyond her age.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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