Ani Avetisyan
Teacher and Bellaire resident Michelle Trieb (pictured) planned a reading activity for her second-grade class at International Leadership School of Texas K-8. The children were asked to bring a stuffed animal from home for “hibernate with a good book” day. What seemed like a simple request turned out to be challenging for many students from underserved communities who do not have toys at home. Michelle reached out to her neighbors for donations and received more than 500 stuffed animals to bring to her students. Several dozen of the donated toys were brand new and delivered as a generous gift from a donor’s Amazon order. Michelle was overwhelmed with gratitude when she also received donated board games, pencils, crayons, books, and a $100 check to buy school supplies for her classroom.