SPOTSYLVANIA, Va. — In December 2023, Get Up DC showcased a great story about a 6th grade teacher and his organization, and now we have an uplifting update.
Jonathan Alsheimer from Chancellor Middle School in Spotsylvania County is the found of an organization called a Rae of Hope, named after his late mother. It raises money to create care packages called 'Hope Gift Boxes' to bring smiles to kids faces while they spend time in the hospital.
The idea was born after one of his own daughters was hospitalized. When we previously reported on this story, his students raised more than $8,000 to put together 300 of those care boxes. And now his daughters are following in his footsteps by helping even more kids.
His two daughters, a 5th grader and a 1st grader at Brock Road Elementary, with the help of the 5th grade leadership team, did their own campaign. They received enough donations to put together 106 Hope Gift Boxes to be delivered to hospitals in Fredericksburg.
"I wanted to be a part of this project because last year my brother was in the hospital and something like this would've cheered him up so much," said Ethan, a student who expressed why this project is extra special to him. "So I want other kids to have that opportunity that he would've had."
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