HAMMOND | Acts of kindness and giving this holiday season have overwhelmed Lafayette Elementary School Principal Collette Weitknecht with joy.
"I cried when I saw all those books," she said. "I opened up the door of our storage room and there were just stacks and stacks, and you couldn't even walk into the room.
"I wasn't expecting that many. Giving them to the kids just brought tears to my eyes. They were so happy to have books in their hands."
The floodwaters of September brought an outpouring of kindness from an anonymous Illinois school, which donated 4,000 library books to Munster's Eads Elementary School last month. Eads in turn donated 25 boxes to Lafayette.
"It's like paying it forward," she said. "The generosity of people is still alive. Sometimes we think others are out for themselves. This shows people care and their thoughtfulness was overwhelming."
The concept of paying it forward is doing something nice for someone who then does the same. The kindness keeps growing exponentially, making the world a better place.
Eads Principal Stephen Bernath said the school's PTO took the lead. The cafeteria was lined wall-to-wall with the books. After Eads students made their selections, several boxes remained.
"We could have either kept all of them, gave more to the kids at a later date or shared them -- and that's what we did," he said. "We knew our neighbors to the north had needs. I just wish I had more to give."
Weitknecht gave five books to families at parent-teacher conferences. Those attending the school's annual Breakfast with Santa event received an additional five books. Before winter break, all students chose two more books for their at-home libraries.
"We were just elated by the outreach of the community, and the children are just so appreciative of everything," Weitknecht said.
"We have a huge canned goods donation, and we try to teach kids it's better to give than to receive. They are giving of themselves and learning those values.
"We've also instilled the importance of literacy, so now they're excited and motivated."
