GREENSBORO, N.C. (WFMY) – “She was a student that knew no boundaries for being kind to any and everyone and showing acceptance and love for all.”
That’s how Debra LeTourneau, a staff member at Jesse Wharton Elementary, describes Avelina Lott, a student at the school who passed away February 2 this year.
And the entire school believes that, too.
In her honor, the school hosted a “Random Acts of Kindness Day” to honor her memory and inspire everyone at the school to be loving and kind.
According to her teachers, Lindsey Nail and Brittney Crite, it didn't take much to get the entire school behind their idea to honor Avelina this way.
"The sheer fact that all of the teachers, all of the students, parent volunteers have jumped in, even on this short notice and this busy time of the year, speaks volumes to the legacy that Avelina left us," explained Nail, an Exceptional Children’s teacher.
And it showed when you walked across the school and noticed the bright yellow shirts that read "Be the change you wish to see in the world," worn by the students and staff just for Avelina.
Each classroom worked on a project that will serve a random act of kindness for local organizations such as the Ronald McDonald House, Cone Health, and local nursing homes.
From paper flowers with 'get wel soon' messages, to care packages with snacks and special words, the students were all reminded that it was all to keep Avelina's legacy alive.
"We wanted to share that love with the children to show that out of things that go wrong in life, something good could come out of it and that there people out there in need of that hug, that smile and we don’t even know it," shared Dana Valdes Brooks, Avelina's aunt and legal guardian.
At the end of the day, the school planted a tree on school grounds to remember Avelina.
"I’m overjoyed," said Brooks. "Just the love, the love that the school has shown us as a family, and Jesse Wharton as a community, how much we love and support each other and just seeing how the children understand it."
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