Elementary School Flooded With Blankets After Girl's Heartbreaking Christmas List Goes Viral

December 21, 2017

A 7-year-old's letter to Santa asking for a blanket and food has brought in hundreds of donations to help her and other impoverished children at her school in Edinburg, Texas.

When Monte Cristo Elementary teacher Ruth Espiricueta asked her first-grade students to write letters to Santa, she wasn't expecting what would happen next.

One student, Crystal Pachecho, asked Santa only for food, a blanket and a ball for her brothers to play with.

"After the kids were gone for the day, I sat down to read the letters," she told CNN. That's when she noticed Crystal's request.

"It just really broke my heart," said Espiricueta, who was surprised that Crystal had such needs. "She's always so happy."

Espiricueta posted the heartbreaking Christmas list on her Facebook page not expecting what would happen next.

In just a few days, the school has received around 900 blankets and they are still coming in.

Blankets have come from as far away as New Zealand and Germany — a global response to a young girl's simple letter to the North Pole.