Community Bands Together to Grant Christmas Wish to Students

com. a elementary school assignment turned valley wide initiative to grant a christmas wish for one little girl. at the top of her wish list... a blanket. channel 5's ryan nelson is live in the studio with her story. that small request...is making a big impact on a small community. it all started with three words. dear santa claus.

" i have been good this day. this christmas i would like a ball and a food. i need a blanket." seven year old crystal's plea to saint nick for basic necessities was heard around the valley. word spread after her teacher ruth espiriquta posted a photo of the letter to santa on social media.

"when she asked for a blanket it just broke my heart and it made me realize that some of these kids don't have anything to stay warm at night. or they sleep on the floor." as word spread people started showing up to the elementary school with donations in hand. the school's leaders decided to organize a blanket drive.

" crystal's small request for a blanket lead to the collection of hundreds. and now every student at monte cristo elementary school will go home with their very own.

" cristina rodriguez was one of the many valley residents to donate blankets and other items to the kids. rodriguez went to monte cristo elementary as a child.

" to see that they don't have not even a blanket or food it breaks me. it breaks my heart." after speaking to crystal's mother, we learned she was thinking about much more than herself when writing to santa. 11:58:59;29 "she wrote the card thinking about her brother, she said she wanted the ball to play with him, food to have food at the house and a blanket because the house is too cold." 11:59:14;08 crystal had a special message for saint nick.

"thank you for the presents." school administrators plan to hand out the donations next week. right now they're just shy of their goal of 724 blankets for every student in school. in the studio, ryan nelson, channel 5 news at