Christmas is a time for magic. Between the snow, the lights and Santa – there is no shortage of celebration.

But, as adults, we know that sometimes beneath the surface, not everything is shiny and perfect.

There are some children who don’t have a happy Christmas. However, one teacher in Las Vegas, knew there had to be a way to help.

English teacher Cheri Guy is in her first year at Desert Pines High School in Las Vegas. The students at the school write one gift they would like for Christmas, and why that gift is important to them.

Then, the nearly 300 staff members use their own money and work to fulfill the wishes of their hundreds of students.

But as Guy read through the wishes, she couldn’t stop the tears.

“Slippers,” one student wrote. “I would like some black slippers to protect my feet from the cold.”

“A bag of Takis,” another student wrote. “It will help me not be hungry.”

I would like to give my mom a gift. She likes to shop at Walmart,” wrote another.

The school has conducted “Wishmas” for the past 10 years. One hundred percent of the student body is considered ‘economically disadvantaged’, school officials said. While each student gets a gift, not every wish is granted.

@attagirlguy Even if you can’t help, maybe you can share #teacher #wishlist #students #holiday #highschool ♬ original sound – JustSomeGuy

Most wishes are for simple items, such as yearbooks or graduation gowns. While others simply ask for presents for their family members instead of themselves.

One student wished for a pair of headphones, telling them, “my younger brother has been asking for them and I can’t afford them.”

But it was one wish that left Guy with no words. “For all the wishes to be granted,” one student wrote.

And that for Guy was the one wish she was determined to make come true.

Cheri Guy with two members of the community who showed up at the school with wrapping paper and gift cards for Wishmas. Photo courtesy of Guy

Guy, who teaches a program that focuses on at-risk students, had an up close look at the struggles they dealt with.

“These kids face tremendous challenges outside of the classroom,” she said, pointing out that many students are from single-parent households and live in poverty.

We have kids sometimes that don’t have shoes.”

But it wouldn’t be easy for the staff, Guy knew, to fulfill all the wishes.

“A thousand wishes and a staff of 300 people would be almost impossible, especially on the salary of educators,” Guy said.

So, she turned to TikTok for help. In a video where she struggled to not cry, Guy read some of the wishes from the students.

Staff and volunteers have wrapped all the gifts for students. Photo courtesy of Cheri Guy

Afterward, she asked viewers to contact her if they wanted to help the students. “Maybe we could do something to try to make some of these things happen,” she said.

And, as often is the case, TikTok rose to the occasion. Her video went viral, with more than 100,000 views and hundreds of people reaching out to help.

“I’m just amazed and grateful,” said Guy, who created an Amazon wish list that let people purchase the gifts for students. “There are so many more people in the world that want to do good than there are that don’t.”

But the help didn’t stop at Amazon. Guy said that people have also sent money on Venmo, as well as dropping off gifts and wrapping paper at the school.

Within just a few short weeks of the November video, more than 600 gifts had been purchased, Guy said.

School staff said they were blown away by the help, and it looked like all the wishes would be granted.

“It’s just amazing,” said Isaac Stein, the school’s principal. “I think it’s what our community and what our nation needs to see.”

Guy sees Wishmas as a way to remind the students that there are people who care for them.

“We want every student, every child to feel loved and know that they matter,” she said. “When people truly feel loved, they’re going to carry it with them and pay it forward.”

Watch below to see the gifts flow in and the wishes granted for these amazing students.

Sources: Washington Post | Unilad