Poland kids write to Santa to help Make-A-Wish

Staff report

POLAND

Inspired by the concept of “paying it forward,” students at Poland North and Union elementary schools wrote letters to Santa Claus to help the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Lisa Weimer, of the Poland North parent-teacher organization, led efforts at the school to have 191 children write letters to Santa.

“I decided because of everything going on in the country that I wanted to pay it forward,” Weimer said.

On a morning television show, Weimer heard the story of Gabriella Miller, a fourth-grader in Virginia who was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of inoperable brain cancer in November and who submitted her “Make-A-Wish” as a trip to Paris.

To give back for her wish, Gabriella is asking people to write letters to Santa Claus and send them to Macy’s department store because if the store receives 1 million letters to Santa before Christmas, the company will donate $1 million to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Weimer picked up the letters Wednesday at Poland North. Union Elementary School also contributed 300 letters.

Those who want to help Gabriella should address their letters to: Dear Santa Make A Wish With Gabriella, 20899 McIntosh Place, Leesburg, VA 20175. Letters must be received by 5 p.m. Saturday.

Gabriella will deliver the letters to her local Macy’s Sunday. She already has collected 100,936 letters as of Tuesday night.