Zavala Elementary gives to CASA

When the sixth-graders of Zavala Elementary had a chance to give to the children of CASA, their teacher said they “really outdid themselves.”

“Oh my gosh — they really came through,” sixth-grade teacher Ruby Brown said. “They donated about 75 to 78 gifts. That was just in a week’s time — I’m amazed.”

For Ryan Martinez, 12, it was a chance to give something back to less fortunate children.

“I just wanted to help out kids who don’t have as much as I do,” he said. “I wanted to be able to give to those who don’t have as many toys as me.”

The sixth-grader said he donated a remote control truck.

“I hope whoever gets it thinks it’s cool,” he said.

Brown said she originally came up with the idea after reading a story about CASA needing donations in the Nov. 29 edition of the Odessa American.

“I saw the story in the paper and took it to my kids and told them we should do this,” she said. “We talked about it, and they were all for it.”

Claudia Prieto, interim director for the Court Appointed Special Advocates of neglected and abused children, said the 75 to 78 presents would help give gifts to 356 children from Ector, Crane, Loving, Ward and Winkler counties.

Brown said the students’ generosity came from their teachings at the school.

“A lot of sixth-graders are only thinking about themselves because they don’t completely understand,” she said. “We teach the children that they can do anything to help out somebody.”

Prieto said she was happy the children thought of others beyond themselves.

“They were willing to give up a present of their own to help out others,” she said. “These kids are amazing — they did great.”

Prieto said she’d be even more impressed once she sees the faces of the children who will receive the presents.

“They will appreciate these gifts more than anything because they’re abused and neglected children,” she said. “Seeing the faces of the children never gets old — their reaction is priceless.”