NEED TO KNOW
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When PTO funds ran out, a Texas teacher turned to TikTok to save her school’s decades-long holiday gift tradition
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Strangers rallied to buy 400 presents for every student within 48 hours
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The viral kindness ensured every child — and their teachers — would feel the magic of Christmas this year
When Emily “Kyle” Murphy learned her school might not be able to give out Christmas presents this year, she refused to let the magic fade.
Murphy, 39, works as an elementary school data analyst and testing coordinator in Fort Worth, Texas. Her campus serves children from Pre-K through fifth grade, with more than 90% coming from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
“Many of our students face tough circumstances,” the teacher tells PEOPLE exclusively. “But what shines through is their kindness, determination and sense of community. Generations of families have grown up here, and that deep connection makes our school feel like one big family.”
For as long as anyone can remember — at least three or four decades — staff members have used PTO funds to buy holiday gifts for every child. The tradition has been passed down through generations of teachers who wanted to make sure each student experienced the joy of receiving something special during the holidays.
“This might be the only gift some of our students get for Christmas,” Murphy explains. “Our teachers and staff pour their hearts into making sure every child feels joy, hope and belonging.”
Emily “Kyle” Murphy
Emily “Kyle” Murphy with a teacher at her school
But this year, the PTO hit a rough patch. Participation was low, fundraisers fell short, and for the first time in decades, the beloved tradition seemed in jeopardy.
“When I learned we wouldn’t be able to buy gifts for all the students, my heart sank,” Murphy says. “I’ve seen their faces light up year after year. I couldn’t bear the thought of that day not happening.”
So she decided to take a leap of faith and post about it on TikTok, creating the account KyleSavesChristmas.
“I’d seen a creator named Caylan Torbett try to pay off her credit card debt through TikTok engagement,” Murphy says. “I thought, if she can do that, maybe I can find a way to help my students, too.”
With no idea how TikTok even worked, she made a video and shared the story of her school’s holiday tradition.
To her surprise, people immediately began asking how they could help. She created an Amazon wishlist and shared her Cash App and Venmo handles. Within 48 hours, every single one of the 400 toys she’d aimed to buy for the students had been purchased.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Murphy says. “And when people kept asking what else they could do, I realized this had grown into something much bigger than I ever imagined.”
This year, every student at the school will receive both a toy and a weighted stuffed animal. Murphy and her colleagues are even hoping to add stockings filled with essentials like toothbrushes, cozy socks and soap.
And just like every year, the gifts will come from “Santa” himself.
“I don’t think most of our students know the gifts come from teachers, and honestly, that’s part of the magic,” she says. “When Santa walks into the school, the only thing the kids feel is joy.”
Emily “Kyle” Murphy
Emily “Kyle” Murphy dressed with the holidays with another teacher
The tradition has sparked countless unforgettable moments for Murphy. She recalls one year when the Build-A-Bear Foundation donated stuffed animals for every student.
“I thought the younger kids would be the most thrilled,” she says. “But two of our fifth graders came up to me with tears in their eyes and said it was the first teddy bear they’d ever owned. That moment stopped me in my tracks. It showed me how something so small can mean the world to a child.”
The TikTok community’s outpouring of generosity has left her speechless. “People I’ve never met have given what they could — sometimes just a few dollars — with messages like, ‘I don’t have much, but I want to help.’ It’s shown me how powerful collective kindness can be.”
Now, Murphy hopes the same compassion can extend to her colleagues. “Our teachers give so much time, money and heart. It would be incredible if the community could help us celebrate them, too,” she says.
Though the process has been “chaotic and beautiful all at once,” Murphy says every moment has been worth it.
“My daughter sees the mountain of boxes and calls it ‘Christmas magic,’ ” she says. “There are nights I’m overwhelmed by generosity and mornings I can’t wait to get to school to see the kids’ faces. It’s exhausting, but it’s the best kind of exhaustion.”
“I want people to realize how much quiet need exists right around them,” she says. “Teachers do everything they can to create a little magic with what they have, but it’s the kindness of others that turns that magic into something lasting. Compassion still matters. And it’s contagious.”
Read the original article on People
