Janet Halton-Aimes reads stories to children every Tuesday at the Serendipity coffee shop (3222 W. McGraw St.) in Magnolia.
Birthdays are a big deal for the children, so, naturally, when Halton-Ames’ Aug. 20 birthday landed on a story day, the children asked her what she wanted for a birthday. Halton-Aimes told the children that she’d like school supplies for local children in need for her birthday.
Halton-Aimes partnered with Serendipity’s owners to put a box in the coffee shop for supplies. The former Seattle Public Schools teacher said she was appalled by the number of children who didn’t have school supplies and by how expensive the supplies were.
“I’m thrilled because the people who are stopping by to have coffee are putting things in,” she said.
For now, the supplies donated will go to Magnolia's Lawton Elementary and Blaine K-8 schools. One of the teachers Halton-Aimes spoke with mentioned the students need scissors, rulers, Crayons, pencils, erasers and colored paper.
“I’m hoping, because of the response, that maybe we’ll just do this year-round,” Halton-Aimes said.
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