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A simple request for books by a Mathews teacher goes viral

 

A request by one Mathews County teacher for copies of a book for her class led to a major fundraising effort that has gone far beyond her own class.

Thomas Hunter Middle School sixth grade teacher Michelle Williams needed copies of the book “Wonder” by R.J. Palacio to teach her reading class a unit on diversity, anti-bullying and special needs. She looked for over a month at all of the local thrift stores, hoping to collect “a few here and there” for less than what it cost to purchase them brand new.

Unable to find what she needed, she posted a request on Facebook’s Trash and Treasure sites for Mathews and Gloucester on Feb. 21 saying that she needed 19 copies of the book and asking for donations, if possible.

A couple of local people offered to contribute, said Williams, including Amanda Beasley, a young Gloucester mother with a special needs child, who committed to purchasing two copies of the book.

But unknown to Williams, Beasley went furth...

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