Local teacher giving her students a memorable Christmas Saturday

SALISBURY, Md.- It was an emotional day Saturday afternoon, filled with air hugs, laughter, and lots of presents.

Jenna Purnell, a 4th grade teacher at Glen Avenue Elementary School, in Salisbury, went all out for her students this holiday season, as she collected and wrapped presents for each of them.

Saturday, she was able to stuff a truck and deliver the gifts right to her students’ front door steps.

“I just hope that they know how much I love them and how much the community is here to back them,” Purnell said.

Purnell said she was able to give gifts to students last year and knew she wanted to continue that tradition, especially because COVID-19 has presented challenges to some of her students.

“This year I really wanted to the same thing so, it was difficult because I had never met some of my students, but we’ve become so close because of virtual learning that I still wanted to make sure they had the magic,” Purnell said.

Purnell said she was so excited to finally meet some of those students in person, and the kids’ same excitement was made clear by the looks on their faces.

“Like super, super happy to see her,” Jonathan Edwards, a student, said.

Edwards said the surprise was bigger than he though and he’s grateful for what his teacher as well as the community have done for him.

“I was like wow I didn’t know it was going to be that many people,” Edwards said. “I’m feeling super excited to open the gifts that she brought.”

At the end of the day, Purnell said none of this would have been possible without the help of others.

“I cannot thank enough the community and strangers out of the kindness of their heart and I’m so so appreciative because the kids are going to enjoy it so much, and they deserve everything that I hope today brings,” Purnell said.