Murphy Elementary students gifted shopping spree

HIGH RIDGE, Mo. – Behind the gym doors at Murphy Elementary sat rows of toys, bikes and TVs for students to pick from, all with help from the R Whittington foundation in partnership with Asbury Plaza Motor Company and the Steward family foundation.

Thursday afternoon, all 450 students at Murphy Elementary were invited to take part in a shopping spree, each child choosing a gift of their own.

For Rickey Whittington, with the foundation, the moment was deeply personal.

“I would’ve thought it was a dream come true,” he said. “I was a kid who grew up without. My grandmother just could not afford to get anything for Christmas. To walk into a room like this and pick a toy — it would give me hope that someone would come back and do the same.”

That hope was evident on every face, as students hurried from table to table, unsure where to look first.

Third-grader Adrian was one of them.

“I was super excited, because I didn’t know this was happening,” Adrian said.

After outgrowing her previous bike, Adrian selected a brand-new one from the shop—a gift she says means more than just fun.

“It means a lot to me because it’s very nice for people to do this for us,” she said. “Like if we can’t afford these things.”

Many students understood exactly why the day mattered. Fifth-grader Lexi, who chose a hoverboard, said the generosity hit close to home.

“Most people who came here today that I know can’t afford stuff,” Lexi said. “But they got the stuff they can’t afford now.”

As Santa prepares for his big night, for some of these children, Christmas arrived early—thanks to Whittington, school staff, teachers and parent volunteers who helped make the event possible.

“God bless all of them,” Lexi added. “They gave us all this stuff, and we are very grateful.”

According to their website, The R. Whittington Foundation is a resource for the region from St. Louis to Chicago.

This charity organization is dedicated to philanthropy and positively impacting the lives of those who are underserved, overlooked and disenfranchised.

For more information on their non-profit organization and the individuals they serve, please visit their website here.