Christmas Spirit Alive and Well: Students Raise Money to Help School EmployeeDecember 18, 2002
By Frank Mathie
Some Christmas stories are just bound to make you cry and this story is a perfect example of that. Lidia Benitez is a high school cafeteria worker and until today she had a particularly difficult year. But at a surprise party this afternoon everything suddenly turned around and her holidays are now filled with joy.
Sometimes, some people just really don't know how special they are. Such a person is Lidia Benitez, a food services worker at Glenbrook North High School in Northbrook. Until today she had no idea how many friends she has-- and how much they love her.
You've probably heard the expression that if it were not for bad luck some people wouldn't have any luck at all. That's certainly the case for Lidia Benitez. Several years ago her husband was killed. Several months ago her car was totaled in an accident. Thieves then stripped the car of all valuables ... She didn't have any money for insurance. She didn't have any money to buy presents for her grandchildren. But now a car back there is changing everything.
"On behalf of the sophomore board here's $100," said one student. Benitez' "thank you" was drowned out by applause.
It was all a complete surprise to Lidia. Gift after gift ... Hundreds of dollars ... And hundreds of tears. They even bought her car insurance but she didn't know why because she didn't think she had a car. But she did-a red car with red bow was hers.
The school's sophomore board raised the money for Lidia--a total of about $5,000.
"I can't say anything right now. I'm so excited," said Lidia Benitez. "I've never ... the gifts and everything. I don't know what to say ... Feliz Navidad."
The car, by the way, is filled with presents for Lidia's family for this very real Christmas story.
"I'm rich. I'm rich because I have all these friends," said Benitez.
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