An event hall in Riverview, Florida, is giving away free wedding dresses to teachers as a thank-you for all their hard work during the pandemic.
Jenna Rose, a fourth-grade teacher at Riverview Elementary School, was surprised with a dress in her classroom this week.
“This means the world to me, and the fact that I can share it with my kids means even more to me,” Rose said. “It’s such a special moment.”
The school’s principal, Teri Madill, nominated Rose for the dress because of her big heart.
“As an educator, that’s what it’s all about,” Madill said. “If she has a heart for the kids, the kids are going to want to learn and they love her in return.”
Rose said it’s nice to be appreciated, especially after a couple of challenging years during the pandemic.
“It’s definitely been a challenge,” she said. “It’s the understatement of the century, but I’ve learned a lot about myself and about my kids and about my career, so that’s been rewarding.”
Rose said receiving a free dress is a huge help when it comes to paying for a wedding on a teacher’s salary.
“The fact that this is something we can check off the finance list and something we don’t have to budget for is amazing,” Rose said.
By Robert Boyd, WFTS.