Emotional Essays Honor North Valley Mom's | ABC30 Fresno

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By ABC30

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Fresno, CA 6th Grader Riviera Dalton attempts to read the essay that won the hearts of those who gave a string of pearls to 32 Madera Unified mothers.

Riviera Dalton, Pershing Essay Winner said "I thought my mom really deserved this because she's special and I really love her."

Lavern Lott, mom said, "This is too much, this is too much." Lavern Lott has been a foster mom to Riviera' and her little brother Clarence for nearly four years. Clarence Cushingberry said, "I think mom earned it the way she takes care of us."

Riviera gets choked up just telling others about the woman she simply calls mom.

Riviera Dalton, Purshing Student said, "She took me in, when nobody else wouldn't."

"It was a struggle with her feeling good about her-self and being in foster care, but now I see that she's really beginning to see that i love her." said Lavern Lott.

That's one of nearly a thousand stories Chris Miller and his employees at Leighton's jewelry received from 5th and 6th grade students at Madera Unified.

This mother's day his store has given away close to $6,500 dollars in pearl necklaces.

Chris Miller with Leighton's Jewelry said, "We were looking for the extra things the hardships they have been through, the ones that make you grab your Kleenex and start crying."."

5th Grader Kassandre Sullins pearls are for her mom Renee. The military mother has been taking care of the family while her husband served a total of 3 years in Iraq.

Renee Sullins, Kassandre's mom said, "You really have to keep things as normal as possible while dad is deployed. We still went camping we still did all the normal activities."

For this mom and 31 others pearls are the perfect way to show they are appreciated.