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OAKLAND, Calif. (KTVU) - At Manzanita Community Elementary School in Oakland's Fruitvale District, most students come from low- income families. Books to read at home have been in short supply, but not anymore.
Thanks in part to woman who came up with 2,502 books and delivered them to the school Friday.
"I feel great I could help. I feel great I could help people in my own backyard," said Amika Antoniades-Rao.
She lives in Saratoga, but was raised in Oakland.
She says she wanted to help a school in need.
So last month she took to social media asking for book donations.
Her goal was a hundred. She ended up with thousands.
"It's astonishing. I'm astonished by how many giving people there are if you ask," said Antoniades-Rao
The school principal, Eyana Spencer, said she was deeply moved that someone who doesn't even have a child at the school would go through so much trouble.
Manzanita has a large number of students who have recently immigrated to the U.S. and many who are low income. But that shouldn't stop them from reading outside of the classroom.
Spencer said the massive donation was part of a larger book drive for the school.
The saying goes, it’s better to give than to receive. For those who donated, they seem to live by that motto.
"I feel like Santa Claus. It’s pretty cool," said Chris Brack.
"I love Oakland and Oakland needs help. Whether you still live here or not, I just wanted to help," said Antoniades-Rao.