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SANDY — Teachers touch the lives of many students throughout their careers. But one Sandy elementary school teacher is continuing to bless the lives of children even after her death.
Ask any of Julie Overholt's students and they'll tell you they loved having her as a teacher.
"She was a really good teacher and I would have liked to have her longer," said student Aubrey Lake.
Unfortunately, these Quail Hollow Elementary school students didn't get to finish out the year with Mrs. Overholt. The beloved 6th grade teacher recently passed away awaiting a liver transplant. But in her death, she left a gift: Books she had saved over the years are now being donated to needy kids.
"She had an unwavering passion for reading in our community and this is just an example of the books she accumulated over her 32 years of teaching," said her husband David Overholt. "Other less fortunate students will have the opportunity to enjoy some of the things that Julie and her 30 some years of students have enjoyed".
Just as she filled the hearts of many of her students, now her books will fill the homes of children in need throughout the community.
She was a really good teacher and I would have liked to have her longer.
–Aubrey Lake, student
"She would be so happy that these books were being used in her honor. She would be happy about that," said friend Lisa Rigby.
Since the boxes and boxes of books were too big to fit at any Papa Murphy's or KSL's "Drop 5 for the Book Drive" donation bin, the pizza chain decided to come to them.
In her honor, they threw a pizza party for the entire 6th grade.
"They have a whole stack of books out there. They're probably going to fill a car up," said Kelsey McPhee of Papa Murphy's
Our Read Today initiative is encouraging anyone to clear the books you no longer use off the bookshelves and donate them to children in need in your community. Donation bins are set up at several Papa Murphy's pizza stores.
