Widowed mother of 9, working as a school janitor, left speechless by amazing Secret Santa gift
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Secret Santa is back and this Christmas is bigger than ever!
The EastIdahoNews.com team is busy helping a local man gift more than $500,000 this holiday season. A lot more. Secret Santa is a real person who wants to remain anonymous and hopes to help as many people as he can.
We will be surprising deserving people and families every day from now until Christmas with gifts unique to their circumstances.
Yuko Shelton was born with a drive to improve everything around her no matter how hard her own life got. She was widowed a year and a half ago when her husband, Mark, died of a tumor.
Yuko learned to drive in order to take her husband to doctor appointments and has always put others’ needs above her own. She moved to America from Japan, a country that she longs to see again, and is still learning English.
After her husband’s death, Yuko was left with nine children with two teenage daughters still at home. Yuko works as a custodian at Inkom Elementary where she gives everything she has and takes nothing in return. Showing up to work and giving 100% every day is Yuko. She climbs under, over, and around just to wipe a table leg or pick a piece of trash up off the ground. Her body is in constant motion as she smiles down the halls, dusting art as she goes. Doing what may seem like a tiresome job, she makes it look effortless.
Outside of work, Yuko volunteers her time by teaching children about origami. After work, Yuko helps teachers lengthen legs on desks or rearrange classrooms simply because she gives everything she has to everyone she knows! Giving $5 to teachers for their birthdays brings tears to their eyes because they know that is her everything. Giving to others is Yuko’s legacy.
She brightens everyone’s day and is a bright ray of sunshine.
Secret Santa asked the East Idaho News elves to visit Yuko and present her with an early Christmas gift. Watch the video to see the surprise at Inkom Elementary.
