Teachers have it tough in their professional life, as they are often overworked, underpaid, and under-appreciated. Despite this, they continuously see their financial resources for their classrooms slashed.

Rachel Faust is a first grade teacher from Miami, and she recently decided to do something about this. What she did changed the lives of her students and those attending her school.

It all started when a little girl kept falling asleep in Rachel’s class. When Rachel took her out to the hallway to scold her, she learned the horrifying reason why the girl was falling asleep.

The girl was actually starving, as her last meal had been lunch the day before. Rachel was stunned to learn that 90% of the students at her inner-city school arrive at the institution hungry.

“I’m so sorry Ms. Faust, I’m just so hungry,” the little girl told her. “I missed breakfast, and we haven’t eaten since lunch yesterday.”

This broke Rachel’s heart, and while she can’t fix the home lives of her students, she vowed to make their time at school joyful and positive. Rachel’s efforts to help her students garnered the attention of television host Ellen DeGeneres, who decided to have the teacher on her show as she tried to showcase good people in this country.

Rachel told Ellen about her students and how humble she was to be part of such a fantastic group of professionals.

“I am not facing hunger. I can go home and cook myself a warm meal. I know where my bed is at night. My babies don’t, and they come here with a smile on their face,” Rachel said. “The very least I can do is come in with a smile on mine.”

When Rachel revealed that she spent $1,000 of her own money to purchase supplies for her classroom, Ellen surprised her by partnering with JC Penney to donate $100,000 to the school!

We need more teachers like Rachel in the world! SHARE this story so your friends and family can see this as well!