Readers open wallets, hearts to the kids of Taylor Academy

Scroll to the bottom of this story to see how you can help the children of Millvale.

Jalisa Allen, a 10-year-old girl who's slept on the floor of her grandmother's home, went to sleep Monday night in a brand new bed thanks to Enquirer readers.

It was her first bed.

On Sunday, The Enquirer published "When there's not enough" – a story chronicling the lives of children who go to Ethel M. Taylor Academy in Millvale, the city's poorest neighborhood.

Immediately, readers reached out with incredible generosity.

A reader went to Ashley Furniture HomeStore and bought a bunk bed to donate for Jalisa and her 5-year-old cousin, Rayshawn Allen, to share. In the past, Jalisa let Rayshawn have the only bed.

Morris Furniture Company, Ashley's parent company, donated the mattresses.

Jalisa's grandmother, Paula Allen, who cares for Jalisa during the week and has custody of Rayshawn, had just gathered the children Monday evening to the table for hamburgers, salad and freshly sliced watermelon, when there was a knock at the door.

Allen knew who it was; Jalisa and Rayshawn were shocked.

Rayshawn and Jalisa raced out, at one point climbing in the truck, dancing and posing with the mattresses.

They crowded into their tiny bedroom to watch as three workers put the bunk bed's wooden frame together.

Jalisa helped, adding screws, holding the drill.

When they were done, the mattresses tucked into the wooden frame, Jalisa yelled, "I have a bed."

Rayshawn claimed the top bunk.

Twenty people offered Jalisa a bed after The Enquirer article published. The other 19 will go to students at Taylor Academy.

Here's what else readers did:

• Readers dropped of snacks to fill the supply closet in Taylor Academy Principal Ceair Baggett's office, the place where he and teachers go to fill their children's empty bellies.

• A pizza parlor is throwing the school a pizza party; a bakery is bringing cupcakes Friday to celebrate the end of testing.

• The Cincinnati Ballet wants to bring an after-school ballet class to the school.

• Readers donated almost $5,000 to Taylor Academy's nonprofit charity, the Soaring Hawks Foundation.

• Lowe's Home Improvement is donating the material to build shelves at the school so educators can keep the extra supplies there.

• Readers donated bikes to the children featured in the story.

• A group of seniors citizens offered to "adopt" kids next year and buy them what they need for the school year.

Churches, schools and individuals told School Resource Officer Molly Luken they were collecting food, money, clothes and books. Many people offered to tutor.

Baggett and Luken offered effusive thank-yous.

"I am totally overwhelmed by the love and support just showering over Millvale right now," Luken said.

And Luken can use the help. She's ground zero for helping the kids of Millvale.

When students tell her they don't have food at home, she sends them home with snacks.

When students tell her they don't have clean school clothes, she gives them new uniforms.

When students show up to school in ill-fitting shoes, she gives them new ones.

How to help

Give new socks, new underwear, deodorant, blankets, new and gently used books, and new gym shoes up to size 10 adult. Drop off or mail to: Taylor Academy, 1930 Fricke Dr., Cincinnati, Ohio, 45225.

Donate to Soaring Hawks, a non-profit agency that helps the school with what it needs. Send checks to 3236 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45226.