ENDWELL, N.Y. -- Students and staff at George F. Johnson Elementary enter the school year with heavy hearts.

45-year-old kindergarten teacher Cassandra Cline was killed last month, by an alligator in South Carolina. Those who knew her say she brightened any room she walked into.

"Every time she came in, we knew she was here. She always came in with a smile, laughing. She always lit up the place," said Jaime Bucinell, Hair Studio Six Owner.

At the start of every school year, Cline would purchase school supplies for any of her students who couldn't afford them.

Shortly after her death, Hair Studio Six in Endwell, where Cline's sister works, decided to continue that tradition.

"We really wanted to just pull together and do something really special in honor of her name and help Kathy in this really difficult time," said Bucinell.

In the days to follow, donations began pouring in, from all across the country.

"We had no idea this was going to reach so far. We even got boxes in from Kentucky through Amazon. We can’t get over the community and how everybody is pulling together to support this cause and how many lives Cassandra's really touched," said Bucinell.

The dozens and dozens of donations will be brought to George F. Johnson this weekend for students to enjoy, just as Cline would have wanted.

"She touched so many lives so it would be so awesome if these could reach those children that had her and they were able to get something out of it, just to keep a little piece of her and keep her name going in such a positive light," said Bucinell.

School supplies can be dropped off until Saturday at Hair Studio Six, both Court Jester Athletic Club locations and Southern Tier Dermatology.