A Hot Cup of Tea for the Soul

Some of you might have heard about a second grade teacher in Teaneck, New Jersey who had turned a simple question from one of her students into a lifelong project of collecting tea bag tags and raising money for library books. A few years before 1988, one of Miss Rosanne Ponchick’s students at the Whittier School asked her, “How much is one million?” In order to give her students a more concrete idea of what a million actually looks like, instead of just telling them that there are six zeros following a one, Rosanne decided to collect one million tea bag tags to show her students.

Well, this second grade unique educational project (which incorporated a variety of curriculum subjects such as math, reading, writing, geography and more) has unexpectedly connected Rosanne to the world. As a result of much media coverage, such as The NY Times article of November 27, 1988 and The Wall Street Journal article of December 30, 1988, people began sending letters along with tea tags to her classroom. Over the years, this project has inspired people from everywhere and from all walks of life to send in tea tags in support of its teaching goal. Additionally in 1993, Rosanne, along with her second graders, created their own brand of tea bags, the Teaneck Tea. To date, the sale of this tea has provided over $6,000 worth of library books donated to three elementary schools in Teaneck.

Two of the people with whom Rosanne has connected: President George Bush (L)
and Norman Bridwell (R), author of Clifford The Big Red Dog.

In this season of love and peace, it sure is good to read about someone who is passionate about what she does and is willing to walk that extra mile to touch others’ life. However, this story does not end here. Rosanne’s contribution to her students’ learning and the donation of all the library books to the schools is only half of the story.

Since Rosanne started her tea tag collection project in the eighties, for over thirty years she has received not only tea tags from strangers but also their precious friendships. People, most of whom Rosanne has never met and probably never will, have been pouring out their life stories to her. Through their hand-written letters, they have given Rosanne their encouragements and appreciations for what she is doing, and they have also shared with her their own worries and joy. In fact, Rosanne has personally responded to over 10,000 tea tag pen pals.

Rosanne organizes and keeps all the letters from her tea tag pen pals.

Recently I met Rosanne at one of my tea tasting workshops and was invited to spend an afternoon at her home. When I walked into her house, it was like walking into a tea specialty store. There were beautiful and interesting tea related things everywhere. Rosanne told me that most of those objects were gifts from people who have been corresponding with her about her tea tag project. Rosanne has never asked people for anything except tea tags, but they so freely sent her presents because somehow she has touched their hearts.

As Rosanne led me through the house, telling me stories behind some of the items, I was amazed not only by the quantity of tea gifts that people have sent her but also by the generosity and thoughtfulness of those “strangers.” It seems what started as a second grade “show and tell” project has evoked in people the feeling of goodness, and a desire to connect and to give.

 
Interestingly, people who don't know each other often send Rosanne the exact same gift:
twelve copies of the same book and three teapot bags are just two of many examples.

Rosanne retired from her teaching position in June 2013. Today, she still receives tea tags and sells Teaneck Tea, and she continues to correspond with people who write her. She also has a new idea, a new dream—to establish a tea museum to showcase all the tea things that she has collected and received. To quote her own words, “With much joy, I would like to share my collection with the world by establishing a unique tea museum to emphasize the following:

1. Look at what you can do with one idea!
2. Look at the kindness of strangers!
3. Look at how you can reach the world in a positive way!
4. Tea is universal and can bring people from all over the world, together.”

As I always say, “Tea is more than a beverage. It is a way of living.” Rosanne’s story has just proven my point :-)

NOTE: You can learn more about Rosanne and her projects through the YouTube video from the Audrey Johnson Show - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyK4V-j2LZw or from Rosanne’s blog at https://tealadysite.wordpress.com/. She can also be reached at tearosanne@gmail.com.