Providence Students Donate Stuffed Animals To Uvalde Peers

PROVIDENCE, RI — Providence isn't close to Uvalde, Texas, but the students impacted by the shooting at Robb Elementary School weren't far from the minds of their peers at Gilbert Middle School.

In a show of support for those in the small Texas town, students from Gilbert Stuart collected hundreds of stuffed animals which will be donated to students in Uvalde.

According to NBC 10 News, who first reported the story, students Nicky Payanl and Bin Routh came up with the idea for the donation after hearing about the shooting.

Nineteen students and two teachers were killed when a gunman, Salvador Ramos, opened fire inside the school. He carried a long rifle with multiple rounds of ammunition and wore a tactical vest as body armor, Lt. Christopher Olivarez of the Texas Department of Public Safety told The Associated Press.

RELATED: Texas School Shooting: What We Know About Uvalde Victims

Both Payanl and Routh said the shooting occupied space in their minds and conversations immediately after it happened. Specifically, they were concerned for the affected students and families.

"We just wanted to contribute and try to make them feel better at least," Payanl told NBC 10.

"Some lost their best friends, it’s just devastating," Routh said in an NBC 10 interview. "And we wanted to put a little good in the world from the devastation that it caused."

The initiative was noticed by those within the rest of the Providence Public School District.

"We are SO PROUD of these amazing Gilbert Stuart Middle School students," the district said.