The second-grade class at Barbara B. Robey Elementary School recently got a special gift from an organization that wanted to help the kids cope with recent hardships.

The non-profit Kids at Hope presented the students with a doll and book written by Rick Miller, founder and president of the Phoenix-based agency.

Hillary Hope, Oscar Optimism and Sammy Success are characters from the book titled Kids at Hope Friends Visit Miss Debby's Class. The characters were created to inspire children to dream large, said Kim Heredia, executive director of administration at Kids at Hope.

"We felt that this was a time that they needed to hear messages of hope in their school and that's what our mission is based on," Heredia said.

Within seven months, the Litchfield Park school lost two second-graders to illness.

Celeste Muñoz, 7, fell ill and died unexpectedly on Oct. 9. Celeste was on fall break.

In March, Terrell Christopher Gladney died after being in and out of the hospital for a few weeks.

Heredia said her group learned about the deaths through The Arizona Republic and sought to offer encouragement.

The second-graders were overjoyed to get a present, Principal Melissa Wisner said, but the gift meant so much more.

"I just think that we so appreciate the support of the community and the willingness of others to help out in times of need," she said. "The kids were all very excited. It was just incredible.

"I think it shows that continued sense of community that we have tried so hard to build."