The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Students helping hurricane victims
When a teacher at a Texas school impacted by Hurricane Harvey reached out for help, a group of Lake County students answered the call.
Matt Myers, a fourthgrade teacher at St. Gabriel School in Concord Township, said his classes were without hesitation after discussing needs of the hurricane victims identified on the website AdoptAClassroom.org. They were all in. In a post on the website, Keri Grayson, who teaches fourth grade at Burnett Elementary School in Houston, Texas, stated that “My students and their families have just lost everything in the flooding from Hurricane Harvey… your consideration of assisting us is greatly appreciated.”
So St. Gabriel School students went to work.
“Through some class discussions the students actually came up with the idea of doing a bake sale and adopting the classroom all by themselves. I have only been assisting them in the planning,” Myers said.
Part of that planning included instructing students to write persuasive letters to Principal Donna Lee Saladino and the Rev. Fred Pausche, St. Gabriel’s pastor, requesting permission for the sale.
STEM coordinator Christine Horne noted that “because the kids initiated it I think it was given the green light.”
After choosing Nov. 18 and 19 as dates for the event, students spread the word to the community through posters, online videos and more.
Remarkably, the goal to collect $600 was exceeded
on the first day. After day two a grand total of $1,584.09 was raised.
Tables teeming with baked goods in the community room of St. Gabriel Parish soon were cleared as patrons swept up goodies varying from basic chocolate chip cookies to gourmet Trifecta bars.
Joe Zarlenga of Mentor balanced handfuls of treats to purchase. “Those people need all the help they can get down there,” he said.
At one point while helping with the sale, student Elizabeth Horne’s enthusiasm prompted her to announce “only two brownies left, come and get ‘em!”.
Student P.J. Koerwitz who brandished promotional signs inside the church’s foyer encouraging
Mass attendees to stop at the sale said many people’s generosity led them to simply hand him money for the cause.
Several parents of fourthgraders expressed their satisfaction with the endeavor’s multiple valuable facets.
“I think it’s wonderful the kids initiated the idea and they turned it into an educational project with the persuasive writing,” said Melissa Zarbo of Painesville.
“I love the idea that they picked a classroom like them,” said Melissa Fortunato of Concord Township. “They’re doing something they can do to help.”
About 90 percent to 95 percent of Burnett Elementary School’s population is economically disadvantaged
to begin with, said Garver during a recent phone conversation. The hurricane’s wrath intensified their troubles.
Although the school suffered leaks that have been patched, the majority of the area surrounding the school where the children live flooded heavily.
“This has been pretty traumatic,” she said. “It’s really starting to take its toll now. In the beginning people were just coping.
Now they’re trying to find places to live long term. You’re starting to see the wear and tear on them.”
About 150 students have been displaced by the storm and are living with other families or in hotels and lack of food is an ongoing issue.