“It is important to learn at a young age that helping others is very important.”
Hurricane Harvey caused a slew of destruction throughout several states earlier this year, leaving plenty of areas forced to rebuild and start over with their lives. Palmyra may be 1,554 miles northeast of Houston, but it wanted to get involved with helping the area rebuild.
The Charles Street School, which holds approximately 500 students ranging from preschool to sixth grade, was able to get involved quickly after the storm hit.
“Each month of the year we try to perform a community service project,” Principal Mark Pease said. “Normally we help with Operation Yellow Ribbon, which helps provide supplies and goods to United States military forces serving overseas. We decided to change our direction to help the people of Houston.”
After reaching out to the state Department of Education, Charles Street School was able to partner with Scarborough Elementary School, which had to relocate following the hurricane. Pease reached out to Scarborough Principal Miriam Medina to build a relationship between the two schools.
“There was an overwhelming response of schools around the country trying to help the victims in Houston,” Pease said. “We not only wanted to send our well wishes, but continue to build that relationship and help in any way we could do so financially.”
To find out what donations were needed first, Pease had to decide if delivery was possible. The first shipment will include gift cards and a cash collection, which the school has helped raise in a variety of ways.
“So far we have around $500 raised and we hope to get up to $600 before we send it over,” Pease said. “The students have been excited to help make an impact, they relayed the information to their parents and people have donated. We also have done dress down days for the teachers, who make a donation to take part.”
The fundraising is an ongoing process, and the school hopes to have small orders that would make it better for shipping purposes, Pease stated. The principal has also reached out to both UPS and FedEx to help with shipping costs not only for this shipment but also future shipments.
This act of kindness by the school and community is also teaching the students a valuable lesson, Pease believes.
“Palmyra is a very close knit community, and it helps others in needed,” Pease said. “It is important to learn at a young age that helping others is very important. You never know when you may need someone’s help in your life, and it’s neat to see the kids learn that.”
The school also plans to have the students send greeting cards, while considering food, school supplies, and other basic necessities in future shipments to Houston.
If you would like to make a donation, please contact Pease at (856) 829–3601 or by emailing mpease@palmyra.k12.nj.us. For more information on Charles Street School, check http://www.palmyraschools.com/ps/CSS/.
