Elementary Students Help Hurricane Victims

WAITSBURG – Waitsburg elementary students are learning and practicing giving and compassion as well as academics. From Oct. 3-13 grade school students are collecting supplies for children affected by hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. The supplies with be gathered into kits and distributed to children in need by the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR).

Kindergarten teacher Pam Beasley initiated the project and said students have responded enthusiastically. She encouraged each student to contribute at least one item, but says many wanted to do more and asked where they could send backpacks, books, food and blankets.

“We talked about how school is one of our ‘safe places’ and that by sending school supply bags, we are helping the victims of the hurricane feel safe, and learn, again,” Beasley said.

Beasley said elementary staff are constantly working on kindness, compassion, and respect in the school.

“When I saw this relief opportunity through UMCOR, I knew the students would embrace it, and they have. It’s a way of helping others outside their own ‘bubble’ and a way to teach social responsibility,” Beasley said.

“Also, today I showed all students the affected areas on the globe. There was a collective gasp from each group as I showed them the area of Dominica, where our para, Eleanora Montgomery’s family lives. They survived the hurricanes, but were left with nothing. I think this brought the disaster closer,” she added.

The districts is donating through UMCOR because the organization spends 100 percent of designated donates on the projects donors specify. The organization accepts hygiene, cleaning, and school supply kits to areas affected by disaster and Waitsburg teachers felt a collection of school supplies would be the most appropriate and meaningful to their students.

The school supplies kits contain specifics items including: three spiral or top-bound pads, 24-count boxes of crayons, blunt scissors, 2-inch or larger erasers, unsharpened pencils, hand-held pencil sharpeners, 30-centimeter rulers (no advertisements). All items should be free from advertisements, religious, patriotic, military or camouflage symbols. The items are then packaged in a 14”x16” cloth bags, which will be sewn by women from the Pioneer Methodist Church in Walla Walla.

Each elementary classroom has a donation basket and donors can send individual items, entire kits or even funds that can be used to purchase items. Students are encouraged to earn money for the cause by doing yard work, cleaning, or other chores. Please contact Pam Beasley at (509) 337-6461 with any questions.