The news continues to bring us stories and images of the devastation caused by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. As we try to imagine how the residents of Houston and Florida are coping, conversations typically turn to questions about how our communities can come together to help.
Working with school superintendents from Lake County, we have coordinated an opportunity to help residents of Houston affected by flooding. We developed this effort working with the Houston Independent School District so that it meets specific and known needs for students in this district–the largest public school system in Texas, with over 200,000 students.
Families who choose to participate in this optional effort are invited to donate new and unused items:
• clothing
• shoes
• underwear
• socks
• school supplies
• canned food
• bottled water
If you choose to donate, please deliver NEW AND UNUSED ITEMS to the collection box located in the office or nearby area designated at your student’s District 96 school by Sept. 29. Principals included this information in their Principal’s Messages on Sept. 8.
Office hours for accepting donations weekdays when our schools are in session are:
9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. @ Willow Grove Early Learning Center
8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. @ Country Meadows, Ivy Hall, Kildeer, and Prairie Elementary Schools
7:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. @ Twin Groves and Woodlawn Middle Schools
The last day to deliver your new and unused item(s) to your student’s school is Fri., Sept. 29.
The following week the donated items will be collected centrally for delivery by semi truck to Houston.
Please note that we are not able to accept any cash or checks for donation.
Finally, given the continual news coverage and discussion of these disasters, you may be interested in this information from the American Academy of Pediatrics with guidelines for TALKING TO CHILDREN ABOUT DISASTERS