Western North Carolina suffered catastrophic damage after heavy rainfall from Hurricane Helene. Wayne County Public Schools officials are working to assist the school districts and communities with fund raisers planned this month through nearly November. (Contributed photo)
GOLDSBORO — Wayne County Public Schools received thousands of dollars in donations from schools and communities across the state to help provide support to students and staff who had been displaced or impacted from flooding and storm damage caused by Hurricane Matthew and Hurricane Florence.
Now with western North Carolina school districts and communities facing historic devastation and recovery needs as a result of Helene, WCPS school communities are coming together to help return the support.
“Our hearts go out to neighbors in the west,” said Dr. Marc Whichard, superintendent of WCPS. “We recognize that relief can come in waves and will be needed days, weeks, and months out. With that in mind, our district-wide collection efforts are intended to help address the more immediate needs of communities through physical donations.
“Schools can use monetary donations to help address long-term needs by directly assisting those students and staff still in need of relief support in the coming months after their school year is able to resume.”
In addition to various school-level collection drives that have already begun around the district this week, WCPS will be kicking off two district-wide donation/collection initiatives on Monday, Oct. 7.
Coins For A Cause
All schools will participate in coin/dollar relief drive. The district-wide fund raiser begins Oct. 7 and runs through Nov. 6.
Through a partnership with Mt. Olive Pickle Company, all schools will receive plastic gallon jars to collect the coins. All proceeds collected will go directly to partnered school districts in western North Carolina to purchase gift cards to support those students and families displaced or impacted from flooding and storm damage.
Physical Donations
The drive officially begins Oct. 7 and continues through Oct. 25. Once completed, WCPS will pick up items from each school and have them shipped to impacted communities.
WCPS schools will have drop-off sites for students, families and community partners who would like to donate the following items:
- Toilet paper
- Bottled water
- Non-perishable food
- Contractor-size trash bags
- First-aid supplies
- Feminine hygiene
- Diapers & baby Clothes
- Gatorade
- Canned goods
- Personal hygiene products
- Feminine hygiene products
- Baby wipes
- Cleaning supplies
- Pet food (dog/cat)
- Hand sanitizer
- Paper towels
- Bleach (Bottles, Spray, Wipes)
- Laundry detergent
- Dish soap
- Shovels
- Brooms
- Gloves
- Flashlights
- Batteries
“We are working with the NC Superintendents Association to identify specific western districts and communities that our school district can partner with for these donations,” Whichard said. “As superintendent, I, along with the Wayne County Board of Education, sincerely appreciate the efforts of our students, families and community partners who are coming together through these efforts to demonstrate an outpouring of compassion and support for communities faced with needs unlike anything they have ever experienced before.”
