Collegiate Students Raise Funds for Hurricane Survivors

The Collegiate School community united today to help survivors of Hurricane Harvey in Houston and Hurricane Irma, which tore through Florida and led to flooding in parts of South Carolina and Georgia, by hosting a bake sale and “special dress” day.
Soon after Harvey devastated the Houston area nearly three weeks ago, students leaders in Upper School and Middle School began considering ways to lend a hand and sought support from Collegiate's Institute for Responsible Citizenship. The Responsible Citizenship team helped the student leaders and school administrators devise a plan for offering long-term support to the residents of Houston.

All students, faculty and staff were invited to participate in a Sept. 13 “day of support” by making a contribution of $1 or more in order to wear jeans and the colors red, white and blue, in honor of the Texas flag, or by purchasing doughnuts or baked goods for a $1 or more during a bake sale to be held in each school division.

As plans were underway, however, Hurricane Irma stormed through several U.S. territories (including Puerto Rico), across the state of Florida and other parts of the south, resulting in destruction, massive power outages and flooding. The school-wide relief effort was then expanded to include support for these survivors as well, and the colors red, white and blue were worn today in honor of all Americans impacted by recent hurricanes.

Students were given an overview during this week’s Lower, Middle and Upper School assemblies of why the relief effort is important and how their assistance will make a difference.

“It’s important for them to understand not only our own community, but to also understand what’s going on around the world,” said Suzanne Fleming, Collegiate’s Director of Service Learning and Civic Engagement. “We want them to learn how to identify a need, understand the issues and respond accordingly. For example, BakerRipley needs cash donations. They indicated on their website that they weren’t taking other things, so that’s what we’re doing.”
 
All contributions received today, Sept. 13, will be donated to BakerRipley, which operates community centers, Head Start programs, charter schools and senior centers in low-income areas of Houston, and to other organizations that are working to provide long-term support to residents of Florida and other areas hit hard by Irma. The total donation amount will be announced at Convocation, which takes place on Friday, Sept. 15.

To learn more about BakerRipley, click here. Students will be given more information soon on the other relief organizations that are selected to receive funds for victims of Hurricane Irma.
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