Hurricane Michael Outreach Update

We wanted to send out an update on Hurricane Michael outreach to let you know how appreciative we are for our school, for the outpouring of supplies from our families and everyone's willingness to support our Panhandle neighbors during this ongoing recovery from Hurricane Michael. The drive we did during Fall Festival was very successful - we were able to complete 170 hygiene kits that included a hand towel, a washcloth, a bar of soap, fingernail clippers, bandages, a comb and a toothbrush. These kits have already been assembled by our Lower School classes and were delivered to those who needed them. The supplies that were leftover (especially extra bars of soap and toothbrushes) were given to a HCES family who have been instrumental in relief operations in Calhoun County. Also on Fall Festival night, many wagons of non-perishable items were sent directly to the church's food pantry to replenish what was given out in the immediate days after the hurricane. We also collected $215 in cash that was sent to Episcopal Relief and Development. Many thanks to you if you donated online as well.
 
Holy Comforter also has two fellow FCIS schools that have been heavily damaged by the storm -- Robert F. Munroe Day School in Quincy and Holy Nativity Episcopal School in Panama City. As we reached out to offer our support, both schools provided long lists of necessary supplies and equipment that they need to replace immediately to continue their mission. Once we received these lists, it was apparent to us that they needed more than what we felt we could assemble through a "school supply" drive. Therefore, we decided to support these friends in another way. In addition to offering furniture, including desks, chairs, stools and more that we have in storage, we were able to give both schools $5,000 each in Scholastic dollars we raised during book fairs where they can go shopping and purchase what they needed directly from the Scholastic catalog. In the case of Holy Nativity, their library is a total loss. Here is what they posted Tuesday night on Facebook.
 
How can you thank a sister school who rushes to your assistance during your most challenging days?
Thank you to our friends at Holy Comforter Episcopal School, Tallahassee for their generous donation of Scholastic Books, funds from their Book fair, and library chairs! 
And they are praying for our recovery!
God bless ❤️ Holy Comforter Episcopal School
 
Their Head of School, who was here in February as a member of our re-accreditation team, also commented:

Judy Elms Hughes Let’s remember, they, too, suffered from Michael’s destruction. How remarkably kind.

Our part in their recovery will be small in comparison to all that is before them but we were thankful we could make a meaningful contribution. We will continue to support these two schools in the coming months as more needs arise, so stay tuned. In addition, we will host our annual November Food Drive and Christmas Guardian Ad Litem Projects. If you have any other suggestions for outreach, please don't hesitate to share it with us.
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