Seneca Valley helps S.C. school that was damaged by flooding
JACKSON TWP — Two Seneca Valley alumni looking for help for their South Carolina school district following flooding earlier this year have received a large community response.
Seneca Valley students have been collecting donations to send to Britton's Neck Elementary School, which has been closed since September due to flooding from a hurricane.
Two 2008 Seneca Valley graduates who teach at Britton's Neck, Cody and Kasey (Davidson) Knight, reached out to their alma mater for help. Kasey Knight said there is a “resilience” found in the students and their families, and they “just want to do whatever we can to assist.”
“We think about the impact that a school has on its surrounding community,” she said, “and that inspired us to reach out to our former school and try to connect whatever resources we could.”
The Knights said they haven't taught in their school since Sept. 10.
Spearheaded by Ryan Gloyer Middle School students, health teacher Mickey Flood said he was in awe of the work he's seen to help the nearly 400 students at Britton's Neck Elementary School, one of 14 schools in the Marion County School District, since hearing about its plight in late September.
More than $1,000 has already been raised and sent to the school, according to Flood.
“It's been a blessing to be a part of this for sure,” he said. “It's become a big community thing.”
Flood also said he received pictures and thank-you cards in the mail on Friday from some of the first and third grade students at Britton's Neck who have been relocated to other schools within their district.
Flood said he challenged his students on the first day of school with the phrase “make a difference,” which contributed to their enthusiasm in this project.
“They were throwing out all kinds of ideas,” he said.
Jenifer McMurray, intermediate high school biology teacher and freshman class of 2022 adviser, said her class officers decided to start collections at the intermediate high school.
“One hundred percent of the kids are on free- or reduced-price lunch,” McMurray said of the South Carolina region's struggles.
She said there are donation bins outside the library, in the main office and in all science classrooms throughout the school. The collection will be this week, and the donations will be sent to South Carolina before Thanksgiving, McMurray said.
“(I am) hoping for lots and lots, especially the money,” she said.
McMurray said she is coordinating with existing collection efforts being led by Flood. Flood said next week will be the tentative time to transport supplies.
He said he originally planned on renting a truck and driving them down over the weekend, but Ryan Gloyer Middle School Principal Tony Babusci connected with a moving company that offered to help with transportation.
“They supplied boxes to pack everything,” Flood said.
Flood said a PTA mom, Carrie Weinreich, is also hosting similar efforts in the district and asked for her donations to be added to the truck.
