On September 30th, 2024, Hurricane Helene hit Western North Carolina and caused unimaginable damage. Since then, Millbrook has been doing its best to help provide resources and funding to the schools and communities in western NC. Millbrook has taken donations of just about anything education-related. This ranged from markers to backpacks. All these donations are going to Old Fort Elementary School in McDowell County, NC. Old Fort took some serious damage with flooding but are slowly putting themselves back together.
After the hurricane hit, Millbrook’s Executive Board decided to make all proceeds from homecoming tickets go to help fund western NC and the rebuilding of their communities. Students in the MEB events section went to the front of the school with posters advertising the dance while students and staff were arriving to get more tickets sold.
Homecoming was on Friday, October 18th, and was a complete success! They sold just over 200 tickets. With the ticket sales, they were able to donate about $2,000 worth of donations. MEB is also taking donations of money on School Cash Online.
On Monday, October 21st, students from MEB gathered in the cafeteria to sort through the many donations they received. They put every different item in separate boxes so that on the 22nd they could assemble the bags in an assembly line. MEB Advisor Ms. Haddock said, “Seeing how the community has come together and seeing what everyone has contributed…We have 371 backpacks and lunchboxes, countless socks, and school supplies… It is very heartwarming to see, and I want others to feel that too. It makes me feel proud to be a Wildcat!”
Some clubs at Millbrook joined the initiative to help western NC. The Women’s Health Outreach Advocates and Speech & Debate both collected notebooks. Key Cub collected lunch boxes. Mrs. Morris’ classes also collected notebooks. FCCLA collected socks, and the Spanish Club collected Kleenex.
“As a social studies teacher, I constantly tell my students that we in the United States are one gigantic, sometimes dysfunctional family. When one of your family members needs help, you help without a second thought.” said MEB Advisor Mr. Brown. Brown further adds, “Sending supplies up there won’t reconstruct roads or buildings but will hopefully help some families who are in real need of it. Going to help others also is just the right thing to do, especially as someone who wants to see our state and these areas I love so much economically succeed and recover.”
On Tuesday, October 22nd, students from the Diploma Programme, Key Club, and MEB worked to help pack the backpacks for the students. Each book bag contained a lunchbox, pencil case, notebook/binder, and an ice pack. The bags were organized by grade level and have been put on the truck headed to western NC.
Science teacher Mrs. Clemmer and her husband will donate their time on Friday to deliver all of Millbrook’s donations to Old Fort Elementary. MEB President Giovanna Hunter said, “When you’re a little kid and a terrifying thing like that happens to you and a lot of stuff changes, you may be confused or sad, see your parents stressed out and not know what to do. I think the fact we made stuff for these kids in case they lost their school supplies means that they get to know someone, somewhere is thinking about them.”
Millbrook was able to collect over 300 backpacks, almost 200 lunchboxes, and over 350 pencil cases from all-around donations. Millbrook’s surrounding community has put in so much time, effort, and money into saving western NC, and they are greatly appreciated for everything.
If you would like to continue to donate money to Western NC, you can do so at this link!
https://wcpss.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Details/12461/419/False/True
