Tennessee Volunteers for Texas Supply Drive
School superintendents and their school districts across the State of Tennessee are joining forces to help their fellow superintendents and districts in the State of Texas that have been affected by Hurricane Harvey. Members of the Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents, TOSS, have announced that they will be participating in a school supply drive, known as Tennessee Volunteers For Texas, to provide new school supplies and money for the students in hurricane ravaged areas.
TOSS Executive Director Dale Lynch said that school districts across Tennessee reached out to him for ways to help. Williamson County Schools in Franklin is working with Williamson County Government to provide a collection site. “Dr. Looney and the Williamson County School District have volunteered to serve as the “hub” to receive supplies from school districts as far away as Mountain City to Memphis,” said Lynch. “There are many kind and generous hearts among the school districts in the State of Tennessee.”
The districts will be collecting only new items in their original form. Those items include back packs, college or standard ruled paper, #2 pencils, scissors, glue and crayons. School buses are also being accepted, and Lynch said that several school districts are working to donate one or more surplus buses to school districts in Texas.
Looney believes the Tennessee Volunteers For Texas initiative will be embraced by school families across the State. “It’s important for students to get back into their school day routine as soon as possible,” said Looney. “Providing some basic school supplies will help them do that, and it is a way to spread the BE NICE message across the country. I encourage all educators, students and families to help in this effort.”
The Franklin Special School District is also pledging to help students in the Houston area.
“We are proud to be a part of this flood relief effort for the school communities affected in Texas and know our Franklin families will rise to this challenge,” said FSSD Superintendent Dr. David Snowden. “We saw the strength and heart of the Franklin community when we organized a similar effort following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and I have no question the same compassion will fuel this drive as well.”
Beginning Saturday, September 2, school supply donations may be delivered to the Williamson County Agriculture Center, in care of BE NICE, 4215 Long Lane, Franklin, TN 37064. Monetary donations may be made through the Community Foundation website at www.cfmt.org/williamson-gives.
