BY SARAH STEPHENS
OWER/EDITOR – ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
It started with a phone call from a parent to Redland Elementary School teacher Lisa Roberts West, asking if perhaps she had any extra supplies in her classroom that could be donated to help out medical facilities and first responders.
Sometimes it is the smallest things that turn into something much bigger and wonderful!
“I had a mom contact me and ask if we had Germx left at School since we were not in the classrooms. Possibly Clorox wipes? She said they were cutting one wipe at her facility into four and were almost out of supplies! There are none available to purchase. She was thinking if we had some at school, we could possibly donate a few,” West said.
That Mom is the parent of a student of West’s at Redland Elementary School. She has connections to a medical facility, but wanted to see if supplies were available to help as many first responders and essential workers as possible.
Her name is Kathy Fulford Grate, and she served as a “Middle Woman” to get the supplies to the right people.
Kathy was just wanting to see if a few wipes, or other supplies could be donated. She received a bigger blessing than she expected.
“I immediately put the word out in our teacher group. What we received is from eight classrooms! Eight teachers agreed and had supplies. They told me where to look and I raided their classrooms Friday and Saturday before the shelter at home began,” West said.
Grate then began a delivery service of supplies, to police and fire departments and medical facilities. “She said she couldn’t even remember where all she took them,” West said. “It felt amazing to help in some way! Now I’m collecting again for my best friend who has a brother who works in a lab running the tests for COVID-19. I’m hoping to get a few more teachers involved that may have missed the first round.”
So, are you a teacher with extra supplies that would like to help? Or maybe start your own group!
You can send Lisa a message on Facebook under Lisa Roberts West, or send a text message to 334-312-6763 if you want to join in and help! The plan is to continue gathering supplies to provide for those who are most in need during this crisis.
“They can also donate at any facility on their own! I had one teacher say he was taking his to Jackson Hospital because that’s where his children were born. I think just the reminder we have supplies and aren’t there to use them could help so many people,” West said.
“This huggy, smiley teacher is having a hard time with using a computer program to teach. I can’t see what the kids see. I miss their faces!” West said.
West says with distance learning, she misses interacting face to face with her 142 sixth grade students at RES. But these times call for a new way of thinking when it comes to education and doing everything possible to keep everyone safe.
“As it is, I look at a computer and data. We are all frustrated. I’ve been in tears today. It has been difficult. But doing something like this makes me feel so much better,” West said. “We are going to get through this.”
For a Facebook video of thanks sent to all who donated from Redland Elementary School, visit https://www.facebook.com/lisa.r.west.7/videos/pcb.10216701230789287/10216701230669284/?type=3&theater
If you want to help, please drop Lisa a message or a text, or let us know. We will get you in touch with her! AND….keep sending us your good news! We need more good news!
Email me your good news to editorsarah@yahoo.com.
