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HSD Provides Support to Those Families Affected by the Tornado
In the wake of the tornado that devastated parts of Hazelwood last week, the Hazelwood School District has been working to provide support to the families impacted.
“Our number one priority right now is to support and respond to the needs of our families impacted by the tornado,” said Superintendent Grayling Tobias. “Our community has been so supportive of our school district. We must return that support to our students and their families, as well as the entire community.”
Tobias said he is very proud of the efforts by employees who have volunteered to help families affected by the tornado. “I have a great sense of pride in HSD based on the efforts of our staff members over the past few days,” he said. “I am also pleased that every employee group has participated in helping our families, including teachers, counselors, social workers, secretaries, security officers, maintenance, custodians, technical and professional, transportation, food service and administration. Our various employee groups have joined together to make a difference for our families.”
Last Thursday, teachers volunteered to provide free child care to children affected by the tornado. In addition, more than 100 volunteers, most of them HSD teachers, canvassed the affected neighborhoods, providing information on resources, as well as helping with clean-up. These efforts continued Friday by teachers whose school day was canceled. HSD also sent counselors, social workers, food and supplies to the Hazelwood Civic Center, which is the site of the temporary shelter for those displaced by the tornado.
This past Saturday, HSD organized HSD Outreach Day to help district families affected by the tornado.
“I am overwhelmed and very pleased that more than 200 HSD staff members volunteered this weekend to provide support to our families,” Tobias said. “HSD Outreach Day is an idea that originated from support staff members through the HSD Social Committee.”
HSD served 50 families at the Command Post on Saturday. In addition, on Sunday, HSD served 39 families at the United Way Resource Fair, and another 14 families at the HSD Learning Center
“Thanks to the generous support of our community, we have distributed food, clothing, toiletries, bleach, deodorant, baby wipes, flash lights, soap, wash clothes, bath towels, blankets, tarps, lighter fluid, charcoal, book bags with school supplies, hearing aid batteries, and much more,” Tobias said. HSD students were also involved in the volunteer efforts. More than 170 donors (businesses and individuals) have supported the efforts. Tobias said the community has worked together as a team to help rebuild.
“Even though it is a crisis situation, this storm has brought our entire community together. We have strengthened our relationships with first responders including Red Cross, United Way of Greater St. Louis, City of Hazelwood, Hazelwood Police Department, St. Louis County, fire officials and churches,” he said. He added that support for the families affected by the tornado will continue for the next several weeks.
The District also set up a telephone number – 314-604-8656 – for tornado victims to call to express their needs.
