On Friday, September 15, Gaynor was abuzz with activity as students, teachers, and staff worked together to complete the first goals in Gaynor’s year-long hurricane relief efforts to benefit Briarmeadow Charter School – a school supply drive and bake sale. Classes across all clusters were tasked with sorting and counting hundreds of school supplies including scissors, crayons, markers, pencils, and tissues that had been collected during the week prior. Each class graphed their items before heading to the fourth floor of the South Building to drop off the sorted supplies in labeled boxes.
Students also made notes of encouragement for their fellow students in Texas. One Orange Cluster student shared, “I am sorry that you had to go through all this. I know that it will be hard for you, but I know you can do it! I am thinking of you.”
While sorting and organizing took place throughout the day, the Parents’ Association held a bake sale to raise additional funds for Briarmeadow Charter School. Thanks to parent volunteers who organized and staffed the bake sale, as well as all of the Gaynor customers who supported it, nearly $1,500 was raised. An astounding 1,900 school supplies were donated and collected including 124 backpacks, 144 scissors, 245 packs of crayons, and 385 glue sticks.
“It was truly remarkable to watch our Gaynor community participate in the Hurricane Relief school supplies drive and bake sale,” said Michelle Fox, Director of the Lower School. “I am proud of how we all came together, as one Gaynor community from the EC to the Blue Cluster, to lend a helping hand. Coming together to help others in need is exactly what makes Gaynor the magical place that it is.”
Gaynor will partner with Briarmeadow Charter throughout the year, and continue to support them as they recover from the effects of Hurricane Harvey.
Update: All of the boxes packed with supplies arrived safely to Briarmeadow Charter School. All of the items were displayed and families in need were invited to go “shopping.” Every single item was taken for students directly to benefit them. “Thank you so much from our community to yours,” said Katie Santanello, a 2nd grade teacher at Briarmeadow Charter.
Students at Briarmeadow Charter School had one big message for Gaynor: “Thank ya’ll!”