The following examples of the Westfield School District's effort to help those adversely impacted by Sandy were announced at Thursday evening's meeting of the Westfield Board of Education:
- On Dec. 18, Roosevelt Intermediate School's Student Council presented the United Fund of Westfield's Sandy Relief Program with $856 raised for local victims of the hurricane.
- Westfield High School's Key Club raised $1,100 through their Stop the Clock fundraiser held at the high school. All the money is targeted for the Westfield United Fund's Sandy Relief efforts. The club also held its annual craft fair for kids, with all proceeds going to the local Habitat for Humanity buildings programs.
- In addition to previous contributions to shore communities, Tamaques families donated dozens of holiday gifts and $750 in gift cards during the holidays for famlies in the Atlantic Highlands who have been affected by the disaster.
- Also, before winter break, in just 10 days time, through efforts led by Westfield High School and Ediston Intermediate Schoool, the community worked together and raised $5,000 in gift cards for Jersey shore families. In addition, another $600 in donations, as well as serveral boxes of cleaning supplies, were given to a Barrier Island church that has been feeding and caring for hundreds of families for more than two months.
- Elm Street's Administration Offices and friends, Fine Arts Department and the Westfield High School Choir helped contribute toward a total of $6,000 in toys, backpacks, school supplies and gift cards for families in Manahawkin, Seaside, Toms River, and Silverton. This effort, called a Jersey Shore Christmas, was led by a niece of Linda King, supervisor of fine arts.
- This next relief effort began more than 2,000 miles from New Jersey. A few days after Hurricane Sandy hit New Jersey, the district's community relations office received an email from a teacher in Arizona whose father grew up in Westfield. The teacher wanted to help the New Jersey shore, where she had fond memories of spending time with her grandfather. She inspired her third grade class to makes scarves and another class to make blankets to keep Sandy victims at the Jersey shore warm this winter. Arrangements were made for Joe Paradise, a teacher at McKinley School and an active volunteer, to receive 124 scarves and 12 blankets, which he donated to an organization called Union Beach Santa. According to Paradise, UB Santa was really appreciative of the scarves and blankets. And the third grade teacher from Tucson told of how excited her students were to help. She explained that the students live in such a different climate where they only experience a lot of rain about once a year. She wrote in one of her emails, "So, this has been a project with many teachable moments. The moment that I hope lasts the longest is helping others and reaching out to those in need. Thank you so much for all that you are doing for the families. New Jersey has a special place in my heart."
