‘Make it a Grand Week’- Olivia Lobertini, The Grand on Central

Campbell County Schools donate to flood victims

By Charlotte Underwood

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- Shortly after several neighboring East Tennessee Counties were devastated by Hurricane Helene, Campbell County Schools launched a supply drive.

The hurricane relief drive began on Sept. 30, and the donations began “pouring in” according to Campbell County High School Government Teacher Josh Parker who was taking donations in his classroom.

“When the call went out on Sunday, the next day at school, we almost had a room full of supplies already. Our student body responded in a big way! We had community organizations dropping off as well, including a group of folks in the Deerfield community who graciously donated items,” Parker said.

Campbell County’s hurricane relief drive was part of a larger drive organized by the East Region Superintendent Study Council, which is chaired by Campbell County’s Director of Schools Jennifer Fields, who said “superintendents across the East Tennessee region came together to show their support.”

Each region in Tennessee has a superintendent study council.  One member from each study council serves on the TOSS, Tennessee organization of School Superintendents, board of directors. Director Fields is the East region serving member on that board.

Multiple school districts within the East Region Study Council held hurricane relief drives in “response to the devastating flood damage that impacted several school systems and communities in a neighboring region.”

“As chair of the East Region Superintendent Study Council consisting of 21 school systems, we all wanted to do something to help,” Fields said. She began working with the superintendents to coordinate a large-scale effort to collect and deliver essential supplies to the affected areas.

“Despite many different districts being on fall break, superintendents and their teams worked together to collect resources and coordinate the delivery of donated supplies along with monetary donations. Several trailers, box trucks, U-Haul, and even tractor trailers were needed to deliver the large number of donated supplies. We wanted to ensure that the communities most in need received the support to help them in their time of need and the delivery of supplies was based on a list of school systems facing the greatest challenges,” Fields said.

The response was overwhelming with multiple deliveries continuing beyond the collection deadline. In fact, they had so many donations that they “were able to distribute them to Tim Short Ford and Ms. Griffith at Jacksboro Middle School for their hurricane drives as well.”

“Each school in Campbell County had an overwhelming response with donations. Our maintenance department was extremely instrumental in organizing and transporting the supplies from our schools to the Central Office, then to the drop off place in Knoxville. We are blessed and fortunate to live in such a special place and thank you to our dedicated School Maintenance employees for picking up these supplies at the schools and delivering them,” Parker said.

At Thursday’s Board of Education meeting, Director Fields commended Campbell County Schools on holding drives for hurricane and flood victims in East Tennessee.

“I want to say thank you to our students, our schools and communities and the maintenance department who donated supplies to the surrounding counties for the flood relief last week,”

She reported that Jeff Smith and Colby Bailey with the maintenance department delivered a “truckload and a trailer load of supplies to Knoxville and the supplies were then taken to the seven counties affected by the flood damage.  She added that two more deliveries had been sent this week.”

“This effort stands as a testament to the strength and unity of the east Tennessee educational community and their commitment to support their fellow educators, and students in times of crisis. I am proud of the way our districts pulled together. It’s heartwarming to see how quickly everyone worked to help our neighbors in need. This outpouring of support demonstrates the compassion and dedication of our educators, staff, and communities across our region and the power of unity in the face of adversity,” Director Fields said.

A NOTE FROM THE GRAND ON CENTRAL: “There is so much good going on in our community, and I want to share all this good with you every Monday here on WLAF in hopes that you will start your week in a grand way making each week a Grand Week,” said Olivia Lobertini, owner of The Grand on Central.

Below, take a visit through The Grand on Central.

For bookings, email Olivia Lobertini ohlobertini03@gmail.com. Check on avails HERE. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 10/15/2024-6AM-PHOTOS SUBMITTED)