By Rukhshona Islamova |News| –
Think about how stressed out and nervous you were on the first day of school. Now imagine having to start or restart school after living through one of the worst hurricanes in history.
These are the students that have been affected by hurricane Harvey. They’ve lost their clothes, shoes, school supplies, and maybe even their homes.
Hurricane Harvey was the first major hurricane to hit the United States in 12 years. According to city and county officials around Texas, Harvey’s death toll has now reached 70 people and counting. The hurricane traveled through, and damaged many cities in Texas and Louisiana, but Houston, Texas was hit the hardest.
Everyone affected will struggle, including schools and students.
It will be difficult to bounce back after having so many days of school cancelled. Students will struggle with reinstating routines that have changed due to displacement, lack of cohesion and overall stress. In the midst of all this, Shams Al-Badry, a Lincoln High alum from the class of 2009, is doing her best to help.
On August 29, 2017 Al-Badry made a facebook post asking for donations that she could send to a few of her friends that teach in the Houston area. She asked for things like backpacks, notebooks, hygiene items (shampoo, conditioner, body wash), toothbrushes and undergarments, because that is what is being requested.
Al-Badry immediately received responses to her post.
“I have been contacted by several individuals who are interested in donating supplies or monetary donations,” Al-Badry said. “Many of these individuals are young professionals in the Lincoln community. I have also received donations from coworkers, former teachers, and students.”
Most items donated have just been school supplies that Al-Badry is sending directly to the teachers so they can distribute them to the students at their schools. A couple of the teachers receiving the donations are native Nebraskans.
“Two of the teachers are from Nebraska and currently teaching in Houston,” Al-Badry said. “One of the teachers, Taylor Wagner is from Lincoln, and the other, Evelyn Dominguez is from Grand Island. Both are phenomenal teachers who are worried about their students and their families,” Al-Badry said of the teacher recipients.
These supplies will be needed by the teachers and students as soon as possible, so Al-Badry is trying to send out these donations as fast as she can. Initially, she had asked that donations be donated by Thursday, September 7th, but due to the amount of interest she is receiving, the planned ship date is Monday, September 11th. Al-Badry is splitting up the entirety of the donations into three shipments and sending them to three different locations in Houston.
Al-Badry taught Early Childhood Education in Kansas City, Missouri as a member of Teach for America. Having a background in education Al-Badry knew how hard it would be on whole communities to get back on their feet, school life included, so she decided to do her part by collecting these donations.
“As you can imagine, most of their students have been displaced. This academic year is going to be a tough one on students, teachers and families.” Al-Badry said, “As a former educator, I know the importance of having supplies and resources for students without burdening students, families and their teachers.” Al-Badry stated.
Al-Badry is doing her best to help as much as she can and would like to remind everyone of her deadline of September 11th. Anyone interested in donating can contact her at albadry.shams@gmail.com.
