CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Two Kanawha County schools are teaming up to raise money for a Texas school impacted by Hurricane Harvey.
Andrew Jackson Middle and Elkview Middle are hosting fundraising events through Oct. 13 to help students at Rockport Fulton Middle School in Rockport, Texas.
The school sustained heavy damage and remains closed to students.
“After Hurricane Harvey went through Houston and created so much damage there and a vast number of schools that were affected by that, we just felt a real tug on our heart to be able to reach out and help a school down there,” said Elkview Middle School Principal Melissa Lovejoy.
Elkview Middle was one several schools in Kanawha County that was impacted by the June 2016 flooding. Lovejoy said they know what it’s like to not have school supplies and other essential items.
“I know what it feels like because that’s where we were last year,” she said. “We lost basically everything on the first floor.”
The amount of support and donations Elkview Middle received has motivated Lovejoy to get the project going for Texas students.
“It was very touching for me as the principal to see the amount of outreach from schools across the nation,” she said. “Our kids have really jumped on board with this.”
Some of the fundraising events include a Hats for Hurricane Relief on Fridays, a 5K Color Run/Walk for AJMS students on Sept. 29, a school dance at Elkview Middle and change drives through Oct. 13.
Lovejoy said they plan to raise whatever amount of money is takes to help Rockport Fulton Middle get back on its feet.