Brownsville schools raise funds for Connellsville flood victims
Evan Sanders
Brownsville Area School District students (from left to right) Cora Gira, Zachary Kutek, Lauren Zelner and Amber Adams glance at a check they recently delivered to representatives of the Connellville Area School District as the result of fundraising efforts to assist Connellsville flood victims.
Evan Sanders
Students and faculty in Brownsville Area School District undertook fundraising efforts this fall after several Connellsville Area School District communities suffered severe flooding. Pictured are (front row, from left) Brownsville middle school teacher Patty Kinsley; students Cora Gira, Zachary Kutek, Lauren Zelner and Amber Adams; and Interact Club sponsor Jane Boch; (back row) Connellsville Area School District Superintendent Phil Martell, Connellsville Area school director Paul Harshman, Brownsville elementary teacher Terri Trempus and Connellsville Area Community Ministries executive director Chip Rowan.
Evan Sanders
Brownsville Area Middle School student Zachary Kutek shakes hands with Connellsville Area School District Superintendent Phil Martell after Brownsville students delivered funds they raised this fall for Connellsville flood victims to Connellsville Area district officials.
Despite being competitors on the field and in the classroom, students in Brownsville and Connellsville area school districts are joined by a common mascot and a strong sense of community.
After severe flooding hit several parts of Connellsville Area at the beginning of the school year, students at Brownsville sprung into action to help their cross-county peers.
The district undertook fundraising efforts this fall to assist Connellsville flood victims. The initiative, dubbed Falcons Helping Falcons, resulted in $1,214 worth of aid that Brownsville students delivered to Connellsville Area officials in December in time for the holiday season.
Spearheaded by the high school’s Interact Club, the initiative raised the money through a series of fundraisers at all three district schools.
“We saw that there was a great need, and the devastation really affected us because it was so close to us,” said Interact Club sponsor Jane Bock.
Bock said the club’s 30 students organized a donation collection during a home football game, as well as a hat day for students and a dress-down day for faculty, totaling over $600 in proceeds.
“When there is a need, the school will come to the Interact Club because we have a strong club where all the kids are very community-oriented and want to help the community,” said Bock.
Dress-down days and open donations were also held at Brownsville’s elementary and middle schools to collect money for the cause.
“Our staff and students are always willing to help,” said third-grade teacher Terri Trempus, adding that teachers work community service into the curriculum. “To teach them about why they are helping out, just talking about needs of the community. We try to bring it down to the level of helping others is very important.”
In a district that suffered about $400,000 of damage as a result of the flooding, Superintendent Phil Martell said over 100 families were affected and several students are still experiencing homelessness. The money can help families get back on their feet, he said.
“I think it’s awesome. It shows a lot about the character of the (Brownsville) community and how the parents raised these young students, and how they feel about their (peers) here (in Connellsville),” said Martell.
The funds donated by Brownsville will be put to use by Connellsville Area Community Ministries, one of the leading agencies in the flood recovery efforts.
Community Ministries executive director Chip Rowan said about $650,000 has been raised in relief to help combat $7 million in losses. About 150 families are currently seeking assistance from the organization.
“It’s just great to see (Brownsville) reach across the district line. I’m sure they had needs in their own community, but they saw this need and felt that they wanted to help,” said Rowan, adding that the agency has received close to 1,300 individual donations.
“From $5 to thousands of dollars, every piece of that helps. We can help a couple families with (Brownsville’s donation),” Rowan said.
Martell said the devastation resulting from the flooding and the subsequent inpouring of support has helped bring together area communities in Fayette County and beyond.
“This wasn’t just about Connellsville,” said Martell.
“It brought the whole Connellsville area together, but it’s also brought this whole region together because everybody has stepped up.”