Contact: Tammy Lane • First Posted: Thursday, May 21, 2009

Fayette County teachers are reaching out to colleagues in Eastern Kentucky whose schools have been devastated by severe flooding and sharing classroom supplies with those who have lost everything.

News video from Belfry Middle School illustrates the extent of the damage, with mud caked on computers and tree limbs entangled in students’ desks.

“We have several teachers from Pike County, so it kind of hit home for several staff members,” said Ivonne Beegle, principal at Cardinal Valley Elementary.

Cardinal Valley is taking the lead gathering donations from across Fayette County Public Schools. “People are saying they’ll do whatever they can to help,” Beegle said.

Suzanne Ray, the PSA at Cardinal Valley, knows the area hit by the flooding well; her husband is from Pike County. While relief agencies like the Red Cross and churches take care of clothing, food and shelter for victims, Ray and other Cardinal Valley staff members decided someone should look out for the teachers.

“We’re sitting here one day and realized (our) teachers are cleaning out supplies for the summer. Instead of packing them up and giving them to Goodwill, why not give them to people who need it?” Ray said. “Instead of saving pens and glue sticks for next year, why not give them to someone who really needs it?”

Beegle has sent fliers to fellow principals and to It’s About Kids Support Services, asking folks to help the Pike County teachers restock their classrooms. Cardinal Valley will accept supplies through May 29 and truck them to Pike County during the first week of June.

Among the needs are scissors, index cards, dry-erase markers, notebooks, staplers, three-ring binders, pencil boxes, Kleenex – all the things teachers would normally have in their classrooms.

“It’s the little things that teachers consider creature comforts and essentials,” Beegle said. “We’re trying to collect as many things as possible.”

Photo captions:

Ivonne Beegle, principal at Cardinal Valley Elementary, says colored markers, sidewalk chalk, bulletin board borders and Kleenex are among items on the wish list.

First-grade teachers Undrail Izlar (left) and Kristy Stewart bring supplies to the office at Cardinal Valley Elementary, where PSA Suzanne Ray helps box up the donations.