SHELBURNE FALLS — The devastation left behind by hurricanes Maria and Irma last year left much of Puerto Rico without basic necessities. Families relocated. Schools and businesses were closed. Electricity was scarce. As the months have passed, the island has begun the slow process of rebuilding.
For students at the school in Guayanilla, Puerto Rico, the hurricanes disrupted every aspect of their lives, including their school day. When it was time to return to school, many children and classrooms were without the basics — pencils, notebooks, crayons — essentials for any classroom.
As Mohawk Trail Regional Middle School Student Council students started brainstorming their upcoming fundraisers, they knew immediately how they wanted to make a difference. Students overwhelmingly decided they wanted to get involved and help to give back to students on the island. As a result several fundraising initiatives — along with donations by community members and Staples in Greenfield — the students raised $400 to purchase classroom supplies and recently shipped five boxes to the school.
“Our whole mission is to help students practice leadership and we need to be able to problem solve,” said Jana Purington, student council advisor. “We ask them to think globally because they’re part of a larger community; they’re part of something bigger.”
Purington said students were overwhelmingly enthusiastic and passionate about their cause. Students conducted a 50/50 raffle during the Mohawk Trail Regional interactive open house night and accepted donations.
“Community service is a big piece of our work in student council,” said Purington. “And for students, it’s sometimes hard to see outside yourself. But with these students, when the hurricanes hit, they were just so passionate. They really wanted to help Puerto Rico in some way.”
Mohawk Trail Regional Middle School eighth grader Alex Lilly said student council members felt strongly about stepping up and focusing their fundraising efforts on helping students affected by the hurricanes in Puerto Rico.
“I think it’s really important to help your community, even if it’s not right there in your backyard or someone you know,” said Lilly. “If the situation were different, we would want someone to help us.”
Cards and letters of encouragement and well-wishes written in Spanish, courtesy of Pamela Adlersmith’s language classes, accompanied the five boxes of school supplies.
“This really gave students an opportunity to see that language has real world applications,” said Adlersmith. “You can use your skills not only in the classroom, but also in a real world situation in a meaningful way — showing others you have sympathy for their situation.”
“I can’t really imagine not having supplies and having all your things destroyed,” said student council member Ayla Starr, of Charlemont. “It was nice to be able to do something for people who needed it. And I liked being behind the scenes to help.”
Fellow council member and eighth grader, Tristan Keyser-Parker, of Ashfield, said if the situation were reversed, he hoped people outside the community would do the same by stepping up to lend a hand to strangers.
“We are all people and one big community. Things can happen that are out of our control. And these hurricanes weren’t their fault,” said Keyser-Parker. “I want to make a difference in the world and feel like I’m doing something important for others.”