Brotherly Love: After Sandy, Schools Help Schools
By Ukee Washington
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (CBS) - Most schools are open after Sandy, but that doesn't mean the school year is back to normal for everyone. Some parents are struggling to pay tuition. But thanks to some other kids, there's help.
First graders at Our Lady Star Of The Sea Catholic School in Atlantic City were learning the story of the good Samaritan this week. They were finally back to class after closing two weeks for Sandy.
"The whole month of November disappeared," said school principal Sister Shamus Zehrer.
After Sandy the school cafeteria was underwater. Some of the school families are still underwater financially.
"I would say 90 percent of our families are casino workers in some way or other, so as their hours have been cut, I know money for them is hard," the principal said.
When students of Christ The King Regional School in Haddonfield heard about their plight, they dove in to help.
"Wanting to help somebody who really needed the help, we decided to do Hoops for Hope," said principal Anne Hartman of Christ The King Regional School. "We're hoping to raise some money to go directly to those families in Atlantic City."
Children and parents raised money by holding a basketball drills competition: Ten dollars to play, five dollars to watch. T-shirts were ten bucks each.
"Everything's going right directly from our hands to theirs," Hartman said.
So far they've raised $1,400, a lesson in giving from children to children.
"Words cannot express all my thanks for them, and I believe that all the students here, all the families here, feel the same as me," said Father Joseph Pham, pastor of Our Lady Star of the Sea.
To help the American Red Cross, go to www.cbsphilly.com/donate.
