BRADENTON, Fla. — Despite the challenges schools are facing in the midst of the current pandemic, one Manatee County school is focusing on helping others.
"If you have the ability to bring people hope, even if you’re going through something, you still can," said Anna Alarcon, an eighth-grader at Lee Middle School.
When Future Business Leaders of America students at Electa Lee Middle School in Bradenton saw the devastation caused by Hurricane Laura, they wanted to help.
"The people that got devastated by the hurricane, they have nothing," said Sydney Christophel, an eighth-grader at Lee Middle School.
Last year, they collected more than 20,000 lbs of non-perishable supplies for Hurricane Dorian victims. They are hoping to help Hurricane Laura victims the same. But because of the pandemic, it will have to be in a different way.
"You have to learn how to overcome and adapt. Nothing is going to come easy your whole life, so you need to learn how to figure it out and keep moving," said Richard Daenell, a business teacher at Lee Middle School.
And figuring it out is exactly what the FBLA students have done.
Instead of people dropping off donations inside of the school, like in the past, there is a white trailer parked in front of the school that will be unlocked from during the school day where people can drop off non-perishable items.
If you would like to help, students are collecting:
- Food
- Water
- Clothes
- Hygiene items
- Baby supplies
- Toys
- Cleaning supplies
- Tarps
- Medical supplies
- School supplies
- Cash donations
Items can be dropped off in the white trailer in front of Electa Lee Middle School Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
ELECTA LEE MIDDLE FBLA
HURRICANE RESPONSE
4000 53rd Ave. W
Bradenton, FL 34210
P: (941)727-6500
E: daenellr@manateeschools.net
