Locals are coming together to help Westwood Hills parents facing financial hardship with the school having been closed the past couple of weeks after the Sept. 2 shooting.
The Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge has established the Westwood Hills Elementary Family Relief Fund to provide emergency assistance to families that have had to scramble to deal with how to take care of their kids during what would have been the school day the past couple of weeks.
Westwood Hills has been closed since the shooting, and isn’t set to reopen until Sept. 17, as students, parents, faculty and staff work toward processing the events of Sept. 2.
“With the school closed, many of our families have been unable to work, creating additional financial strain at a time when they are already navigating unimaginable circumstances,” said Jeffrey Cassell, the superintendent of Waynesboro Public Schools. “Families have bills to pay, responsibilities to meet, and loved ones to care for. When a school is unable to open its doors, the effects are felt not only by our students and families, but throughout our entire community.
“As we continue to respond to one tragedy, we want to do everything possible to prevent families from facing another crisis because of circumstances beyond their control,” Cassell said.
The Community Foundation is partnering with the school system and with the Community Assistance Network at the Embrace Center in Waynesboro to connect Westwood Hills families with assistance.
“The Community Assistance Network at Embrace SAW was developed as a resource navigation pilot with the support of the Community Foundation with times like this in mind, so our community can quickly mobilize and support our neighbors, not only in times of financial crisis, but during disasters that none of us want to imagine,” said Jenelle Watson, executive director of Embrace Centers for Community and site director for Embrace Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro.
Families experiencing financial hardship as a result of the school closure may contact CAN at 540-324-7006 or [email protected].
Community members can visit the SAW Embrace office on 932 Fir St. in Waynesboro between the hours of 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
CAN representatives will work directly with families to understand their immediate needs, provide access to available resources from the relief fund, and help connect them with other community resources and services as needed.
The Community Foundation credited Kline’s Ice Cream as being among the first to recognize the potential financial impact on families and made a generous contribution to help launch the relief effort.
“School shootings devastate our sense of security,” Kline’s owner Kim Arehart said. “We stand united in supporting the children, parents, and faculty as they move forward from this tragedy. The Westwood Hills Relief Fund gives us a way to help families who are struggling during this difficult time.”
How to help
Contributions to the Westwood Hills Elementary Family Relief Fund may be made to the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge.
Online: contributions may be made at cfcbr.org.
By mail: Checks may be made payable to the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge and mailed to:
Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge
P.O. Box 815
Staunton, VA 24402
Every dollar received will be used to assist families in need.
For other questions about making a contribution, contact the Community Foundation at 540-213-2150 or [email protected].
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Chris Graham
