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Knight Volume 65

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Writers Oct 21, 2024

Issue 1

6311 S Lois Ave, Tampa, Fla. 33616

Hurricanes Hurt: but RHS is Here to Help PTSA joins with IB Link and RHS Foundation to collect donations for South of Gandy families in need By YESENIA ROSARIO AND ASHLYN MILLER, CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEVES On Thursday, Sept. 26 Hurricane Helene made history going on record to be the worst flood damage that Tampa Bay had seen in the past 100 years. It made landfall on the Big Bend of Florida as a category four decimating everything in its path with homes in shambles from flooding or wind damage and leaving some families close to homeless.

and provide the transportation to get those clothes from the larger organizations to the people in need so were focusing more on household items and other items that these non profits [and] charities don’t focus on,” Ackley said. Ackley’s reason for staying so local instead of working with larger, farther organizations was the issue of transportation that many families were affected by due to such high storm surges.

According to The Washington Post, Tampa experienced some of the worst flooding with record breaking storm surges reaching up to almost eight feet. Despite city leadership warnings about the extreme storm surge in a press conference days before the storm, many citizens were still not prepared for the devastation that followed in Helene’s path.

“One of the issues is if you’re an at risk family- which Robinson does have- you may not have transportation and a lot of the depots and the places that are offering goods and services are not close by,” she said. “If you do have your own transportation a lot of [it] ended up underwater and of course if a car gets flooded chances are it’s not gonna be operational again. It’s convenience of location. There’s many of them [Non-profit organizations], but its hard to find something close to home.”

Saturated drywall and carpets must be removed immediately to prevent mold growth and further A local unloads a wheel barrel of dry wall from their home in Old Port Tampa. Photo by A. Miller water damage in homes. The streets witnessing it with her own eyes Ackley was inspired to begin a resources are far away and in high of Old Port Tampa and Beach Park after going to help out a friend who drive to help families in the South demand,” Ackley said. were lined with piles of furniture, was affected. Tampa area and at Robinson but appliances and toys as families couldn’t do it alone. The IB Link, While its recommended to bring worked to throw out their entire “When Hurricane Helene came Robinson High School Foundation clothing it is heavily encouraged to lives to make repairs after having The PTSA began collecting through it was shocking, the and the PTSA came together and bring other household items and several feet of flood water in their donations Oct. 1 outside in the devastation. It didn’t really hit until started to plan a drive that would toiletries such as school supplies, homes mornings from 8 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. I went to bring food to a friend collect donations to be donated to Tupperware, bedsheets, towels, in the student parking lot. of mine that had some flooding families. small appliances, baby essentials However, there is hope in a and then I witnessed the extent of and much more which can be hurting communities time of need. the damages,” Ackley said. “That’s To encourage student inclusion “It seems like because of the viewed on the PTSA’s Instagram Robinson’s PTSA, (Parent Teacher when I knew that if that home Ackley encourages student clubs to widespread devastation getting account, robinsonhsptsa. Teacher Association) Parent help give back to their community was damaged to that extent that resources far from home is difficult, President Alissa Ackley decided to there are many others. They’re [the so we decided that the best thing one morning and when collecting “One of the things that is donated take charge. donations that club will get to homes are] right here in South for us to do would be for us to frequently to the large organizations focus on their item that they want Tampa.” draw from our resources close to are clothes so what we want to do Ackley didn’t realize the extent to donate that day. home and start our own drive for the clothes is we want to get of tragedy Helene caused until After witnessing such damages because it was a combination of in touch with those organizations .......continue on page 2

HEADLINES FROM THE INSIDE

Streets lined with personal items, carpers, childrens toys and clothes as citizens of Tampa attempt to re-group post Helene. Photos by A. Miller

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