SIDNEY — Sidney City Schools and Upper Valley Career Center will be taking part in collections of hurricane-relief items.
A semi, provided by Steve Woodruff of Sidney Transportation Services, will be parked in front of Sidney Memorial Stadium, Friday, Sept. 8, through Sept. 15.
Members of the community, including those attending various sporting events over the next week, are encouraged and welcomed to donate much-needed items for victims of Hurricane Harvey.
Once Sidney’s collection drive is completed, Woodruff will move the trailer to other sites in efforts to fill the trailer.
“As we watch what happens on the east coast with developing hurricanes, future collection efforts may take place,” said Mitch Hoying, Sidney City Schools athletic director.
The following items could be useful: cots, sleeping bags, blankets, baby wipes, diapers, personal hygiene items, feminine hygiene items, clorox wipes, socks, hand sanitizer, undergarments, adult diapers, buckets, brooms, mops, dustpans, shovels, trash bags, disposable gloves, liquid laundry detergent and dish soap.
Also toilet paper, paper towels, water, ziploc bags, rubber boots, dog and cat food, non-perishable food items including canned meats, canned vegetables and fruits, canned hamburger, canned chicken and tuna helper, assorted crackers, rice, peanut butter and jelly, dry beans, sugar, cereal (hot or cold), instant potatoes, flour, pasta and tomato sauces, canned beans, soups, cooking oil, shelf-stable milk.
In Piqua, Upper Valley Career Center students and staff are working with other local schools and community partners to organize a community-wide hurricane disaster relief effort. The five-day drive will run from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday, Sept. 11 through Sept. 15. The community is invited to participate by donating new, unopened and non-perishable personal and household items.
Student organizations and volunteers from several local churches will help at the Upper Valley Career Center drop-off site. Signs will direct incoming traffic to follow the main drive behind the high school. The trailer will be located just off the turnaround next to the greenhouse. Volunteers will assist donors with unloading vehicles and loading the trailer.
Dee Dee Harshbarger, an Upper Valley science instructor and Student Senate adviser, is coordinating the student effort.
“All last week we heard from students who want to help the people of Texas,” she said. “Our students are making this happen. They are getting the word out, encouraging their friends and families to give, distributing lists of needed items, making signs and will help with receiving and organizing the donations next week.”
Once collected, donated items will be taken to the Church of Christ, Vandalia, which serves as a disaster relief collection site. The church has offered to transport goods directly to the disaster area in and around Port Aransas, Texas.
Harshbarger said the school will not collect gift cards or cash donations.
“There is definitely a need for those donations, but we ask that monetary gifts be directed to another relief effort, such as the American Red Cross,” she said.
