Schools, community come together to help in tornado-recovery efforts

Perry County schools still are dealing with the effects of a tornado that destroyed more than 40 homes in the area.

District communications director Kate Martin said 30 students and school staff members were displaced by the tornado. Some of the students have sought out counseling services at their schools.

"We had a storm again Monday night, and we're under a tornado watch," Martin said. "There's a real level of anxiety everywhere. ... Our whole community has suffered a trauma."

Because of a chance of rain and snow over the weekend, the American Red Cross is asking volunteers to stay away from tornado-damaged areas around Perryville, according to Red Cross disaster-program manager Nick Nunn-Faron. Nunn-Faron added that organizations -- Red Cross, Salvation Army and Catholic Charities -- no longer are taking in-kind donations but still are accepting monetary donations. Anyone wanting to act as a coordinated volunteer should contact the University of Missouri extension office at (573) 547-4504.

The Red Cross is holding a blood drive Monday at the St. Vincent De Paul High School gymnasium.

The school community has continued efforts to support tornado victims since schools reopened Monday, Martin said. The district hosted a Red Cross fundraiser, and multiple classrooms participated in the Perry County Community Foundation fundraisers, Martin said. Martin did not know exactly how much had been donated.

Over the weekend, multiple groups of Perryville High School students helped with debris removal, staffed and worked distribution centers, unloaded buses and trucks of goods, delivered meals to volunteers and worked in the Blue Sky laundry, according to a news release. The laundry washed more than $5,000 worth of clothes, according to the release. Perry County schools staff members and students also served breakfast to victims and volunteers Sunday, according to a news release.

"Hundreds of our students didn't wait to be organized and deployed," Perry County superintendent Andy Comstock wrote in a news release. "They simply went to the areas impacted by the tornado and began helping their friends, teachers, coaches and neighbors. I was so impressed by their compassion, their hard work and their care for our community. I just couldn't be more proud of these kids."

Third-grader Vonn Ponder raised more than $1,700 by standing outside local businesses collecting donations, according to a news release.

Missouri Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven forgave the three days Perry County district students missed because of tornado damage. Students and staff still will have March 17 off for spring break, March 20 for a professional development day and April 14 and 17 for Easter break.

Missouri requires 1,044 hours of instructional time, and the district is on pace to amass 1,106 hours of instruction, Martin said.

"This resonated so much with the entire community," Martin said. "The state acknowledged something terrible had happened with the entire community."

bkleine@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3644

Pertinent address:

326 College St., Perryville, Mo.