Moore Public Schools host donation drive for tornado-stricken Sulphur

Sometimes, amazing things can happen starting with no more than an idea to help others. For Bryant Elementary 6th grade Teacher Blake Mackey saw this play out after expressing a desire to help Sulphur Public Schools teachers after their community was impacted by an EF3 tornado on April 27. Mackey started with the idea to have drive-through necessities collected and stored in the Bryant gym until he could drive them down to Sulphur.

With the support and assistance of Bryant Principal Dr. Trey Skaggs, they quickly experienced the generosity of the Moore and south Oklahoma City community, and the gym corner began filling up. Moore Public Schools posted to its social media accounts and news stations began coverage of the donation drive, promoting even more donations.

Simultaneously, the Moore Public Schools Foundation assisted Bryant by setting up a Givebutter online donation campaign for those wanting to give, but not able to deliver goods before the deadline. In fact, news of the donation drive reached a retired educator in New Jersey who donated online.

Walter said, "I know this just a little donation, but I want to help. I was a school board member in New Jersey for 13 years, including as president, county member, and NJ State Board, and I know education is the most important thing other than health, in one's life. Good luck, and God bless all. - Walter."

In just three days, the MPS Community raised $2,630 to send to Sulphur Public Schools. Thank you!

- MPS Foundation

From a Thursday to Friday, what began as an idea to do good for neighbors suffering what many in Moore have experienced, grew into a box truck filled with goods and necessities. Mackey and Skaggs drove to the Sulphur Expo Center to deliver the donations and were greeted with tears and hugs of gratitude from Sulphur community members. 

Learn more about Bryant Elementary here. 

 

Bryant Elementary Donation Drive KOCO Segment Transcript

 

by Meghan Mosley with KOCO5

In response to the recent EF3 tornado that ravaged the town of Sulphur, another community that knows devastation is lending a helping hand.

Moore Public Schools is hosting a donation drive to provide much-needed supplies to the affected community.

"It really was just a 'Let's give back,'" Blake Mackey, a social studies teacher at Bryant Elementary, said.

The drive began at 4 p.m. Wednesday, hoping to bring help to the community hit by the storm last weekend.

"One of the important things we have here at Bryant is we want students and our whole community to think about lifting others up before themselves," Trey Skaggs, the principal at Bryant Elementary, said.

The school district is urging the community and surrounding areas to donate to the town of Sulphur before Saturday.

"We are looking for wipes, baby diapers. We're looking for bottled water, gallon water, totes to hold that in," Skaggs said.

Just hours after the announcement on social media, donations began pouring in

"We were able to get things dropped off just from word of mouth," Mackey said.

The Moore community, having experienced the devastation of tornadoes in the past, understands the power of coming together after a tragedy.

"The only thing you can do is look forward. The whole goal is to know that rebuilding is possible, scary and hard, but that's the ultimate goal," Mackey said.