- January 9, 2025
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Imagine School first-grader Nora Clem holds up the donation box she decorated. Photo by Paige Wilson
Materials collected by Rachael Spires' first grade class Tuesday morning alone. Photo by Paige Wilson
First grade teacher Rachael Spires poses with the materials her students donated since Tuesday morning to benefit their adopted classroom in Houston. Photo by Paige Wilson
Palm Coast resident Catherine Philhower donates blood. Photo by Paige Wilson
Shareika Hill of One Blood makes a flower out of bandages to give to a blood donor. Photo by Paige Wilson
Palm Coast resident Catherine Philhower donates blood. Photo by Paige Wilson
One Blood's Big Red Bus was parked outside Imagine School at Town Center from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday. Photo by Paige Wilson
Holly Pane donates blood. Photo courtesy of Imagine School at Town Center
Flagler County Sheriff's Office Deputy Jeff Puritis holds up a sign supporting Houston before donating blood. Photo courtesy of Imagine School at Town Center
Imagine School Speech Language Pathologist Dr. Doreen Blischak was excited when a Kindergarten student ran up to her on his way to P.E. on Tuesday. He wanted to give her four quarters for victims of Hurricane Harvey in Houston, Texas.
"It was in his pocket all day, and he was just itching to see me," she said.
After Blischak found out about Houston Coalition for the Homeless, she decided to implement a few donation containers around Imagine School so students could bring in spare change to give to those affected by Harvey. She said the school raised about $85 the first day of donations last week and a total of about $125 so far.
To encourage students to give, Blischak let a few of them decorate the containers, one of which is shaped like a house. First-grader Nora Clem decorated the house-shaped donation box with her favorite color: purple.
"The little ones don't really understand it, but they're always happy to put money in something as cute as that little house," she said.
To continue the giving efforts, Imagine School at Town Center first grade teacher Rachael Spires has adopted Ms. Guzman's first grade classroom at Longfellow Elementary in Houston.
"For most kids, school is a safe place," Spires said. "It's a place they can go and feel comfort and know they're safe, and right now everything (in Houston) is a little chaotic."
School supply donations began Tuesday, Sept. 5, and a small crate of items, including markers and folders, has already been collected in Spires' class.
"(Longfellow Elementary) classrooms have water up to where we would have a counter top," she said. "They're hoping the school is water free soon, but these were all things that were purchased, and now they're lost. ... Families are trying to replace personal belongings and might not be able to replace all the items they need for school."
Spires said she hopes to send the supplies to Houston by Friday, Sept. 8 so Ms. Guzman's class can receive the donations around the time Houston schools restart on Monday, Sept. 11.
Faculty, staff, parents and community members were also able to donate blood at Imagine School at Town Center, 775 Town Center Blvd., on One Blood's Big Red Bus on Sept. 5 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Those interested can donate supplies at the Imagine School at Town Center main office during business hours.
