While the school is not opened due to on going investigations the community is working to recover and prove they are stronger than ever. One project that has been in the works to remind the community about their strength is the Snowflakes for Sandy Hook. While this project started out to provide paper snowflakes to line the walls, windows, and hang from the ceiling in the new school, nobody could have imagined the international response that has been recieved.
In my email from the National PTA President has spoken for all PTA schools, individuals, and non-PTA affiliated individuals and families that have responded to this request. Coming from Betsy Landers the National PTA President and her responce to the Newtown Donations:
Good evening to each of you,
Nearly one month has passed since the horrific school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. Every day since then, staff and volunteers throughout the state have dedicated their time to helping the community heal. And for the foreseeable future, the Connecticut PTSA and National PTA will continue to support the families of Sandy Hook.
Please read below a heartfelt message from Jim Accomando, President of the Connecticut PTSA, and watch CBS Evening News (“On the Road” with Steve Hartman) on Friday night at 6:30 p.m. ET to see the impact their making.
On behalf of the Connecticut PTSA, I must express how grateful we are for the incredible outpouring of love and goodwill that followed the unspeakable tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14. The Snowflakes for Sandy Hook Project—a unique and thoughtful idea meant to engage the emotions of children and parents through the creation and sending of snowflakes—has amazingly snowballed into a worldwide blizzard, pun intended.
The Connecticut PTSA is a small operation. We have an office of approximately 2,000 square feet with one full-time and one part-time employee. On December 18, our office received the first Sandy Hook snowflake and now—three weeks later—we have completely filled, from floor to ceiling, the entire office, as well as an additional 2,500 square feet of office space donated by our landlord, a 48’ trailer, and two 12’x 12‘ storage pods. Meanwhile, the post office is storing four additional 48’ trailers filled with snowflakes, correspondence, cash and checks, all designated for the families of Sandy Hook School.
Each envelop, package, and box we received is filled with emotion, and each contains a unique story. Senders included heartfelt cards and letters; some contained loose change and small bills from a child’s savings. Checks of all amounts continue to arrive daily. We received beautifully crafted snowflakes of all colors, shapes, materials, and sizes, as well as school supplies, plush animals, toys, decorations and personal tributes for the victims’ families.
The Sandy Hook and Newtown families know of our efforts and are most grateful. We have met with our Newtown PTA members several times and remain in daily contact with Sandy Hook. This past Monday, parents from the Sandy Hook PTA joined us, along with National PTA President Betsy Landers, Beth Rorick and Abi Weaver, to open mail.
Currently, with our volunteers and staff working tirelessly, we have processed approximately 10 percent of the received mail, with new trucks arriving daily. We have received packages from all 50 US states, every province in Canada, and more than 40 countries worldwide. We have enough snowflakes to decorate each of the PTA schools in Newtown. We will distribute additional snowflakes to private and parochial schools, daycare facilities, town buildings, and any other facility in the community that wants to display a winter wonderland in solidarity with Sandy Hook. If you have created snowflakes, but have not yet mailed them, please keep and display them in your school or community. We will, however, continue to collect all personal and fundraising donations indefinitely.
How You Can Help the Connecticut PTSA
As you can imagine, with such an awesome response, our current challenge revolves around logistics. With limited workspace, only 15 volunteers can process mail each day. Even with 30 volunteers working 10 hours a day (as was the case this past Saturday), we were able to make a small dent that was buried under new arrivals within two days. We welcome all volunteers to join us; we work six days a week, and promise a gratifying memory to cherish forever. Lastly, all food used to feed volunteers is purchased from donations made by our Executive Officers and Board Members. No PTA funds are used for this relief effort. We welcome any non-PTA donations to offset volunteer and logistical expenses as we continue to work over the next several months. Please send all donations to: Connecticut PTSA, 3000 Whitney Avenue Suite 121, Hamden, CT 06518.
After receiving thousands of emails and phone calls of support, we need to express our thanks to all of you for your thoughts and prayers to the Sandy Hook families and our Connecticut PTA community. We feel your warmth and have expressed this to the Sandy Hook PTA many times.
Jim Accomando, President CT PTSA, on behalf of the Staff and Board of the Connecticut PTSA
In addition this heartfelt tributes include:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IO64urOFNaY
