• Benner teacher part of drive to benefit students impacted by Texas school shooting

    totesWhen Kacie Montgomery first became a consultant with Usborne Books and More, it was a way to help build her class library at Benner Elementary School, while networking with other literacy enthusiasts from across the country. Now, it has become an outlet for giving back through a larger initiative to collect totes of needed items for students and their siblings impacted by the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.

    “The whole literacy thing is a big piece, so it’s a way for me to spread literacy in my community and other communities, and hopefully there is a ripple effect because getting good books in kids’ hands is important,” she said.

    ubminfoIn just two hours of partaking in the drive, Montgomery hit her goal by raising enough money for 10 totes. Soon after that, she helped raise enough money for 30 totes to be filled with books, and other kid-friendly activities and crafts that will be sent to those Texas families. Additional money received will be donated to a memorial fund created for the school through First State Bank of Uvalde.

    In total, more than 1,200 totes will be donated by the organization that each include 12 books and activity packets, a chess set and other items needed to accompany the activities. Many of those also include that in Spanish due to the high ESL population in the area. The organization also collected so many books that extras will be placed in community facilities, such as Uvalde Memorial Hospital, El Progreso Memorial Library, and local children’s advocacy centers and churches.

    Montgomery was also part of helping benefit students in Mayfield, Kentucky after the city and one of its schools was devastated by a tornado in December.

    *By Brit Milazzo, public relations director, BASD