by Charlene Holmes
A serious, yet cheerful Dr. Donald Black, Principal of Jonesboro Elementary School in Bessemer, stood before his staff during a meeting. No, this was not a regular faculty meeting held on Tuesday at 3:15 p.m. This meeting was being conducted on a Monday morning. It was the Monday after many tornadoes touched down in the city of Bessemer leaving debris, devastation, and displaced people. Yet, thank God no lives were lost in the city.
It was the first formal physical meeting at the school, but Dr. Black had been in contact with his staff via text messages, emails, and phone calls. After finding out that his staff was safe, Dr. Black urged his teachers to “check on your (their) babies.” He then ended the text with, “God’s covering upon you and your family.”
In his prayer at the school, Dr. Black thanked God for the miracle of life, a job and even troubles. Because, he said, “God has a way of turning bad situations into good situations.”
Dr. Black said “Fourteen families from Jonesboro Elementary School” were identified as having been seriously affected by the storms. He said the students’ families were given gift cards and monies totaling $800.
He explained, “The $800 was raised in collaboration with Mt. Hebron Baptist Church, Sandusky, who has been serving this community for the past two years with boxes of holiday meals during the Thanksgiving and Christmas Seasons.”
School Principal Dr. Black appealed to an eager staff to bring items to make their star students feel like “the special children that they are.” He said that he appreciated receiving the picture text messages from groups of teachers while they were purchasing goodies for their students from Sam’s Wholesale Store.
He mentioned that other things were being done to “put the shine back in the star students.”
Mr. Courtney Jones and Mr. Mark Lail, Executive Team Lead Sales Floor from the Target Store in McCalla, one of the school’s partners, brought 100 pretty red, cloth tote bags for the students. The bags were filled with nonperishable items such as bottled water, Capri Sun juices, cheese crackers, Ramen Noodles, almonds, peanut butter crackers, granola bars, fruit snacks, silly straws and Starburst candy.
Mr. Courtney Jones, Target Store Manager commented, “Community giving is a cornerstone of Target and the Company is proud to help strengthen the Bessemer Community through its team member volunteer efforts.”
Mr. Jones continued, “ As a native of Bessemer, I take pride in working for the local Target and being able to impact the community I grew up in.”
All Jonesboro Elementary Star Students also received Eversafe Meal Kits.
