| Updated: 8/08/2012 9:23 am |
Published: 8/07/2012 5:24 pm
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The Mannford Public School District is asking anyone who can to help donate school supplies.
The district says 5 staff members and 63 students are homeless because the wildfires. Jamie Kleven, a first grade teacher at Mannford Elementary, says she lost nearly everything in the wildfire.
"The only thing left at my property is my garage," she said.
The single mother has been living with her grandparents and taking care of a two-year-old.
"He keeps saying I want to go home,” added Kleven. “When you don't have a home to take him to it's hard to make him understand."
Kleven said this blow came at a very bad time because school starts next week.
"We'll have a few obstacles to overcome but we'll get it done," said the school teacher.
The community is helping out. FOX23’s cameras were rolling when a woman gave the district a $500 check and when the Muscogee Creek Nation donated 100 book bags full of school supplies.
"We're a long ways away but we're impressed by what we've gotten so far," said Dr. Steve Waldvogel, Mannford Public Schools Superintendent.
This community's support has helped Kleven focus on the bright side despite losing everything.
"No one has been seriously injured,” she said. “That's just the grace from God."
Waldvogel says they have about a third of what they'll need to get through the school year. He's hoping by collecting these school supplies it'll be one less thing many of these parents have to worry about as they work to put their lives back together.
Mannford Public Schools is accepting cash donations and supplies.
You can make out checks to the school and also drop off donations there.
They are located at 220 Evans Avenue Mannford, OK 74044. They can also be reached at (918) 865-3841.
