Officials with Caldwell County schools say FFA students in the ag department at the high school took the tragic tornado event last month that affected our community and used it as an opportunity to live the FFA motto they have learned: “Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve.”
On Monday, Public Relations Coordinator Lizzie Shelton says the executive team, led by FFA President Noah Peake, started organizing volunteer efforts among members with the help of advisor Magen Woods. She says throughout the week students helped families affected by the tornado. Shelton notes some days that meant helping sort through belongings and packing what could be saved, and other days it meant delivering much-needed donated supplies and snacks.
According to Shelton, Peake’s grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. James Carner, were among those whose homes were destroyed. She says the Carner’s wanted to salvage two things, their car out of the basement, which is where they survived the tornado and a small jewelry box that held Mrs. Carner’s engagement and wedding rings with other pieces of family jewelry. Woods indicated that if it weren’t for students the Carner’s probably would not have found the jewelry box.
Shelton says FFA members from Livingston Central High School showed up on Wednesday and Thursday to volunteer. During this time, she says students worked with cleanup efforts at Country Club Hills and Dawson Road.
Shelton says agricultural departments from across the country have sent donations to Caldwell County High School. Woods indicates they have received about eight semi-trucks of donations from baby supplies, canned foods, screws, tents and much more. She says the ag department has also received donations from area farmers affected by the storm, which have been distributed to local residents as well as Dawson Springs.
Several individuals reportedly volunteered with students during the week including Steve Hillard, Bruce Farmer, Debbie Turner, Sarah Barnes, and Sarah Silvestre. Shelton says Kim Oliver delivered lunches to students throughout the week.
Woods says each student at CCHS affected by the tornado also received a box of supplies with more donations still coming in from ag departments across the country.
Ag teacher, Wes York, who is currently hospitalized, said through this experience, we’ve learned what it means to do. Peake said if Mr. York was here he would have been the first one to walk through the door ready to help. He added this is a way for him personally to connect with Mr. York.
Woods says she is proud of these kids and expresses her gratitude to local students for demonstrating what it means to be “Princeton Strong”.
