Starting Monday, East Hamilton High School will be the new site of a tornado relief supply center launched by Hamilton County Schools.
The district is relocating efforts to collect and distribute donations and relief supplies that started last week at Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts (CSLA) to the new location.
The supply center will serve as a donation site for dropping off and picking up items to help families affected by the tornado damage, according to a press release.
An EF3 tornado hit Chattanooga as storms ravaged the Southeast on Sunday, April 12, with most of Chattanooga's destruction in East Brainerd, East Ridge and Ooltewah.
CSLA staff immediately began organizing a donation site for its own school family, and with the help of community members, local businesses and civic leaders the efforts spread district-wide.
Hundreds of people dropped off - and sought needed supplies - at CSLA last week.
WOW! These past 4 days have been exhausting, humbling and rewarding. We were able to help hundreds and hundreds of families get much need outdoor supplies, cleaning supplies, food and personal care products.
— Tucker McClendon (@TuckerMcClendon) April 18, 2020
Thank you to all the volunteers, those who donated and HCDE staff! pic.twitter.com/dcFQYlyyv4
The center at East Hamilton, located 2015 Ooltewah-Ringgold Road, will be open starting Monday, April 20 through Friday, 24 from 10:00 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The center will operate with social distancing guidelines, so donations or assistance will happen in a drive-thru format at the school, according to a press release.
Needed items include: Gatorade or Powerade, bottled water, prepackaged snacks, cleaning supplies, rakes, shovels, gloves, garbage bags, diapers, feminine hygiene products, baby wipes and more.
The center will also provide food for first responders and tornado volunteer workers beginning each day at 11 a.m.
The district is also asking for community members to consider making cards, or "hugs from home," for tornado victims and first responders. The cards can be dropped off at the center.
Huge day at @hamcoschools as donations came in and went out. The need is tremendous. Covid, tornado and floods have created huge need. We will accept donations on Saturday from 10-2 at CSLA & will give them out too. We ran out of almost everything today. #BetterTogether pic.twitter.com/wwOr3MDjvp
— Jill Levine (@Chattajill) April 17, 2020
Educators across Hamilton County have been organizing ways to reach out to the community, especially those affected by Easter Sunday's tornado. Ooltewah High has served as a hub for tornado supplies, some educators have delivered supplies to students and families in need and a group of teachers are organizing an effort to deliver care packages to East Brainerd Elementary students, whose school was destroyed by the tornado.
For more information about Hamilton County Schools' tornado relief center, call or text 423-838-1146 or 423-653-0340 or visit www.hcde.org/hcs-continued-learning/resources_for_families.
Contact Meghan Mangrum at mmangrum@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6592. Follow her on Twitter @memangrum.