BY: Betty Stack
Play it Again- or actually two good deeds and community service in one quarter deserves some attention, even if the leading instigator is one of my family members. Yes, folks Anne Stack has made it a point to become not only involved but a part of the fabric of this community, and in doing so has found the secret to upstate South Carolina is indeed its people- specifically the folks who occupy the popular Wren area. These very people came together when Hurricane Helene hit, not only for each other but for a particularly hard-hit area located along the Pigeon River, in a small town known as Clyde, in Western North Carolina. At a simple Wren Elementary School PTA meeting as members were discussing the aftermath of the September 2024 storm, an idea hit about adopting an elementary school to serve as a “sister school” to help. The world is small folks- connections come at the oddest moments, maybe planned by a higher power, or simply just as it is supposed to be, however, you believe. So, Anne researched and happened to talk to a former North Carolina neighbor, now living in Western North Carolina, who talked of Black Hawk helicopters flying overhead, wearing Hazmat suits, and helping neighbors pile sand in pieces of homes washed away by the ravages of the storm- a violent act of Mother Nature, and a turning point for many who are still experiencing traumas. Anne’s friend, Kim Mullinax immediately suggested Clyde Elementary, a Title #1 school with homes across the street washed away, shattered windows, and water running through what was once a small local mountain community. It seems like basic school supplies were not even available, people were living in tents and well, a lack of running water, and the necessities of life were not even part of the everyday equation anymore. Now the idea was born, Anne and some other PTA members began researching the location and needs. Phone calls to the Principal were made and emails were exchanged. Gift cards, donations, and supplies began arriving at once. Here is how it all started:
Wren Elementary PTO has adopted Clyde Elementary from Haywood County, NC!!! Ever heard of it? Me neither! We have been looking for a school in a small town (like Piedmont), that could easily be overlooked for the bigger areas. Clyde is a rural community with economic challenges. Last year, the century-old paper mill in Canton closed its doors, leaving many in Haywood County unemployed. While working to overcome this challenge, Hurricane Helene hit. Clyde sits right on the Pigeon River, which flooded most of the area, including people’s homes and work. Clyde Elementary is a Title 1 School with around 500 Students. These children were like ours, packing their bookbags Thursday afternoon with their notebooks and iPads, hoping for an e-learning day…. Having no clue their backpacks would be gone due to flooding the following day. (Anne Stack)
Below is an additional excerpt from an email that went out to the Wren parents, after the FIRST visit to Clyde Elementary:
“They were all so happy to see us and were amazed at the amount of school supplies we brought. The principal was speechless when we handed her a gift bag containing $3,640 worth of gift cards. The school has identified families who lost everything and had a spreadsheet ready so they can hand out the cards appropriately..”
The outreach doesn’t stop there. A couple of weeks ago, one of the elementary teachers reached out to my daughter-in-law Anne, asking if there was anything she could do to help supply Christmas gifts for the students in her one class at Clyde. The teacher said on her salary it would be impossible to do for her class what was needed, but she wanted to do something.
Well, Anne didn’t feel comfortable reaching out to the PTA so soon, especially since everyone had already been so gracious in giving. So, she posted on her private Facebook account, about the need and whether anyone was interested in contributing to help. That post went far and wide- that one classroom at Clyde turned into every student in the Title # 1 area being given a Christmas gift, as well as goodies for grade level parties, and wrapping paper to make the gifts extra special. Care was taken to arrive immediately after student dismissal on Monday, December 16th, A North Pole gift area was set up and the rest is history. Check out the pictures. Look at the number of toys- and yes, none of this would have been possible without some local donors as well- one restaurant in particular, Reuben’s of Powdersville, South Carolina collected toys with a box and even bought toys themselves. Checks were sent and money was Venmoed. Folks this is the real meaning of Christmas- giving. It feels better to give than receive, and what better way than to help children, who represent the essence of Santa Claus and the future? Thank you to the Wren community, and upstate South Carolina, that I am proud to once again call home.
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