Holy Cross Catholic School students wear “Stronger than the storm” t-shirts that were produced and sold to aid in fundraising efforts for Immaculate Catholic School in Herdersonville, North Carolina in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. From left, the students, all children of staff members, are Olivia LeFaivre, grade eight; Riley Sharp, grade one; Aiden Sharp, grade four; and Jacqueline Durdan, grade three. (Supplied photo)

CHAMPAIGN, IL/HENDERSONVILLE, NC – Flood-ravaged Western North Carolina is slowly rebuilding in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. One of the hardest-hit communities is Hendersonville, where Immaculata Catholic School serves students from Pre-K to grade eight.

Immaculata principal Margaret Beale says the storm left water damage in the gym and the new STEM lab, and the basement was flooded. She called the Diocese of Charlotte the same day as the hurricane hit to relay the school situation, and to report on the devastation she was seeing in the community.

“WE NEED TO DO MORE”

It became clear during the call that “this was bigger than just our schools … we need to do more.”

As a result, Immaculata School became a distribution hub in spite of the fact that it too was without power. “We had water, thankfully – so we could flush toilets,” Beale says.

Immaculata Catholic School students in Herdersonville, NC prayed the rosary in the chapel during downtime while distributing relief supplies after Hurricane Helene. (Supplied photo/Angie Scarduzio)

In the school chapel students prayed the rosary during downtime while distributing relief supplies. As well, Missionaries of Charity Sisters came to the school and organized eucharistic adoration.

When Diocese of Charlotte Bishop Michael T. Martin, OFM Conv., came to the school he was struck by the fact that “most of our people who volunteered were heavily impacted . . . lost power, lost water, damage to their homes – but they felt called to still serve,” says Beale.

She adds that following Immaculata’s action to inform the diocese of the situation in the community, the diocesan newspaper the Catholic News Herald soon started posting articles online that brought widespread attention to the relief efforts.

AN OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT

As a consequence, “We’ve had an outpouring of support from across the country.”

Some of that support poured forth from Holy Cross Catholic School in Champaign, where principal Greg Koerner had noticed the online coverage.

Holy Cross staff and students quickly responded with fundraising efforts such as an “out of uniform day” where students could wear different clothes than school uniforms in exchange for a donation.

A t-shirt with the words, “Stronger than the storm,” was designed and produced with a portion of the proceeds assisting the fundraising efforts.

A LAMP OF GENEROSITY

The total amount raised was $3,218.

“There were so many beautiful things that happened even in this dark time,” says Beale.

Students and staff at Holy Cross School in Champaign lit a lamp of generosity to help dispel that darkness.

Additional contributions to Immaculata School to assist with their own recovery efforts as well as supporting school and parish families affected by the storm can be made at immac.org/donate (earmark contributions “Hurricane Helene recovery”).