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Adopt a Shark! (Cedar Key School) *with updates
ADOPT A SHARK!
Panthers, we need your help! Cedar Key School, the only school on the Key, has been devastated by the forces of Major Hurricane Helene. After reaching out to the Principal at CKS, Newberry High School has volunteered to adopt Cedar Key School as part of our community support efforts to provide much needed help. Our Student Government Association (SGA) will be collecting non-perishable items for those affected. Items needed are basic toiletries and hygiene (deodorant, shampoo, soaps), socks, ready to eat foods, and cleaning supplies. Donations can be delivered to the NHS Front Office and we will have a donation collection area set up at Friday night's home football game. We plan to deliver items on Tuesday (October 8th) so please help if you can!
UPDATE (10.4.24)
Our journey to Adopt a Shark continues! A tremendous wave of thanks to ACPS for donating the use of a box truck so we have the ability to transport donated items to Cedar Key School and our Panthers have already begun loading boxes inside. Please feel free to stop by any of the following locations with any items you’re able to donate to help us fill the truck:
NHS Front Office
NHS Football Field (TONIGHT ONLY during the football game)
Dollar General, Newberry
Items needed are basic toiletries and hygiene (deodorant, shampoo, soaps), socks, ready to eat foods, and cleaning supplies. Thank you for helping to make a difference for these children! #PantherPride
UPDATE (10.7.24)
Due to the impending arrival of Hurricane Milton on the west coast of Florida this week, we have been asked to postpone our delivery of donated items to Cedar Key School for the safety of everyone involved. We are therefore planning to make our delivery on Friday (October 11th), weather and environmental conditions permitting. We appreciate all of the donations we have received so far and are hopeful we can fill the delivery truck to its absolute fullest by Friday! Thank you for helping to make our "Adopt a Shark" donation drive so successful! #PantherPride
UPDATE (10.11.24)
Unfortunately, due to the conditions caused by Hurricane Milton this week, Cedar Key School remains closed through Tuesday (October 15th). We have therefore been asked to postpone our delivery of donated items to Cedar Key School until next week.
We will continue to accept donations to fill the delivery truck and appreciate all of the donations we have received so far! As the only school on the Key, CKS provides instruction for students in kindergarten through 12th grade, and there continues to be a wide range of needs: nonperishable-ready to eat food items, water, hygiene items for children of all ages. It might also be nice to send some sweet treats and small toys, playing cards, etc. for entertainment and a smile for these children who have lost so much. Thank you for helping to make our "Adopt a Shark" donation drive so successful! #PantherPride
UPDATE (10.15.24)
THANK YOU!
As our truck convoy heads out to Cedar Key School this morning with all of the items collected for relief from Hurricane Helene, we must take a moment to thank the citizens of Newberry and our community partners for their enormous generosity. Our hearts are full and we are so proud of our hometown for making a difference in the lives of the children of Cedar Key. 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙩𝙩𝙤𝙢 𝙤𝙛 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙨! We could not have done this without you!!
What a thoughtful THANK YOU from our Adopted Sharks!
What started out as a wonderful idea at Newberry High School grew into an enormous help for the families of Cedar Key students.
Immediately after Hurricane Helene's storm surge buried parts of Cedar Key in more than 9 feet of saltwater, Newberry students began their Adopt a Shark drive. The initial goal was to help out by donating personal items other children and teens might need. On Tuesday morning, that idea had morphed into a box truck filled with all the daily items a family could use. Not only did Newberry Principal James Sheppard provide guidance for students organizing Adopt A Shark, he helped get the truck unloaded into the CKS auditorium.
At the same time on Tuesday morning, Palms Medical - which provides pediatric care for many CKS students - was putting together its own version of care kits that included pillows and blankets and other personal care necessities. A mountain of those items arrived on a flatbed truck Tuesday morning along with a generous check for other items the CKS students may need.
This bounty is in the process of being sorted this week so that it can be distributed to CKS families next week. Times and dates for distribution will be sent home on Friday afternoon.