Our Trip To Long Beach

On Saturday, December 9, two teachers (Susan Drinker and Sharon Page) drove from Exeter to Long Beach to deliver classroom manipulatives that were donated to Harper McCaughan School from the Main Street community. The experience of gathering the gifts, making the journey, and being able to share them with this amazing community will never be forgotten by these two brave women. Click on each picture to get more detail.

This was definitely a group effort!!
A small sample of the items donated	Transporting to the cafeteria for wrapping	And still more....	First, we had to organize the drive to collect items, wrap and pack them, and then get them ready for delivery.

Even principal Paul Ford got into the wrapping mode.	The van was filled, but we were ready!	Off we went, the day after an early blizzard.	Taking turns driving made the trip easier.
These shots are from the Long Beach area that is close to the school!
The approach to Long Beach as we completed the long drive.	Remember that this is over three months after the hurricane!	People are definitely working and clean-up will take a long time.	Believe it or not, these people are some of the lucky ones.
A reminder not to tear down until assessed.	Across from the school, this area had homes.	Former K-mart and other businesses!	Homes are gone from the beach area.
Seeing the devastation at the Harper McCaughan School
This is one of six refrigerators deposited by the storm on school grounds.	This was the ocean side of the school.	The outside wall of the cafeteria is completely gone.	You can see the devastation in this former classroom.
Imagine the force that took the trees out and the walls away!	Our library lost over 10,000 books that took us years to acquire.	This whiteboard shows the high watermark. It is a grim reminder of a day the Gulf Coast will never forget.	No words can describe the devastation and the loss in this community.
Meeting the principal, teachers and students - see the area that will be the temporary school site.
Principal Eddie Holmes gives us a tour of the buildings.	We couldn't go into some areas of the old school as they were not safe.	FEMA has put up these mobile homes for teachers so they have a place to live.	Everyone is doing their best to get into the holiday spirit.
These new modular units will be ready for students in January.	These walkways will connect classrooms. Two classes will be in each unit.	A new road must be put in for the buses to drop off students.	A new playground will be constructed for the Harper McCaughan students.
Meeting the teachers was an emotional experience for all!	This NH tree traveled all the way to Long Beach in the van along with the gifts.	Teachers picked gifts for each of their students to open.	Teachers are trying to rebuild their classrooms.
Each child was given a present to unwrap for their classroom.	These kindergarteners couldn't wait to see what was in their package.	These children had an amazing insight into how these gifts could fit into their new classrooms.

Many thanks to all who made this connection possible. The Main Street school community never ceases to amaze us with its incredible generosity and caring spirit! This is just the beginning of what we know will be a long lasting relationship with the Harper McCaughan School community.

We continue to accept monetary donations for the Harper McCaughan School and would appreciate your help with the remainder of the cost of our recent trip to Mississippi. We are currently short $220 (used for gas). Checks can be made out to Main Street School (please put a note on the memo line of your check designating the Harper McCaughan fund or assistance with trip expenses). Thank you again.