The students of Causey Middle School in west Mobile provided hurricane relief items today to Lynn Haven Elementary School, which was damaged by Hurricane Michael in October.

Causey sixth-grade teacher Lisa Counselman filled her sport-utility vehicle with the donations – including school supplies such as pencils, crayons and notebooks, as well as cleaning supplies – and delivered it all to the school near Panama City, Florida.

“Our students and community went above and beyond and far exceeded our expectations,” Counselman said.

Besides the donations for Lynn Haven, Causey collected goods – a trailer and a truck full – that were delivered to Port St. Lucie three weeks ago.

Lynn Haven Elementary, part of Bay District Schools, serves about 730 students in pre-kindergarten through the fifth grade. The school closed for several weeks following the Oct. 10 hurricane. The damage was so bad that school administrators thought it would not re-open until January. But through an outpouring of support, classes at Lynn Haven resumed on Nov. 5. More than 100 students, though, remain displaced as families have had to relocate due to their damaged homes.

“People came together and helped repair the school. It’s not completely rebuilt, but it is to a point where they let several churches meet there and the city council holds its meetings at the school,” Counselman said. “It was such a blessing to see that the school is able to help its community because people are helping the school.”

Counselman learned about  Lynn Haven through a Facebook group for middle school math teachers. A teacher at Lynn Haven asked for prayers for her school and described damage.

“It really touched my heart, and I felt like I needed to do something,” Counselman said.

So she talked to Principal David Sprinkle, met with some students, and decided to make it a school-wide effort.

Sprinkle said he was proud of his students, and their parents, for coming together to help Lynn Haven.

“It was great for our community to step up,” Sprinkle said. “We have so many supportive parents in our community, and they stepped up.”

Lynn Haven thanked Causey on its Facebook page: “A BIG Thank You to our new friends at Causey Middle School for driving all the way from Mobile, AL to bring supplies that their students and families donated for us. Thank you for everything! We appreciate you!”