Parkway Students Help Joplin Tornado Victims

students may be on summer vacation, but they're not all taking a break. Recently, some headed south to Joplin, MO, to help the recent tornado victims. 

Parkway school officials said in a news release that the students were spurred to action by a statewide Missouri Kids Helping Missouri Kids initiative.

District spokesperson Cathy Kelly said it took students only a few days to raise $7,500 to help schools devastated by the May 22 tornado.

“We can only imagine the sense of loss this tragedy has caused in the Joplin school community, and it’s great to see how Parkway students and others around the state are reaching out to help the kids in Joplin,” said Desi Kirchhofer, assistant superintendent of secondary schools, in a news release.

A check was given directly to the Joplin School District to use for the extensive recovery and rebuilding efforts already underway. Kelly said seven Joplin schools were damaged, and three of those, including Joplin High School, were completely destroyed.

In addition to cash, students at Parkway West and South high schools also collected a truckload of personal and household items that they delivered to Joplin schools on Memorial Day weekend.