Local Elementary School Sends Gift to New York

World Concern
Friday, 21 September 2001

21 September 2001, Seattle – King's Elementary School in Shoreline, WA raised $8,337.62 today, which will be donated to World Concern to assist relief efforts in New York City. The gift will be used to provide trauma counseling and financial assistance to the families of victims in the attacks and to rescue workers.

King's Elementary School Principal Evelyn Sherwood Huling stated, "It is amazing to me how truly generous elementary parents are at King's. In my parent memo yesterday I wrote a short article informing the parents that we would be doing an offering in Chapels today for the victims' families in NY through World Concern. It was low key and we did not hype it up at all...I didn't even announce it to the kids because we didn't want to put pressure on the kids or their parents." King's Vice Principal Wil Roberson added, "What a wonderful expression of our Christian families' love and support for others."

For the New York relief effort, World Concern is partnering with Nyack College and First Alliance Church in Manhattan, who are located just blocks from where the World Trade Center once stood. Mr. Paul Dordal, assistant vice president of the Office of External Affairs for Nyack College, reported that grief and trauma counselors from another partner, Northwest Medical Teams, had arrived on the scene. "By the grace of God we were given credentials to get into ground zero. Quite an experience! The team is up and running, providing counseling one on one and in groups. We brought them into ground zero and the work is now in progress. We may be bringing in additional teams as well. Trauma and grief counseling is one of the greatest needs here."

Financial assistance will go toward setting up counseling centers and helping families and students with bills, transportation costs, and other needs as they arise.

For more information, or to contact World Concern, see their website at: www.worldconcern.org