HOUSTON – The Harris County (Texas) Department of Education (HCDE) announces that today it will deliver a check totaling more than $26,000 for Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita education relief to Alief Independent School District.
The amount represents monetary donations made through the HCDE from concerned citizens throughout the nation, said Superintendent Dr. John E. Sawyer.
Throughout the past six months, HCDE has distributed thousands of pounds of donated backpacks and school supplies to needy school districts in greater Harris and Jefferson (Texas) counties.
“We assumed the duty of facilitating education aid efforts for hurricane evacuees on Aug. 31 as a directive from the Texas Education Agency,” said Sawyer. “The Alief school community welcomed more than 3,000 hurricane evacuee students. We are humbled to assist this district by presenting this reimbursement check.”
Alief Superintendent Dr. Louis B. Stoerner said the generous response of neighbors and friends from across the country has been overwhelming.
“We especially want to thank Dr. Sawyer and the HCDE for spearheading the relief effort for school districts in the Houston area,” Stoerner said. “Your generous financial donation will assist us in continuing to meet the needs of those who came to us after their tragedy.”