Students at Fayetteville's Bill Hefner Elementary organize hurricane relief drive for Jamaica

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) -- Students at Bill Hefner Elementary School are proving that you're never too young to make a difference. In response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, the school has launched a schoolwide relief drive to support families affected by the storm, which struck the Caribbean island of Jamaica.

The initiative, which has gained momentum in the community, is especially close to home for many students and teachers at the school, where several faculty members have connections to Jamaica.

The idea for the relief drive emerged after students learned about the widespread devastation left by the hurricane. Fifth-grader Faith Backman explained her motivation for getting involved, saying, "I hope this helps different people in Jamaica and helps them get back on their feet."

Patricia Pinnock, a teacher at the school, has personal ties to Jamaica and has made it a point to keep her students updated on the situation back home.

"I normally keep my students up to date with what is happening in my country. So when they heard of the hurricane, they were concerned. Then they kept saying, 'Miss, is there anything that we can do?'" Pinnock recalled.

The storm has left 45 people dead, with 15 still missing, and the students wanted to help those who are now facing homelessness and the loss of essential supplies. Fifth-grader Lyric Gloover shared why he decided to help.

"It just feels good to help people in need. There are people in need of food and clothing because they're most likely homeless from the hurricane," Lyric said. "So, they're in need of essential goods. So, I decided I would want to help them."

A personal connection for teachers

For the school's 11 Jamaican teachers, the effects of the hurricane have been deeply personal. Karen Dale Constantine, a teacher from St. Mary Parish in Jamaica, said she and her family were glued to the news as they watched the storm approach.

"We saw that Melissa had formed close to home, and we were really nervous," Constantine said.

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Once the relief effort idea was approved by the school's principal, students got to work, collecting canned foods, clothes, and even writing handwritten notes of encouragement.

Fifth-grader Josiah Mitchell, whose family is also from Jamaica, expressed the satisfaction he felt from participating in the drive.

"It makes me feel like I'm a good person. And I did something good," he said.

For teachers such as Pinnock, the students' compassion is a lesson that can't be found in textbooks.

"It's good to know that there are children who think about others who they don't even know," she said. "We know that the rough days will come, but we are resilient. We are Jamaicans."

The relief drive at Bill Hefner Elementary will continue until Dec. 12, and the school is encouraging community members to contribute to the effort to help families in Jamaica recover from the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.