CLAYTON, Del. – Inspired by the efforts of second-grader Kaylee Davis, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) visited Clayton Saturday morning with his family to participate in her school-supply collection drive at the fire house.
Kaylee, 7, read online about a school in Rice, Texas, that was destroyed by a tornado in October – just two months after it had opened its doors. Wanting to help in whatever way they could, Kaylee and her parents connected with a teacher at the school and decided to try to collect supplies to help replace what was lost to the tornado.
A friend in the Clayton Fire Company shared Kaylee’s story with Senator Coons, who immediately wanted to help. The Senator and his wife, Annie, purchased school supplies and gift cards to contribute to the effort, dropping them off at the firehouse Saturday. Their children – Mike, 11, Jack, 11, and Maggie, 9 – each bought supplies using their allowances and gave them to Kaylee today, as well.
“It’s terrific to see someone Kaylee’s age so eager to help people in need,” Senator Coons said Saturday. “When we heard about what she was doing, all of us – my wife, my kids – we wanted to do what we could to help out.”
Supplies can be deposited in boxes at the WSFS bank branch on Jimmy Drive and at the 1st National Bank branch on Wyoming Deak Drive in Smyrna, as well as at the Clayton Fire House. Items requested include: pencils, red pens, scissors, markers, expo dry erase markers, white poster board, regular glue, glue sticks, electric pencil sharpeners, and construction paper.
“Kaylee’s efforts here are a reminder that we can all make a difference if we choose to get involved,” Senator Coons said. “Especially in these tough economic times, it’s incumbent on all of us to help others how best we can.”
Supplies will be collected until February 11, 2011.