Bellevue Papillion Rotary Club helps flood affected families with school supplies
Just months ago the Valencia family lost everything, their home was among the dozens wiped out due to flood this past spring in Paradise Lakes.
“The water got up to six feet in the house, we got out with a few clothes that we had,” said Tabitha Valencia.
Now they’re recovering, but something like school clothes isn’t in the budget. That’s why the Bellevue Papillion Rotary Club had families like the Valencias in mind.
“We meet at a local coffee shop in old town Bellevue and have conversations with the local people to see who's hurting and who needs help and we just felt like we needed to do something,” said rotary club president Heather Chaney.
The club paid up to $125 dollars per child for school-related items. Valencia says the help is well-needed for her children.
"They’re growing and now they finally get brand new clothes instead of thrift stores clothes because I know it’s hard for them, they get teased at school,” Valencia explained.
Tabitha’s children Kaitlyn and Thaddeus say they know how tough it has been for their parents.
“My mom and dad stress a lot, and my dad works so hard to provide for us and it’s just really helpful,” Kaitlyn said.
The Valencia family says they are thankful for the rotary club.
“It's a blessing, it means the world to us,” said Tabitha. “I never dreamed of opening a letter in the mailbox saying ‘Hey we heard you were affected by the flood, we want to come out to target on Saturday and take the kids shopping for stuff they need for school.’”
The rotary club helped 80 students with school supplies Saturday.