• Belk Brings Hope to Greensboro Students Displaced by Tornado
    Retailer donates community closets to Title I schools after April 15 Tornado

     Belk Logo

    Greensboro, N.C. - Students and staff from Erwin Montessori at Alamance Elementary celebrate the grand opening of a community closet donated by Belk, a Charlotte-based retailer. 

    As part of a new outreach program, Belk: Project Hometown, the retailer visits local communities to lift-up their hometowns and help families thrive. In April, an EF-2 tornado with wind speeds of 135 mph damaged three Title I elementary schools in Greensboro, N.C.: Hampton Elementary, Peeler Open Elementary and Erwin Montessori, affecting nearly 800 students across Guilford County. Students attending these schools have been relocated to Alamance Elementary, Reedy Fork Elementary and Bluford STEM Academy for the 2018-19 school year. In partnership with GCS, Belk donated and built closets for students displaced by the tornado. 

    “It could be a tough transition for students who are attending a temporary school this year, so Belk wanted to help create a warm and welcoming environment for these kids who have already been through so much and may be missing their friends,” said Jenny Anderson, director of community events for Belk. “We take pride in being a reliable community partner and hope this program will bring the Greensboro community together and give these students a fresh start to the school year.” 

    Teachers and administrators identify students in need and help them select a Timelapse Video new outfit. With the total project at nearly $60,000, the community closets at each school include items such as washcloths, towels, wipes, shirts, pants, shorts, underwear, socks and belts. Belk also brought in local artists to create murals showcasing the mascots of the partner schools and donated buddy benches intended to be a meeting place for students looking to make new friends. 

    “I am absolutely thrilled and beyond thankful for this partnership with Belk. In addition to building a child’s self- esteem by having new clothing, we expect our attendance to increase because children will not have to miss school due to a lack of clothing or not have to wait for their parents’ pay day to purchase,” says Dr. Deborah Parker, principal at Erwin Montessori. “This has been a life saver and we are grateful to Belk for this much-needed partnership.”

      

    About Belk, Inc.
    Belk, Inc., a private department store company based in Charlotte, N.C., is where Southern customers shop for their Saturday night outfit, the perfect Sunday dress, and where family and community matter most. But Belk is more than shopping – it’s where you find your own unique way to express who you are. It’s where Southern style lives. Shop Belk in 16 Southern states and on www.belk.com to find an assortment of national brands and private-label fashion, shoes and accessories for the entire family, along with top-name cosmetics, a wedding registry and Southern style for the home.

     

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