Atlanta special needs school, Cumberland Academy of Georgia, organized a school-wide donation drive in early September to support Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.

Those affected by Hurricane Harvey have a long road of recovery ahead of them, and students at Cumberland Academy of Georgia did what they could to make it a little easier. The Atlanta special needs school held a school-wide donation drive the first week in September, collecting loads of blankets, toiletries and other personal hygiene items which were taken to southeast Texas and distributed to hurricane survivors.

It started with one 7th grade student who approached the school administration a couple days after the hurricane. The student explained his desire to help the people who were victims of the hurricane by holding a donation drive. School officials wholeheartedly supported the idea and put the word out to the student body and their families. In just two days, school parents and students had donated loads of goods. All of Cumberland’s collections were taken to a drop off location in Atlanta. From there, the items were trucked to Texas to be distributed by the Red Cross.

“All of the school administration are very moved by the immediate and overwhelming response by the students and their families,” says Debbi Scarborough, founding director at Cumberland Academy of Georgia. “To see our student reach out to give assistance and encourage others makes us feel proud of their accomplishments. The mission of the school is to help students reach their full potential. Students learn they can work together to make a difference in this world. This is an additional academic piece of this donation drive.”

Cumberland front office staff member, Gina Poitier Gouraige, was also very touched by this service project. Gouraige is the daughter of actor, director and filmmaker, Sidney Poitier. Her son graduated from Cumberland Academy of Georgia in 2014. “Cumberland helped my son in so many ways, and I see the school continuing to have a very positive effect on our students today,” she says. “I would like to help our students develop into thoughtful caring adults.”

Gouraige helped the student develop and orchestrate the project “Helping to serve others is a gift and what life is all about. No matter the challenges our students face, it is a beautiful day when they speak up and help serve others.”

About Cumberland Academy of Georgia:

Cumberland Academy of Georgia specializes in the needs of students in grades 4 through 12 who have ASD, attention deficit disorder (ADD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and learning disabilities. Cumberland was founded in 2007 by Debbi and Matthew Scarborough, and is a fully-accredited, independent, non-profit school that seeks to provide a safe and supportive academic atmosphere for its students. Cumberland accepts applications year-round. To schedule a family tour, please contact Terri Brooks, director of admissions, at 404-835-9000, or email admissions@cumberlandacademy.org.