Peace River Elementary opening up its doors to help parents, students

Many schools are reopening across Southwest Florida, while others are cleaning up the damage that Hurricane Ian left behind.

Peace River Elementary School is opening up its doors early to help parents.

Social Worker Kelly Howarth is there to help the children navigate the disaster. It isn’t what Howarth’s days usually look like, but these days it’s what it’s all about.

“We are accepting donations, and we are handing them to our staff and students,” said Howarth.

Donations are coming from all around the country. Tuesday afternoon, they came from Virginia.

“The heart is out there. The human heart is out there to help those in need,” said Jeremy Christian, who donated to the school.

Howarth appreciates it and loves to see communities step up, but in her own words, seeing what all her students in Charlotte county are dealing with, “I would say it’s pretty traumatizing.”

Social workers around the county are training to help students out as more get back in the classroom after Ian.

“A lot of our students and families are displaced and out of the county right now,” said Howarth. “You get to them on a very personal level, and it’s very heartbreaking.”

She misses having her students, but when she does get to see them and gives them some water bottles, clothes, or even school supplies, it makes her smile to see those familiar faces.

Her message to those she hasn’t been able to see since the storm, “I miss you guys, and I can’t wait to see you.”

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