Hundreds of Woodbridge trailer park residents have been left homeless from last week’s flooding and at least three area schools and one area church are stepping up to help.
Belmont Elementary School, Fred Lynn Middle School and Freedom High School have joined forces with Potomac Crest Baptist Church in Montclair to assist the victims of Tropical Storm Lee.
Belmont parent and Potomac Crest member Deanna Welch said clothes, shoes, toiletries and cash donations for future rent and security deposits are needed. Prince William County Public Schools and SPARK, the school division's education foundation, are accepting tax-deductible monetary donations.
These donations may be submitted by credit card online via SPARK’s PayPal account, or by checks mailed to SPARK at P.O. Box 389, Manassas, VA 20108. Make checks payable to the PWCS Education Foundation and mention “flood relief” in the memo line on checks or in the payment notes on PayPal.
Donated items must be dropped off by Friday at any one of the schools during school hours or at the church, at 15418 Cardinal Drive, between the hours of 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cash donations can also be made to Red Cross, which is running the shelter at Sharron Baucom-Dale City Recreation Center.
Welch said the situation is dire and that many of the students at Belmont have no idea where they are going to live after they leave the recreation center on Friday. She also said at least one family had their trailer looted despite the county police warning to stay away from the damaged properties.
County officials are working to provide those displaced with lists of apartments, to help them find housing. According to a Facebook post from Woodbridge Supervisor Frank J. Principi, 29 families - approximately 140 people - are still using the shelter.
During Tuesday's Prince William Board of County Supervisors meeting, Woodbridge Supervisor Frank J. Principi announced his intent to donate $5,000 to the relief fund established by the county school system to assist the flood victims from last week's storm.
Staff writer Kipp Hanley can be reached at 703-530-3904.
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