SECO helps local students ship supplies to Enterprise, Alabama

Wednesday, February 28, 2007 will likely be remembered as the day a devastating storm began moving through the southern United States leaving a trail of death and destruction.

By the afternoon of March 1, the storm had spun itself in to an EF4 tornado.  The devastating power of the wind struck the city of Enterprise, in southeastern Alabama.

Early estimates placed the number of dead at 20 across the affected region.  As the horror of that day unfolded, it became clear that eight of the nine victims in Enterprise were students at Enterprise High School.  They died when a portion of the roof collapsed in on them in an area where they were taking shelter.

Later reports showed a quarter mile wide swath carved through the downtown area; President Bush declared Coffee County a disaster area on March 3.  Over 100 injuries were reported and more than 350 homes were damaged or destroyed because of the tornado, but more importantly, the lives of teens at Enterprise High School in Enterprise, Alabama were changed forever.

Fast-forward a few weeks and some 2,500 miles later; enter a different group of kids and another school named Enterprise.

In an act of compassion and school spirit the student council at Enterprise High School in Redding, California decided to help by gathering school supplies and other items they could find and ship them to their sister school in Alabama.

The teens placed school-size backpacks in the classrooms and encouraged fellow students to fill them with school supplies.  They also put on a car wash, which raised $1,500 and collected other items like light bulbs, clothing, even prom dresses.  All together, the 20 assembled care packages weighed in at just over 800 pounds.

“We wanted to find a way to help students in Alabama.  We knew they would be able to use school supplies and that proms were coming up,” said Felicia Axtell, student council member.  “We thought helping with these things and the fund raiser would be a good way to show our support.”

Relying on help from local business is a big plus with endeavors like these.  SECO Manufacturing’s Beth Parsons answered the call and facilitated the donation of shipping the packages to Alabama.

“I learned of the project from my sons who attend EHS,” said Parsons.  “After speaking with the student council advisor, Mr. Valdivia, I found that they did not have a way to ship the items to Alabama.  SECO is always very generous and likes to get involved with the community.  I mentioned the idea to the owners and they jumped at the chance to pitch-in and help-out.  It is great to work for a company that cares about community projects.  I am proud of students’ hard work and the way SECO and its employees stepped-up to fill a need.  Everyone involved here at SECO loved contributing to the effort.”