Helping after Harvey: East Rockaway students pay it forward with a car wash

East Rockaway Junior-Senior High School students had a successful day on Sept. 17, as they helped the people of Rockport, Texas, who were affected by Hurricane Harvey last month. 

With smiles and determination, the students washed cars and raised more than $1,200 to help pay it forward to the community of Rockport, whose town, infrastructure and school were all devastated. 

“A big thank-you to all who donated their time and especially their money,” teacher Don Poland said. “The people of East Rockaway were very caring and generous and understood the victims’ losses, as they endured similar circumstances after Superstorm Sandy.” 

This is the fourth “pay it forward” mission that the high school has been involved in. The students helped those in Moore, Oklahoma, after a tornado, residents in Dunendin, West Virginia, after a toxic spill and citizens of Lake City and others in South Carolina after flooding. The school will be conducting fundraisers until the end of October, and then plans to help a community in Florida shattered by Hurricane Irma.

For more information on how to help, visit the “Pay It Forward East Rockaway” Facebook page.