Nov 18, 2008 7:22 pm US/Eastern
M-DCPS Lends Helping Hand To Haiti
School District Donating School Busses & Garbage Truck
Also Donating Surplus Portable Classrooms
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
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Miami-Dade County Public School District is donating more than a dozen school buses and a garbage truck to storm-ravaged Haiti.
CBS
The 2008 hurricane season is one the people in Haiti will never forget. Four tropical systems slammed the impoverished country and left thousands in need of help. But Tuesday, the Miami-Dade County Public School system stepped in to lend a helping hand.
Miami-Dade County Public School Superintendent Alberto Carvalho was on hand at the Notre Dame d'Haiti Catholic Church in Miami for the presentation of a bright yellow school bus and garbage truck for Haiti. While the two vehicles may have served their purpose on the streets of Miami-Dade County, the two vehicles represent a symbol of hope for the children and people of Haiti.
Carvalho recently traveled to Haiti with a representative from FHP and witnessed the devastation first hand. Together they worked to bring some hope and help to the children. Besides fifteen school buses, one hundred surplus portables are ready to be shipped.
Carvalho says the donations come at a time of need.
"At this moment children in Haiti are not going to school," Carvalho told
CBS4's Liv Davalos. "They don't have a home. Our ability to provide surplus portables not being used in our school system, equipment, transportation, classrooms, clinics; all at no cost is something every district should be doing."
At a time when the Miami-Dade Public School District is fighting the worst financial crisis of its life, the superintendant says the donations will not cost a penny. The buses are all retired but still in good condition.
The mayor of one of Haiti's suburbs Yvon Jerome of Carrefour, says his people are grateful for the help.
"We received that donation for the people who need help. I'm really, really feeling happy," said Yvon Jerome.
The portables and the vehicles will be sent over in the next few weeks.
Earlier this month, the Broward County Public School district also offered 600 portable classrooms to Haiti to be used in storm-ravaged areas.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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