The Virginia Beach City Public Schools community came out in full force after home fires affected multiple families over winter break.

Schools, charitable organizations and PTAs reached out to the victims of three fires to make sure they could still celebrate the holidays with presents, housing and essential items.

A fire at The Palms apartment complex affected three Malibu Elementary students. Home fires on Atlantis Drive and Gadwall Place the same weekend impacted students from   Birdneck Elementary, Green Run High School and An Achievable Dream (AAD) at Lynnhaven and Seatack.

After hearing about the fire at The Palms on the Friday before winter break, Malibu PTA President Amanda Tanguay contacted the principal and asked for help on Facebook. Principal Courtney Scarcelli and school counselor Honey McClendon organized an impromptu event the following Monday to collect donations.

“For the entire hour, we had nonstop people,” Scarcelli said. Current and former staff members, students, parents and community members showed up with cash, gift cards, clothing, shoes, toiletries, cleaning products and even television sets. Through generous donations from staff and the community, about $6,000 was collected for each family.

“I was hoping we’d be able to give each family maybe $500,” McClendon said. “People were so generous.”

Students Shane and Jack Lefkowitz raised $600 by selling lemonade in their neighborhood. Two of the school’s teachers took a student to Target to buy clothes to replace some of what was lost in the fire. Multiple teachers made gift baskets for each family. All three Malibu families are back in permanent housing.

Faiza Hayeb, mother of a second grader affected by the fire, had this message for school and community members: “We’re happy for your help and generosity. Thank you, and God bless all of you.”

Another parent, Michelle Dance, shared: “The people at Malibu stepped up and helped me and my family out in so many ways. Malibu Elementary will forever have a special place in my heart.”

The division’s Office of Family and Community Engagement (FACE) connected families with help from community partners The River Ellis Foundation and We Are VB, including housing assistance and gift cards for food and clothing, said Dr. Admon Alexander, FACE director.

“Both organizations have expressed willingness to collaborate and provide a range of services based on the family’s needs, reinforcing how valuable community partnerships are in creating a strong, supportive network for families,” Alexander said.

A Collaborative Effort

The Malibu fire also affected students who attend Green Run High School and An Achievable Dream locations at Lynnhaven Middle and at Seatack Elementary. The Atlantis fire destroyed the home of a family whose children attend Birdneck Elementary and An Achievable Dream at Lynnhaven.

VBCPS and AAD staff collaborated in the effort. Erica Francis, Lynnhaven Middle guidance chair, worked with The River Ellis Foundation to secure lodging for the families. Chris Middleton, AAD’s executive director of elementary academies in Virginia Beach, gathered support to provide clothes, gift cards for gifts and needed items, including a hot meal for Christmas from Cracker Barrel. AAD teacher Katrina Kelley, upon learning about a family in need, immediately took the coat off her back and donated it to the effort.

Even family pets received some help. When Lynnhaven Middle principal Dr. Dawn Kramer checked on one family, she found out their dog was injured in the fire. The school’s staff donated $500 toward vet bills.

“Through the remarkable teamwork of VBCPS and AAD staff, we were able to secure lodging, provide essential supplies, arrange meals, and support families during a challenging time,” Kramer said. “I am so proud and grateful to be part of two organizations that work together so seamlessly — an effort that truly embodies the strength, compassion, and unity of our VBCPS and AAD school community.”

Francis was also able to secure gift cards from We Are VB for two families, which AAD Lynnhaven Coordinator Joi Boone delivered along with additional donations of coats, shoes and clothing items for the families’ parents and the children.

Lessons in empathy and collective action

At Birdneck Elementary, staff and community partners quickly mobilized – sending clothing, food, person hygiene items, transportation and other support to the family, said principal Karla Young.

“Seeing everyone come together like this reminds us that our school is more than a place to learn, it’s a family,” Young said. “Our students see that when someone is hurting, we step up together, and that makes them feel safe, supported, and proud of their school.”

Community partners included Charity Trackers, Faith In Action, Union Baptist, Project Hope, and the Birdneck PTA.

“Students, too, have felt the impact of this shared effort,” Young said. “Many expressed a sense of pride and reassurance, knowing their school community stands together in times of need. The experience has reinforced important lessons about empathy, generosity, and the power of collective action.”