Parkcrest Elementary School in Kamloops was destroyed by a fire on Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019. Pictured is what is left of the structure the next morning, Friday, Sept. 6, 2019.

(KAREN EDWARDS / iNFOnews.ca)

KAMLOOPS - Community support continues to grow for those affected by the devastating fire at  Parkcrest Elementary School in Kamloops.

While the Kamloops school district figures out where to put Parkcrest students and staff, the children will be displaced until at least Sep. 13, some local residents have already started working on ways to help.

Alana Milne spent all of last year and some of the year previous working at Parkcrest as a support worker. She says she saw first hand the effort that teachers put in to make their classrooms the best learning environments they can be.

She says the damage to the structure isn’t the only loss for the tight-knit group of teachers.

“These kids are really amazing and the teachers are really amazing. They're like a family,” Milne says. “I know how much money and dedication these teachers have (to put in) to make sure these kids have the best of what they can offer. They buy books, and it comes out of their pocket.”

Milne posted a plea on Facebook asking for the public’s help to build up the lost collections of books the teachers had in their classrooms.

Milne says many of the teachers paid for their classroom books out of pocket and hopes to replace some of their collections.

“I know that its devastating for them, I've been in contact with a lot of the teachers there and they've lost everything,” Milne says. “I figured books are awesome because they're expensive and kids love to read.”

Milne says in addition to her book drive, she has heard of other people offering support and raising funds for the cause. There has been a GoFundMe set up to help with the cost of classroom supplies purchased by teachers, in addition to free childcare offered while the students are displaced.

“I know that there are little groups of people that are coming around to do their part to help the community,” Milne says.

Milne says new or gently used books can be dropped off in Sahali at 442 Garibaldi Dr., where she will leave a bin on the porch for collections if she is not there. She says there is also a drop-off location in Westsyde at 881 Crammond Rd.

“It's going to take a lot to rebuild, and any donations help,” Milne says. “Whether it be gift cards for places they can buy books or gently used books.”

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