May Whitney parents, teachers step up to plate

Andrea Natsis decided to roll up her sleeves when her twin boys starting second grade at May Whitney Elementary School stayed home because flooding, mold and asbestos problems closed the Lake Zurich school.

Everything in the parent-teacher organization's storage room in the basement of the school at 120 Church St., was ruined in 3 feet of water. That includes Christmas and Halloween decorations, extra Halloween costumes for students in need, games, art supplies, calculators, school supplies, and cash registers.

Natsis and other parents have stepped up to help the PTO reach out to area businesses for donations of money or replacement items.

"We don't have decorations for any school functions anymore," Natsis said. "I'm calling party stores, Costco, Home Depot, Wal-Mart, pulling out my Lake Zurich area business book and calling everybody on it."

Though supplies lost in the PTO storage room were not crucial to classroom education, they had been accumulated over the years, some of it made by parents.

The PTO will sponsor a fundraiser Tuesday at Yogi's Pizza, 830 S. Rand Road. The restaurant will donate 10 percent of any purchases that entire day to the May Whitney PTO.

Natsis will stand in front of Yogi's that day from 5 to 10 p.m. to hit up customers for donations. Patrons can make out a check to the PTO or donate gift cards to Home Depot or Wal-Mart.

PTO volunteers are helping transform May Whitney students' new home at the Annex building at 100 Church St., where classes are expected to start shortly after Labor Day.

"The school we are going into is a junior high school," Natsis said. "We have to make it good for kindergarten through fifth-graders."

The PTO is seeking donations of paint to brighten the Annex interior. Parents painted and planted flowers at the school's front entrance today, and helped teachers pack up classrooms for the move.

"We have a lot of work to do," said Colleen Stevens, who has a second- and third-grader at May Whitney. "The administration and everyone is just overwhelmed right now with what lies ahead. It is a big undertaking. I'm just getting involved in this because they need help."

Donations checks may be made out to the May Whitney PTO and mailed to 37 Squire Road, Hawthorn Woods, IL 60047. For information or to drop off supplies, call (847) 719-1293.