Potential future teachers at Brookings Middle School raise funds to help students in Western Alaska

After Typhoon Halong devastated coastal communities in Western Alaska, a group of students at the middle school in Brookings wanted to help kids whose schools had been destroyed.

Jennifer Lacher-Starace is the adviser to the Brookings middle school chapter of ‘Educators Rising’— a group of students who plan to become teachers someday.

So, she says, the Brookings kids transformed their own fundraiser into something to help the kids in Alaska.

Lacher-Starace said the Brookings kids were passionate about raising money.

With a little help, Lacher-Starace says the kids put together 150 backpacks of supplies that were shipped up Alaska mid-month (mid-Nov. 2025).

Lacher-Starace said the kids were so inspired by this project, they’re now looking at doing a similar service project to help a school in Kenya.

Story courtesy of news partner Brookings Radio.