A new temporary fund will help Westwood Hills Elementary School families facing financial hardship following the recent school shooting.

The Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge has established the Westwood Hills Elementary Family Relief Fund to provide emergency financial assistance to families experiencing hardship as a result of the closure of Westwood Hills Elementary School following the recent shooting incident.

“When a school closes unexpectedly, the impact on families can extend well beyond the classroom,” said Dan Layman, CEO of the Community Foundation. “For a parent who cannot afford or find short-term childcare, staying home with a child may mean going without a paycheck. The bills don’t stop during that time, and those lost wages aren’t restored when the parent is able to return to work. We want to help ensure that the financial consequences of the school closure don’t create even greater hardship for families already navigating an extraordinarily difficult time.”

Families experiencing financial hardship as a result of the school closure may contact CAN at 540-324-7006 or  SAWCANHelp@gmail.com. Community members can visit the SAW Embrace office on 932 Fir Street in Waynesboro between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Contributions to the Westwood Hills Elementary Family Relief Fund may be made to the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge.

Online: Contributions may be made at cfcbr.org.

By mail: Checks may be made payable to the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge and mailed to:

Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge
P.O. Box 815
Staunton, VA 24402

Every dollar received will be used to assist families in need.

For other questions about making a contribution, contact the Community Foundation at 540-213-2150 or info@cfcbr.org.