After a Mount Vernon High School student and family lost their home in a fire on April 14, principal Nardos King sent an email the following Friday morning to school staff and the Mount Vernon “Keep In Touch” contact list asking for donations to help the family start over.

“It’s going to be a long road for them,” King said, “they literally lost all of their belongings.”

On Monday April 20, King was able to present the student with over $2,000 in gift cards and over $300 in cash.

“It was a very overwhelming moment for me,” said King. “The student and I were overcome with emotion, around the generosity of people. We’re very grateful to the school and community, even people who don’t have kids at school, that the whole Mount Vernon community was moved enough to support strangers.”

King said the school is still collecting donations to help the family get re-established. Until they find another place to live, King prefers the donations to be gift cards for easily accessible businesses along Richmond Highway such as Walmart, Target or any local grocery store.

Donations can be dropped off in the Mount Vernon High School main office, located at 8515 Old Mount Vernon Road, Alexandria.