Dialog reporter
The community at Christ the Teacher School in Glasgow has responded to help a teacher who suffered a devastating loss late last month.
Students, faculty and families have provided money and gift certificates to seventh-grade teacher Rasheeda Scott-McIntosh, who arrived home Sept. 25 to see part of her home in shambles. A minivan had careened out of control, striking her residence in Ashbourne Hills in Claymont.
Many of her belongings and those of her children were sitting in their front yard, and by the next afternoon, the front wall had been removed. The home has been ruled uninhabitable by New Castle County. Scott-McIntosh has lived in the house since 2003.
The family, including her 9-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter, moved temporarily to a hotel while looking for a more permanent place to stay until their home is rebuilt, said Sister LaVerne King, the principal at Christ the Teacher.
Some of their belongings could not be salvaged from the home, and the Christ the Teacher community responded.
“Families here have already been most generous. Three children broke into their piggy banks and donated change. It was so touching to get that envelope,” Sister LaVerne said.
It has been difficult to accept donations of furniture, clothing and food while living at the hotel because space is limited, she added.
“Once they are set with temporary housing (furnished or not), it will be clearer what furniture will be needed,” Sister LaVerne said.
Donations through PayPal can be sent to gired13@gmail.com. You can also contact Scott-McIntosh directly by phone or text at (215) 990-5585.
“We appreciate that greatly,” Scott-McIntosh said.
No one was home at the time of the accident. The family normally would have been there, but Scott-McIntosh was at a meeting at the diocesan office, and her children were with a friend.
“I was most grateful that Rasheeda’s meeting at the diocesan office kept them from all being at home at the time the van hit the house,” Sister LaVerne said. “Normally, at that hour, they would have been home. They wouldn’t be here to tell the story.”
The driver of the minivan, 34-year-old Jason Roane of Claymont, has been charged with driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident.
Sister LaVerne said the most amazing thing has been Scott-McIntosh’s reaction.
“She has lost her home, but her greatest concern is that the driver get help so there is no second event that could be even more devastating. It was so nice to be able to call her one of my teachers,” Sister LaVerne said.
