Healing and Hope – H-E-B Pledges to Build School to Replace Uvalde Elementary
The tragedy in Uvalde, Texas has brought many donations to the families affected. One of the most important questions raised was if students would go back to Robb Elementary. It was announced that the school would be razed, and plans will be made to build new school.
The Mayor of Uvalde, Don McLaughlin, stated during a council meeting, “You can never ask a child to go back or a teacher to go back in that school ever.”
As of writing, the timeline for the demolition of the school has not been set.
H-E-B Donating Millions to Help Build New School in Uvalde
Building the new school will require funding, and one business very familiar to Texans has pledged a donation that is sure to a long way toward helping the town rebuild and heal. H-E-B announced Tuesday, June 28 that it will be making a donation of $10 million toward the construction of a new school.
The company recently pledged an additional $500,000 to aid those affected by the tragedy.
In response to the news, Uvalde ISD Superintendent Hal Harrell told the Texas Tribune, "I’m just immensely grateful, humanity showed up in a great big way."
Texas Is A Family
H-E-B chairman Charles Butt, whose family founded the grocery chain, issued the following statement:
Our first store in Uvalde opened in 1959, and Uvalde people are our people. As we continue to mourn tremendous loss, I join with my family and H-E-B in working to ensure the Uvalde community can move forward from this tragic event. Our children are this country’s future, and our schools should be a safe place where children can thrive and envision new possibilities.
According to Butts, the new school will be designed with state-of-the-art safety and security features, and though there's no precise timeline for its construction right now, H-E-B will be working with the community to get it done while factoring in their suggestions and feedback.
We All Stand With Uvalde
H-E-B is a Texas institution, but more than that, it has always been a company that's stepped up to help in times of crisis. We've seen them donate money, food, and even mobile kitchens and showers in the wake of natural disasters.
What happened in Uvalde was an unspeakable tragedy. As the people of that community work through the grief and horror of what happened, perhaps it's some small comfort to know that they're in the hearts and thoughts of all Texans, and one of the state's most beloved organizations is helping prepare to take care of future generations.