Students at Hackberry Elementary School are back in class and their first day back started with a special guest.
In September following Hurricane Laura, we met Brantly DePriest at her home in Sulphur. The nine-year-old stuffed more than 300 care packages for those recovering from the storm. Now, weeks after Hurricane Delta, she's continuing to spread cheer.
DePriest was excused from school for a portion of the day to go to Hackberry to make her special delivery. Her mission was simple.
"I just want to help everyone," DePriest said.
She handed out 130 backpacks filled with school supplies, snacks and other items. Brantly understands there's a need to try and make people smile.
DePriest said, "There's been lots of hurricanes. People don't have houses anymore and it's crazy."
In this crazy time, a simple backpack can lift spirits.
"It was fun, but I was kind of nervous because everyone was looking at me," DePriest said.
Ashley Poole, the school nurse said, "It's unreal. It's such a tough time for so many kids right now. She put a smile on a lot of their faces."
The staff at Hackberry are trying to bring a sense of normalcy to their students on the first day of school. The elementary wing was heavily damaged. Now, those students are attending class on the high school side.
"It's just trying to have them in something normal and get back into some type of routine. It will be a little while before any of that is normal," Poole said.
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