KATHLEEN, Fla. — School supply donations have poured into Kathleen Middle School.

On Friday, Citrus Connection staff and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8154 Auxiliary members dropped off boxes of notebooks, crayons, and calculators.

Principal Sheila Gregory said it's a huge help.

“Our students keep their supplies in the classroom, their notebooks and everything, because we want to make sure they’re here for them everyday they come on campus. Our supply closet was decimated,” Gregory said.  

If the community hadn’t stepped up, parents would’ve had to buy the supplies for their children.

“It’s like not that long ago, we just went through this and bought all of these materials for our children for their classrooms. To have them lose every thing  because of a natural disaster, it’s a relief not only to me but the whole community,“ said Billy Gray, a parent of two Kathleen Middle School students. 

Not only did people donate supplies, they also gave $1,335 through GoFundMe. 

Twelve of the classrooms had to be moved to portable classrooms, due to the tornado tearing off the roof of one of the school’s buildings.  

“They’re a lot nicer than I thought. The superintendent really came through. Those are some really nice portables that we have. They have the projectors and everything that a normal classroom has,” said Billy Lay. 

A district spokeswoman said they’re still crafting a list of what all needs to be repaired in the historic building that was damaged.

District officials expect to complete the list soon and start the bidding process for contractors.