Orange County School Board candidate helps donate supplies to local schools

Orange County School Board candidate Jake Petroski, along with other community members, have recently helped to donate supplies to Gotha Middle and Thornebrooke Elementary schools.

Windermere resident Petroski, running for the District 4 seat, said Lindsey Brannigan, with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, contacted him in November 2023 and said the organization was moving some of their offices. 

"We continued talking, and and I explained to her how our local schools would appreciate any generosity they could offer in the form of supplies they could donate," he said. "I explained to her that schools and teachers would appreciate anything. I also said that I’d be more than willing to pick up the supplies and transport them to the schools."

Petroski spoke with Gotha Middle School Principal Monica Emery to ask if the school would be interested in donated binders. 

Petroski met with Brannigan in December to help transport the supplies to Gotha Middle with the help of his campaign treasurer Angel Reyes.

In January, Brannigan reached out to Petroski again asking if he could find a home for additional supplies. 

This time, the supplies included multiple types of paper, dry erase boards, colored folders, pencils, computer monitors and file organizers. 

Petroski then spoke to Thornebrooke Elementary School Principal Korey Bawden, who said he was more than grateful to receive the supplies for his faculty. 

"I happily agreed to, once again, come pick up the supplies and find a home for them," Petroski said. "My wife, Christin, and I delivered them earlier this week. I believe in helping our schools and teachers whenever there is an opportunity. In this case, I played a small role compared to the generosity of an engaged community member. People like Lindsey are in our community and willing to help out our teachers, and that’s what makes West Orange County such an amazing place to call home."