Whataburger raises $5,000 for Alto ISD

May 08, 2019

by By Michelle Dillon michelle@thecherokeean.com

Photo by Michelle Dillon
Alto ISD Superintendent Kelly West, far left, accepts a $5,000 donation from Whataburger representatives Jennifer Ruiz, director; Brent Bolder, training manager; and Shelly Lipe, marketing director.

Representatives of Hablinski Investments-Whataburger were able to present a check in the amount of $5,000 to Alto Independent School District on Wednesday, May 1.

Along with the monetary contribution, Whataburger also fed the more than 600 members of the student body and district staff at the Alto schools Friday, May 3.

The money was the result of a What-a-Night fundraiser held at the seven Whataburger locations owned by Hablinski -- Rusk, Crockett, Palestine, Athens, Gun Barrel, Malakoff and Jacksonville. Twenty percent of all proceeds from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, April 30, went towards the Alto ISD Tornado Recovery fund.

Including a contribution from Jason Hablinski of Mount Pleasant, the total reached the $5,000 mark, a donation which will go towards the expense of moving temporary buildings to the AISD campus.

As damage to the high school has displaced the students, who are now completing the year in the elementary and middle school, temporary buildings are necessary to begin the fall 2019 semester.

AISD Superintendent Kelly West said a minimum of 20 such buildings will be needed.

“We’ve located some in East Texas from Livingston, Center, Whitehouse, and we are going to be in a process of assessing how much moving companies are going to charge us to transport them here and get them set up, ” West said. “We are looking for any corporate sponsors, any trucking companies, that want to either donate or contribute their time to help us get those moved and set up.

“Insurance will not cover the total cost of moving and setting up.”

As anyone who has dealt with insurance claims knows, the paperwork takes time to process.

“We don’t have time,” West commented. “Time is one thing we don’t have on our side. We need to make a plan and be able to set up and be prepared for Aug. 19, when the kids come back and we may still not be settled with insurance by that point.”

For those desiring to donate towards the transportation and set up of temporary buildings for Alto ISD, contact West at (936) 858-7101.