Hurricane Michael devastated the Florida panhandle last month and a current Boothbay resident and former teacher is looking to help a former Boothbay region resident and current teacher make life and Christmas a bit brighter for the children she teaches and others.

Jeanne Tonon, retired Boothbay Region Elementary School teacher and guidance counselor, has reached out via her Facebook page asking her friends to donate Walmart and Target gift cards to send to Sandi Smith, teacher for the past 14 years at North Bay Haven Charter Academy, a k-12 public school in Panama City, Florida. Tonon was Smith’s kindergarten teacher.

Since putting the request for help out on her Facebook page, Tonon has received numerous gift card donations and several people have responded directly to Smith. Donations can be mailed to Tonon at P.O. Box 1, Boothbay, ME 04537 or people may contact her through Facebook for more information.

Tonon wrote in her Facebook post, “You know how this town is … we rally! Well, it is time to rally again for the children affected by this devastating hurricane! Thanks in advance for all your help. Hopefully we will put a smile on some faces that have been through a lot.”

Smith, who has been teaching a total of 23 years, and her husband Justin moved to Florida in 2001. In a response to Tonon’s Facebook post, Smith wrote, “My goal is to help them (students) be OK, feel loved, and have a blessed Christmas … I am humbled by the response to help from back home and from individuals, businesses, and schools all over the country. Any way you choose to help (including sharing my posts) will be appreciated and the generosity will be distributed to ALL children who need it.”

Donations can be sent to: Sandi Smith c/o North Bay Haven Charter Academy 1 Buccaneer Drive Panama City, Florida 32404.