Alabama principal helps 'turn tragedy into a miracle' for student's family

Several bags of clothing and shoes, as well as gift cards, were donated throughout the day Friday for a Murphy High School students whose family lost their home in a fire this week. (Courtesy Joe Toomey)

After being out of school for the past two days because of inclement weather, Murphy High School's principal, Joe Toomey, returned to work Friday morning to learn that an 11th-grader at the school had lost his home in a fire. The student's mother came in to the office to ask if it was okay if her son wasn't dressed in a uniform.

Toomey put his hand on her shoulder and said, "Wow, I can't believe you even asked me," he said. When he touched her, "she broke down." He assured her that she didn't need to worry about the uniform. In fact, he told her he would take care of clothes and food for her, her son and her older daughter.

Then he reached out to the community via Twitter and Facebook.

Donations arrived throughout the day, including $500 in cash, which Toomey used to buy a gift card for the family; two brand-new pairs of Adidas shoes for the student; and 15 to 20 bags full of clothes.

"I was not prepared for the outpouring," said Toomey, adding that he has spent much of the day crying. "It's been unbelievable, and I don't think it's going to stop anytime soon. It goes to show you the goodness of people."

When the student's mother came back to the school to collect some of the contributions, "She just about broke my ribs hugging me," he said.

Toomey said he has made it his mission, since he first found out about the family's loss, "to turn tragedy into a miracle" - which he appears to have done. "It's been amazing," he said. "The goodness of people shows when the chips are down."

Gift cards for gas and restaurants are being accepted at Murphy High School, 100 S. Carlen St. Clothing sizes are men's 32/32 pants and medium shirts, and women's large tops and size 16/18 skirts and pants.

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