Waxhaw woman collects snowflakes do decorate new school in Connecticut

When Diana Pelino of Waxhaw heard about the school shootings in Newtown, Conn., she felt compelled to reach out – and get others to reach out as well.

Pelino, whose three sons attend Sandy Ridge Elementary in Waxhaw, grew up near Newtown and worked there after graduating from college. One of her high school friends was Jeff Previdi, whose daughter Caroline died in the shootings.

“His son, along with the other surviving teachers and children, will be returning to a nearby school,” she said. “I was hoping to spread the word all through North Carolina: If anyone would like to make snowflakes that will be used to decorate the nearby school into a winter wonderland, that would be great.”

The snowflake idea was posted on the national PTA website for Sandy Hook ( www.pta.org/sandyhook), which says, “When school resumes for Sandy Hook, it will be in a new building. Parent-volunteers are working to ensure that the students are welcomed back by a winter wonderland with the entire school decorated with as many unique snowflakes as possible. We encourage senders to be as creative as possible, remembering that no two snowflakes are alike.”

Pelino wants the people of Newtown to know that North Carolinians are grieving with them. She’s been busy contacting local organizations to ask them to make snowflakes. She will pick them up and mail them to the Connecticut PTSA, which will use them to decorate the school to welcome students and teachers when they return after the winter break.

She thinks the Sandy Hook students and staff will recognize the love and effort put into each snowflake for them, and she wants that recognition to help build a connection between snowflake creators and those impacted.

“It’s something we can all do for the greater good,” she said.

“The bigger message, to me, is that we’re all connected. We’re grieving from afar. We’re grieving with them, and for them. They’re not alone.”