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Polk County school officials issued an update for students and families, sharing details on current operations and recovery efforts. While schools remain closed, Polk Central Elementary has been transformed into a vital distribution hub for the county’s hurricane response, with the National Guard stationed on-site to assist.

“Greetings to all of our students and families! First, we miss you so much! We can’t wait to see you back at school!” school officials said in a message to the community. “Meanwhile, our sweet Polk Central has turned into a distribution hub for our county, and our PCES staff have been working hard.”

Officials stressed that Polk Central is not a community distribution point for individual or family supplies. Instead, the site is being used for large-scale resource drops, which are then transported to designated locations where families can collect essential supplies.

These designated pick-up points include:

• Tryon International Equestrian Center
• Saluda Elementary parking lot
• Sunnyview Elementary parking lot
• Columbus Town Hall
• Tryon Town Hall

The school district asks families to avoid visiting Polk Central to pick up supplies.

“We understand how challenging this time is for everyone, and we are doing everything we can to help our community recover. Please be on the lookout for more information about school and community resources,” the statement continued.