Hollis Remembers Sandy Hook with Deli Lunch

On Dec. 14, 2012, Hollis Elementary School was holding its annual holiday bazaar when word started coming out of Newtown, CT about a school shooting.

Nearly one year later – Saturday marks the anniversary of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School that left 26 students and staff dead – Hollis Principal Tim MacDonald spoke about his school's effort last month to honor the memory of those killed.

Hollis provided lunch on Nov. 14 to the entire staff of Sandy Hook, a gesture that MacDonald said was aimed at letting them know their tragedy was not forgotten.

"I can't imagine what they were going through," MacDonald said.

A "Keys for Hope" fundraiser last spring contributed about $200 to the cost of the lunch, and the school's PTO pitched in the rest. Hollis sent lunch from the Sandy Hook Deli, along with a note from the school staff. A Hollis parent, Karen Lane, used to teach in Newtown and she helped set up the lunch.

This Friday, one day before the anniversary, the bazaar at Hollis was busy as every, MacDonald said, with one significant change.

Whereas last year and in years past, volunteers and parents could enter the building through a variety of doors, on Friday the main entrance, equipped with its security buzz-in system, was the only way in.