Norfolk Southern has made another $1.1 million in cash donations to East Palestine, Ohio as the community recovers from the train derailment that sparked a fire and sent hazardous chemicals into the air and water. The railroad company said it donated $300,000 to the East Palestine City School District and $825,000 to the East Palestine fire department.
“Today’s donations to East Palestine elementary, middle, and high schools and to the Village of East Palestine Fire Department bring the company’s financial commitment to East Palestine to nearly $8 million, with more to come,” the company said in a statement. The donation to the school district will help cover revenue that the district and neighboring businesses lost when athletic events were canceled following the Feb. 3 derailment, which forced residents to flee their homes. Athletic teams from neighboring towns forfeited games scheduled to be hosted by East Palestine, according to the Norfolk Southern
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statement. East Palestine is a town of about 5,000 people near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border. The $825,000 for the fire department will reimburse the agency for equipment used in responding to the derailment. The school district and the fire department did not respond immediately to requests for comment. Some East Palestine locals have turned to GoFundMe for help. One man who says he is the father of an East Palestine High School senior is trying to raise $15,000 in part to make up losses from school-related fundraising events that were canceled after the derailment. Normally those fundraisers would have helped pay for student activities like end-of-season banquets and prom, according to the GoFundMe page. “I am asking for your donations today to give these kids hope and to continue ‘being kids’ and to …