February 14th, 2018. Valentine's Day. I had just returned home from school. Like any typical tenth grade student, I grabbed a snack and was sitting in my room, checking Instagram and Snapchatting friends. Suddenly, I get a message from one of my best friends. She says there is an active shooter in her school and she doesn't know what's going on. She tells everyone in the group chat that she loves us. I run to my parent's bedroom, panicked and on the verge of tears, not believing what was happening or that I would ever see my friends again. My parents and I sit together, watching the news, as I frantically text my two closest friends at the school in hopes of keeping them calm and making sure they were both alive. After about an hour, both of my friends are out of the building and I start checking on others who were inside. Over a dozen of my closest friends from URJ Camp Coleman were at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School during the massacre.
By the next morning, I knew that 17 innocent lives had been taken, including the life of fellow camper, Alyssa Alhadeff. I could not process what had happened. For the next few weeks, I was riddled with anxiety at school and other public spaces, could not sleep, and did not know how my friends and I would heal. As the weeks passed, I saw students around the country stepping up and raising their voices, which inspired me to do the same. I saw myself becoming a leader in my local community, leading Providence High School's walkout of over 500 students, marching on Washington, working on political campaigns, and volunteering at voter registration drives. By advocating for change, I helped myself and those I loved recover from the trauma we had faced.
But I knew I could do more. That's where Return Home Supplies comes in. I founded this organization in hopes of raising awareness for gun violence prevention while donating to organizations leading the fight. The profits from your purchase will be sent to organizations such as March For Our Lives, Everytown for Gun Safety, and Change the Ref. Together, we can end the epidemic of gun violence in America, specifically in American schools. Why?
Because every student and teacher deserve to RETURN HOME.
- Jules Oringel
Founder, Return Home Supplies
By the next morning, I knew that 17 innocent lives had been taken, including the life of fellow camper, Alyssa Alhadeff. I could not process what had happened. For the next few weeks, I was riddled with anxiety at school and other public spaces, could not sleep, and did not know how my friends and I would heal. As the weeks passed, I saw students around the country stepping up and raising their voices, which inspired me to do the same. I saw myself becoming a leader in my local community, leading Providence High School's walkout of over 500 students, marching on Washington, working on political campaigns, and volunteering at voter registration drives. By advocating for change, I helped myself and those I loved recover from the trauma we had faced.
But I knew I could do more. That's where Return Home Supplies comes in. I founded this organization in hopes of raising awareness for gun violence prevention while donating to organizations leading the fight. The profits from your purchase will be sent to organizations such as March For Our Lives, Everytown for Gun Safety, and Change the Ref. Together, we can end the epidemic of gun violence in America, specifically in American schools. Why?
Because every student and teacher deserve to RETURN HOME.
- Jules Oringel
Founder, Return Home Supplies
Return Home Supplies is a 501(c)3 tax-deductible nonprofit organization recognized by the United States' Internal Revenue Service.