Not only did students and staff of Owego Elementary lose their building in the flood, they lost essential learning tools as well. But as our Bill Mich tells us, the school is up and running in a new location and is doing so with the help of tons of donations.

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ENDICOTT, N.Y. -- Music classes for these students just started a few days ago. That's because the flood wiped out many of Owego Elementary's instruments. But a "Save the Music" campaign has them back hitting on all the right notes.

"We have received donations from as far away as Alaska, California, Connecticut, several states all over the United States. So it is kind of exciting that the word spread so fast," said Jeri Sarrge of the PTO.

Along with the roughly 75 instruments the school received, the Maine Community Band gave the PTO $1,500 to help fund the school's music program. These kids need the opportunity to play now more than ever.

"It keeps the kids minds occupied and a lot of them are dealing with their homes being flooded. And this is a good distraction for them, to think about something else and learn how to play an instrument," Sarrge said.

But Tuesday, the donations kept rolling in. Middle school students from the Chenango Forks Central School District made the trip to the elementary school's new home at the Linnaeus West school building in the Union-Endicott District to drop off some books.

"We heard about the flood and we wanted to donate. Our goal was to reach 300, but we ended up raising over 1,000 and so 500 were going to this school," said 6th grader Katie Zimmerman.

"They lost everything during the flood and it was really sad. They didn't have many supplies. So we wanted to do everything we could to raise as much books as we can," sixth grader Katey Church said.

Music and reading, two essentials parts of a balanced education that students at the new Owego Elementary will not be missing out on.