ARLINGTON — Two of Katie Zook’s former elementary school teachers have established a relief fund for the 22-year-old woman who is recovering from injuries she sustained during the January Haiti earthquake.

Called the “Relief Fund for Katie,” the fund is intended to cover expenses incurred by Zook and her family during her recovery, said Colleen Turk and Beth Trafton, teachers in the Arlington School District.

“The purpose is to establish a means by which the Arlington community can rally to help support this local family,” Turk said in a release. “Much of Katie’s medical expenses are being taken care of by her church’s insurance, but her parents’ expenses, as they support her through this difficult time, are not.”

Turk added that the family’s travel, gas, food and other ongoing costs and expenses will continue to mount as the family helps Katie Zook recover.

Zook was in Port-au-Prince doing missionary work for the Arlington Free Methodist Church on Jan. 12 when an earthquake hit the Haitian capital, trapping her beneath five floors of rubble.

Zook was found hours later, and was taken to Florida where her parents, Greg and Dawn Zook, joined her.

Katie Zook was brought back to Washington and had to undergo a number of surgeries, according to Turk and Trafton. The teachers said that she will continue to need medical attention from the event.

“We are so proud of Katie and her courageous spirit,” Trafton said.

For more information about the fund, contact Turk at 360-629-3996 or e-mail Trafton at bctrafton@gmail.com.

Donations are also being accepted at the Arlington Bank of America, located at 501 North Olympic Avenue.