Ideas for children left homeless by Katrina

[PsychoCat]

I knowsome of you work with families and children and or belong to church organizations or Sunday School programs etc........After our experience with Hurricane Floyd and being part of the relief work here.....there is a tremendous need to help keep children entertained that many people dont think of.......yes people need the basics of food, water, clothing, shelter....but what people dont think of is.......the hours and hours of kids being told to sit still, be quiet, no you cant go home, no you cant eat now, no you cant goout to play, Im not sure where our dog is, I know you want to watch TV but you cant....theparents are not only stressed from the obvious but imagine keeping a child happy also....the best thing we did was organize people in our schools and churches to donate new colors, and coloring books, fruit candy (that wont melt) and other small itemsto help kids keep entertained....we then put them into large ziploc bag packets.....there are many relief organizations and churches in every town across this country that will be sending teams in and will take them for you

[UK Chic]

Wonderful idea!

I am sure where I visit for church will do something like this but I am going to miss this weekend's services. I will jump on their website to see if they have started with the efforts.

This is so very sad.

[bleedbluelady]

PsychoCat, you bring up such a great point. It's not just the HUGE devastation these people face, it's also the day to day "not normal" life they must deal with for quite some time. How many of them no longer have a job to go to because the business that employed them was destroyed? After an entire community is wiped out, who is available and trustworthy to keep the children while the adults seek solutions to get the family's life back in order? Can they get in touch with other loved ones in the community to make sure they are okay? Do they even have a checkbook left so they could write a check to buy something that is essential? It is mind boggling. :(

[capcat]

I know that there is a United Methodist Relief Fund and donations earmarked for Katrina will go directly to that, but that's not as personal as you are talking about, Psychocat. Some of the people will have to stay put in hotels all the way to Houston, I've heard. I wonder if Holiday Inn, Best Western, La Quinta or other national chains would be a reliablecontact torelay children's books, toys, etc. to families who have no home to return to.

[capcat]

I just read that Red Cross shelters for Katrina victims have been set up in Austin and Dallas in addition to Houston. Also that the Texas Education Agency has authorized school districts in our state toenroll students who are victims of this disaster. I've wondered/been concerned about how educational needs would be met and was glad to hear that. The childrenwill be categorized as homeless and will need backpacks, school supplies, clothes, etc. Thismay bean opportunity for me to help, whether with material items or as a volunteer in the classroom if we havea sizeable numberin this district.

[PsychoCat]

Capcat....in a few days or so you can call your local schools and find out how many flood students they will be getting....then contact the PTA president of that school you want to volunteer in....they usually are the ones in each school that organize aid for those children....and they will NEED many volunteers and are always glad to have the help.....at our school we set up a student store for flood students where they could come in and pick out their own back packs, school supplies and also personal items like clothing, toothbrushes, shampoo etc....we even had each one as it got closer to the holidays do a xmas wish list and also provided thanksgiving dinner at the school for all the families of those children....was a very rewarding experience......its easy to go to businesses and ask for donations when you can say you are a volunteer at a certain school....I think its awesome you want to help....and those teachers will also need help in the classrooms

[capcat]

PsychoCat wrote: Capcat....in a few days or so you can call your local schools and find out how many flood students they will be getting....then contact the PTA president of that school you want to volunteer in....they usually are the ones in each school that organize aid for those children....and they will NEED many volunteers and are always glad to have the help.....at our school we set up a student store for flood students where they could come in and pick out their own back packs, school supplies and also personal items like clothing, toothbrushes, shampoo etc....we even had each one as it got closer to the holidays do a xmas wish list and also provided thanksgiving dinner at the school for all the families of those children....was a very rewarding experience......its easy to go to businesses and ask for donations when you can say you are a volunteer at a certain school....I think its awesome you want to help....and those teachers will also need help in the classroomsI'm quoting this so I can remember all of the great ideas you offered, Kristen. I can tell you have had experience with this type of disaster. I hadn't even thought about personal items. At this point, I'm going to be very disappointed if the shelter here isn't utilized. I love the idea of creating the school store and helping out during the holidays. The Austin speech-pathology group is having a monthly meeting next week, that would be an opportunity to propose helping out in the schools, making sure therapy continues for children who were receiving it along the Gulf Coast. The caseloads at schools are already full as it is. I do hope we'll have an opportunity to help out with this.

[CoquieKat]

There's even a Red Cross shelter set up in Franklin, TN, just south of here. There are quite a few refugees staying at local hotels at discounted rates, but their money is bound to run out soon.

These are all wonderful ideas. I'll keep my eyes and ears open for any more ways to contribute.

[capcat]

CoquieKat wrote: There's even a Red Cross shelter set up in Franklin, TN, just south of here. There are quite a few refugees staying at local hotels at discounted rates, but their money is bound to run out soon.

I heard about one in Memphis and was surprised (but pleased) they are being set up that distance away.Thefood bankhere istaking donations specifically for survivors of Katrina and donations are being accepted today at grocery stores. I imagine they are in other places as well.

Also read that the Red Cross is reimbursing school districts for expenses,which further confirms the value of donations to that organization.

[wildcatchick]

I work in a school district outside Nashville and we had a family enroll in our district from Louisianna. We're expected to get alot and even got specific instructions from the state on how to handle it.

If you're looking for donations consider baby items. As a new mom myself I could not imagine the horror of worrying about where my child's next bottle would come from. Not to mention the diapers. I think we're going to lose alot of babies down there because their immune systems just can't fight off these diseases that will be coming. I cry every time I see someone there holding a new baby.

[catfeverintennessee]

Our school announced today that they had gotten with Ft. Campbell and have made arrandements to take donations to the Hurrican vicitms. We are going to collect food, clothing,shoes, personal toiletries, books, etc..for Ft. Campbell to take with them to those areas. I now have a place to take my 3 large bags of clothing and shoesfrom cleaning out my closet and dresser drawers!:ggrin:I wanted people whorelaly needed it to get these items instead of the local Salvation Army who were goingto put it in their stores to sell.

I also have started what PsychoCat suggested and even have gotten my 4 year old class wanting to do baggies of things for the kids. I went to Walmart this evening and have 3 baggies for ladies of toiletries, 2 for men of toiletries and 2 for a boy, 2 for a girl and 1 for a mother and baby with toiletries and toys. I found alot of clearance items that withthe temps in New Orleans and area will be good for a while, example a bag with girl sandals and sunglasses for 1.00. Little boy sandals for 1.00.

FINALLY, I feel some better at being able to do something to help. Can't wait until next week to see how my school responds to the need.

[oruacat2]

Check out this link:

http://www.dosomething.org/challenges/emergency/katrina/index.php

Their suggestion is to buy a book-bag, fill it with school supplies, and send it to the address in Houston, where the school districts are expecting a huge influx of students from LA/MS/AL who will be needing all these items for the new school year. I'm sending two out on Tuesday, after all the holiday madness is over. These kids already have so much to worry about, hopefully this can eliminate at least one concern.

KD

[capcat]

That's a great idea, oruacat. I think my daughter and I will go shopping tomorrow and get a backpack or two off to them, too. This program in Houston sounds very organized and specific.