posted 09-04-2005 11:09 AM

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This message is for SHC in Louisianna. It appears there are many PTO's wanting to help and get involved. Is it possible to find out if there are PTO's in you area that could use the support of those who wish to get involved? We are in the throws of a fall fundraiser and would like to sponsor or adobt a school that needs help. Are there specific Parishes in LA that you are aware of that could use our help? Realizing that your group is in the thick of it, perhaps some direction of a contact to find it ourselves would be possible? Sincerely don't want to add to your situation.

Help is here for you!!!

Take Care

I was thinking about this question someone asked--if there were specific parishes or schools that needed help. I read in the paper today that all the schools in Orleans Parish and St. Bernard Parish will most likely be closed for the entire school year so these children will be scattered across the south and elsewhere. On today's news it said our Parish had enrolled 800 new students but the local TV stations are taking care of every single school supply that they need [img]smile.gif[/img] so that seems to be in good shape.

Also, I feel sure that schools in Biloxi-WAveland-Gulfport, are most likely destroyed too.

If I hear of any particular school that needs help right now, I will try and post it.

Thank you
SHC in Louisiana

Our church has been asked to donate hygiene kits. I belong to the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. If you would like to help, go to Providentliving.org and clicking on "Caring for Others." Follow the links. Also, check out lds.org and then newsroom. It tells what our church has done so far and where the need is. Here is a listing of what goes into the kits:

Hygiene Kits

During times of emergency, victims desperately need personal hygiene supplies to maintain health and cleanliness. Assembly instructions are as follows:

Hygiene Kits


2 Unbreakable combs (no sharp handles)

4 Toothbrushes (packaged)

1 tube of toothpaste (6–8 oz., no pumps)

2 bars of soap (approximately 4 to 5 oz.)

2 hand towels (see hand towel guidelines below)

Place items in a heavy-duty, one-gallon sealable bag. Remove air before sealing.

Hand Towels (for Hygene Kits)
Use new 15-inch by 25-inch hand towels. Please do not use dish towels or washcloths.

Hand towels may also be sewn. To sew towels, use terry cloth to make 15-inch by 25-inch hand towels. Serge or zigzag edges securely to prevent fraying.

You can then send these kits to:

Latter-day Saint Humanitarian Center
1665 Bennett Road
Salt Lake City, UT 84104
Phone: 801-240-6060 or 801-240-5954
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

I know they need cash...but sometimes we feel better if we are actually doing something other than writing a check. Assembling these kits are inexpensive and action oriented. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

PS...I am very happy that I found this site! I love being a part of our schools PTO and I have learned alot from the people here.

may we get back to the topic please

For those of you who do not live in an area that is prone to hurricanes--please understand that they receive 3 or 4 hurricane alerts every single year. So, decade after decade after decade, year after year after year, these people receive these warnings. I guess perhaps many people believed this warning was just like all the other dozens of warnings they had gotten over the decades when little or nothing happened. I'm not really defending their decision to stay, I'm just trying to shed some light on the mindset.

My own mother-in-law has lived most her life on the Gulf Coast (Gulfport, Mobile, and New Orleans) and that hard-headed ole chick wouldn't have evacuated in a million years! It's the "I've lived through this before" attitude. Luckily, she's in the northern part of Louisiana now so we didn't have that worry.

I am not focused on blaming anyone right now as I prefer to put my mental energy into helping, which is what these folks need right now. I am just frantic to help these people and I worked 4 days at the shelter last week. I saw them and talked to many of them. I handed them their "kit" of toiletries and every single one of them said "Thank You" without fail and many gushed about the kindness of the volunteers in our town. Many of them had that "deer in the headlights look". One man asked if he needed to return the bottle of lotion we gave him-and when we told him it was his to keep, you would have thought I had handed him $50. Made me want to cry. None of the people were greedy or tried to hoard, which surprised me a little.

Thanks for all of your concern in wanting to help.

SHC in Louisiana

[ 09-05-2005, 10:13 PM: Message edited by: SHC ]

I know the Houston Independent School District is going to be in need of school supplies and money for uniforms for displaced students. Just type that in to a search engine and it will bring you to their website. It lists school supplies needed along with the address to send them to.

Also the Austin Independent School District is doing the same thing. Again just type in their name and you will go to their website for more info.

It is pointless at this moment to argue about what should or could have been done. We need to come together as ONE NATION and surround these people with love and support. Most of these people lost everything they have ever had. I urge every American who is able to donate to the charity of your choice.

Also, one last note the Goodwill's in Houston and Austin are collecting used clothing which they will give out for FREE to Katrina victims. Again, type in Houston or Austin Goodwill in the search engine and it will bring you to their website. There are addresses and more information for you there.

The government is sending 25,000 to Fort Chaffee, AR. Those students will be attending Fort Smith schools so I am sure they will be needing some support for school supplies. Here is a link with a listing of all the schools and phone numbers.

www.fssc.k12.ar.us/schools/schools2.htm

Fort Chaffee has been a staging area for refugees and evacuees for many years.

[ 09-05-2005, 12:29 PM: Message edited by: pottsvillemom ]