Wow--the donations instead of gifts is lovely...hope the children agree [img]smile.gif[/img] . Yes -- Pollock Elementary has absorbed about 100 children that are transient through the school. Our desire was to be able to have those children recieve a backpack as they get to the school for their school stuff and then leave with the backpack to take them to their next locations. I spoke with Mrs. Reeder (the prinicipal) again today, and they are still hovering in the 100 displaced children area. We will send the money to a Walmart where she can shop for supplies for her and for the school (like art supplies for the children etc...) to try to mitigate the impact of the extra population. We know it is a tiny place, which was part of the reason we picked it. It would otherwise be forgotten I suspect, and this relationship will have a very good impact when and where it is needed.
I'm really so proud of our families right now...d

Dumb question: Pollack, LA is not really in an area that would have sustained Hurricane damage. Are you raising money and backpacks for displaced children that have moved there? I'm just curious because I have a friend who was from Pollack and it's a tiny little town near Alexandria, Louisiana in the central part of the state. Did your money go straight to that school? Probably none of my business, just wanted to make sure your money goes where it's needed.

Interesting idea: my kids have received two birthday party invitations in the past two days and both party invitations ask for Katrina donations in lieu of gifts, which I think is so nice.

Keep up the good work! [img]smile.gif[/img]
SHC in Louisiana

Wow--today was our final backpack collection and pack up to send to our "adopted" school in Pollock LA. On Thursday we had 71 backpacks and just over 1000 dollars and by the end of today we had collected and packed 199 backpacks and just over 4,000 dollars total. Is that phenominal. And just as neat, the kids did everything. Wrote cards to the children, put them in the backpacks, packed the boxes and tapped them closed. Parents wrote notes to the teachers and the day was a huge success. Man--these are great days....