Katrina-What do the children need?

HI everyone!! I am going to be attending a meeting with my son and the meeting is about a project to help the children of Katrina that have lost everything and will not be able to attend school for quite a while. Can anyone please give me some ideas as to what these children may need, besides the obvious things? I want to bring some good quality ideas to the table, something that will really benefit the children there. Also can anyone give me some good, fun, creative ways that 5th and 6th graders can raise money for the cause too? Thank you all in advance for all of the suggestions and I hope that in our small way here, we can help out abundantly!! Thank you all, Allie from Texas

Hi Allie, I went through Hurricane Charley last year . Many organizations will be giving things to the children but I never saw anyone give them something to keep it all in. (other than a bag) Small plastic boxes with lids would be great for their crayons , pencils and such. One man gave each child a "God Phone" it was just a wooden block cut in the shape of a receiver and painted red so that they could talk to God at any time. An individual flashlight is comforting too.

The school where I used to work is giving each of children moving into our school from the disaster areas a backpack full of school supplies. I would also suggest crayons, coloring books, stuffed animals, etc. for younger children. For older kids, hand held games (like Game Boy) something to do while they're sitting around (don't forget batteries). Vickie J.