Charter School Students Mobilize to Lend Helping Hand to Katrina Victims

Charter students across the country are doing their part to help children and families affected by Katrina rebuild their lives.

WASHINGTON (PRWEB) September 8, 2005 -- From Florida to California, charter school students across the country are doing their part to help children and families affected by Hurricane Katrina rebuild their lives, according to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools.

It is inspiring to see kids helping kids in the aftermath of tragedy," said Nelson Smith, president of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, which represents the diverse voice of the charter school movement. From bake sales to food drives to taking students in, charter schools are coming up with creative ideas to lend a hand in the relief efforts."

Thirty students displaced by Katrina have found a home at Briarmeadow Charter School in western Houston.

We actually had our first family walk in last Tuesday," explained Lynn Barnes, principal of the school. saying that it took the family 20 hours to get from New Orleans to Houston, which is normally a four-hour drive. We enrolled two sons, one in first grade, one in second. Both are doing very well now."

In addition, Barnes said that parents, teachers and students pulled together to furnish an apartment for the family, since staying at a hotel was too expensive.

Houston was hit hard by Hurricane Allison," said Barnes. Its now our opportunity to give back."

A mother of a second-grader at Bonita Springs Charter School in Florida, already has a truckload of supplies that will be heading to Alabama this week.

My daughter was so upset about the Hurricane and how it would impact the children," said Angie Harner. "I knew there was something I had to do, and that it only takes one person to get things rolling."

Harner was able to get a truck and gas donated. Shortly, parents, teachers, students and the community were arriving at the school to drop off items ranging from books to diapers.

I had goose bumps ," said Angie at the response. This is something our kids will read in their history books, and now theyll be able to tell their grandchildren that they were there to help."

Other examples of charter schools mobilizing to help have been reported, including:

California:
-Students in the Peer Assistance Leadership Club at El Rancho Charter School in Anaheim Hills have collected more than $3,000 in two days. "The kids have made big posters and have been collecting in classrooms (and) out in front of the school as families stop by to drop off or pick up their kids," club adviser Donnell Peck said. Source: Orange County Register
-The Nia Educational Charter School has set up a drive for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Source: Pasadena Star News
-To help aid Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, three Sonoma Charter School students and brothers - 12-year-old Jake Barrett, 8-year-old Owen and 10-year-old Max Barrett - have vowed to raise $1,000 through their own labor of love and lemonade. The three boys will set up a stand with cookies and lemonade this weekend at the corner of Old Winery and Lovall Valley Road in Sonoma from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. And they'll likely be there the next weekend - and the next. Mother Karen Stern said her children want to continue to fundraise until they've donated $1,000. Source: Sonoma News

Florida:
-Bonita Springs Charter School is hosting a food and supplies drive for victims of Hurricane Katrina. A truckload of supplies ranging from books to diapers is ready to be deployed to Alabama this week. Source: Naples News

New Mexico:
-Monte del Sol Charter School got an early jump on fundraising efforts. Anne Salzmann, the schools assistant principal, said officials held an assembly Wednesday to challenge students to donate. If every person, students and staff, gives something, we have three staff members that will contribute $100 themselves," Salzmann said. Students are also selling baked goods at lunch to raise money, Salzmann said. Source: Free New Mexican

North Carolina:
-In Huntersville, donations for the Red Cross can be taken to town hall, 101 Huntersville-Concord Road, during business hours. Money and bottled water can also go to Hopewell High, North Mecklenburg High, Lake Norman Charter School, First Charter Bank on Gilead Road, First Charter Insurance Group on Gilead Road and Huntersville Police Department (bottled water only).
Source: Charlotte Observer

Texas:
-Briarmeadow Charter School in western Houston has taken in 30 students displaced by the storm.

For more information on how charter students can, and are, helping the relief effort, visit www.PublicCharters.org.
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