Hurricane Katrina

[Jay Trzaskos]

Last night a caravan of 34 tractor trailers and 4 state police vehicles left from Vermont headed to Gulfport Mississippi laden with supplies. There were originally only going to be 10 tractor trailers in the caravan but, the outporing of support from the people of Vermont and the Champlain Valley was so great that this is now only the first of many supply carravans headed out from Vermont for the people of the affected areas. I am proud to see such an outporing of help and support from this area and hoping to hear of more areas that are doing the same. My hopes and prayers go out to anyone and everyone who was affected by this terrible natural dissaster.

Go to http://www.thechamplainchannel.com/index.html for more on the convoy.

[Mike]

For offering/finding housing for the Katrina Victims check out KatrinaHousing.Net

[koala79]

www.networkforgood.com

To donate, whatever amount you can...

[Joe Matt]

Here's a great little script to add to your page that adds a red cross donate dog-ear to your website. Just don't hot link the image.......

http://alvey.weblogsinc.com/2005/09/...the-red-cross/

[KathieK]

A listing of colleges and universities which are offering assistance to displaced students (and in some cases, employees also) can be found on the Society for College and University Planning website.

[Jack Jones]

The best way to help right now is still a cash donation - then whatever charity you donate to can purchase the materials and supplies that are critically needed and get them to the people that need them.

By all means, we need to do it right now. We also need to think about what else we can do down the road. When all the initial relief work is done and the last bit of water has been pumped back to where it belongs, we’re going to see that there’s not much left for many to come home too. Huge numbers of people have been displaced for a very long time, many of them permanently.

The State of Michigan is asking local districts to assess community resources in order to assist in relocation of the students and their families. I would hope that all the states would soon do the same, if they haven’t done so already. We in the FIRST community can help return a sense of normalcy by opening our arms to the displaced students and their families. It may be a drop in the bucket considering the magnitude of this disaster, but that’s what it’s going to take for America to fully recover – each of us doing what ever we can.

[Kims Robot]

So I was getting myself all worked up driving home, thinking that I had heard nothing of other countries helping the US... when the tsunami hit, we were probably the very first to send aid, when problems arise around the world we are always there, but where was the world when Katrina hit??

Of course I was able to prove myself wrong (along the "search before you post", "search before you get too worked up") And there, right on CNN today was an amazing article on how many other countries have sent or offered to send help. It was amazing to see the world helping us when we needed it the most: http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/06/int...ows/index.html

Its nice to know its really not so lonely here in the USA Thanks world!

[dsmith]

Having read Andy's suggestion of having an "exchange student" type opportunity for students in the effected area, I cannot imagine an idea like that not working and at this time feel the "red tape" would be easy to cut through. I know it would be tough for and individual to leave family at a time of crisis but a year abroad (compared to the Gulf coast the corn fields of the Midwest could easily seem abroad) could turn the event into a unique growth experience.

If there are any students out there, effected by Katrina that would like to look into the possibility of an exchange for the year I would be happy to start diving into the process. I personally would not hesitate a second to invite any FIRST member into my home for a year. Unfortunately, I do not live in the community I teach but am certain my team members and their families would rise to the occasion.

Carmel, Indiana is a suburb Indianapolis. Carmel High School (carmelhighschool.net) is a Blue Ribbon School of 3800 students that sends more than 94% onto post secondary education and was recently rated the best public high school in the state. The 868 TechHOUNDS are entering there 5th year in FIRST. After their rookie year in 2002 the TechHOUNDS have won a major judged award or placed as a finalist in every competition they have entered except one. A highly student driven team, the TechHOUNDs would welcome any new members from the coast.

Dave Smith
Faculty Lead Mentor
868 TechHOUNDS

Please feel free to contact me at
dsmith@ccs.k12.in.us

[JackN]

To all FIRST TEAMS:

After reading the discussions on Chief Delphi about how to help the Hurricane victims and checking the FIRST website for input, Team 494, the Goodrich Martians, would like to present the following challenge to all FIRST teams:

Each FIRST team will raise $100.00 for the Hurricane Relief Fund.

With close to 1,000 teams, the amount generated would be sizeable and have a real impact on the families that have been affected. It does not matter which organization you choose to donate to. There are several listed at both websites or you may add yours to a local community effort. Whatever you choose, let us know how much you raised, how you did it and who you gave it to. We will keep a running tally, a list of ideas and the service organizations. Send the reults of your efforts to nowalj@centurytel.net.

Team 494 is determined to raise the FIRST $100.00 by selling water, juice and pop at our community festival this weekend. We will let you know how we did.

[Fixen]

Gotcha, Team 494. We'll probably be selling food and maybe other items with our logos (frisbees, maybe?). Lets see how quickly the $100 will come.

[Andrew Schuetze]

Originally Posted by M. Krass

The following teams are based squarely in the devastation of Hurricane Katrina:
1304 - New Orleans Center for Science and Mathematics
1534 - Marion Abramson Senior High School
1550 - O. Perry Walker Senior High School
1589 - John F. Kennedy Senior High School
364 - Gulfport High School

If there is a better thread for my invitation please direct it that way. Many States have set up shelters for evacuees. Texas being chief among them. Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio has tens of thousands each. I want to send an open invitation to any evacuees now residing in San Antonio to join our team for the season. Two of the main shelters are sending students to schools in the Edgewood ISD as well as South San ISD. Those districts happen to be where two of the three teams from San Antonio are based. If you are or know of a veteran FIRST member whose teams is in limbo, get in touch with me ASAP
If you are in Houston then there are teams o'plenty and the regional director Lucia Svecik is who you want to call. There are several teams up in Dallas so you are in FIRST country here in Texas if you want to keep playing the game this year.

[maltz1881]

Hi, I run the G.R.A.Y.T. Leviathons, Team 1322. The kids asked if we could do something for the Red Cross. I told them of course we could. Our very small team of 9 stood outside a local grocery store for 7 1/2 hours collecting checks, change, returnable bottles and cash for the Red Cross. Our little team collected $1,121.00 in that short of time. We have challenged teams from our area to do the same. I would now like to challenge each of you to go back into your communities and try to raise money for the charity of your choice. We all think Red Cross but there are many others as well such as United Way, Salvation Army, Humane Society and Second Harvest. We are all very privileged to be a part of F.I.R.S.T. our mentors and sponsors give so much to us it is time we gave to others as well.
If there is anyone who has been displaced to Genesee County or the surrounding areas that needs a team we will be happy to take you. Unfortunately we are an unsponsored team but we have tons of fun and try to make the best with what we have.
Good luck to all of you who rise up to meet our challenge.
maltz 1881
Team 1322 G.R.A.Y.T. Leviathons

[JackN]

First I would like to congratulate the G.R.A.Y.T Leviathans on raising $1,121.00, that is an amazing amount!!! I'm sure the Red Cross and the people affected will be very grateful.

At our local festival we raised $179.29 for the relief fund. We sold water and pop at $1.00 a piece and juice boxes at .50 cents. Our team had tons of fun and it was a success. We decided to donate to The Salvation Army.

Okay so that is $1,300.29 who else is raising money?

[maltz1881]

Thank you Goodrich. I think what your team has done is pretty amazing as well. If we all take part in helping our fellow countryman then maybe they can find some solace in knowing that there are people who really do care.

[Alex Burman]

Great news everyone, The Team 75 Roboraiders raised $543.50 for the Salvation Army at their car wash last Saturday. We also have a bake-sale coming up where half the profits go to the Salvation Army. Our entire school system is going to be raising money too with in its self for the victims during lunches witch we will help with.