Most of the United States was untouched by Hurricane Katrina's path of destruction. Still, the storm ripped through Americans' hearts. By last Friday, nearly $1 billion in donations had poured in to help the victims of Katrina.
Kids were among the most tireless helpers. A boy in San Diego, California, organized a group to make drawings to decorate the bare walls of shelters. Third graders in Counce, Tennessee, asked schoolmates--many of whom don't have much to begin with--to give money and supplies. Here are just some of the ways that kids are making a difference.
Leaders of the Pack
When the Kantor family of Bethesda, Maryland, heard about kids uprooted
by the storm, they had an idea: Collect 1,000 backpacks full of school
supplies and other useful stuff and send it to the kids who are
sheltered in the Houston Astrodome. Their idea caught on like wildfire!
By late last week, more than 10,350 backpacks had been sent out from
their local Project Backpack headquarters alone. At least 35 new
distribution points had been set up in other cities, and backpacks were
going to relocated kids all over the nation. A similar effort, We've Got
Your Back, is being sponsored by DoSomething, Nickelodeon and others.
Now there is a new goal for Katrina's youngest survivors. "I want a backpack in every kid's hands," said Jackie Kantor.
Lemon Aid
One of the classic ways that kids raise money is to open a lemonade
stand. Brianna Jones, 10, of Williamstown, Massachusetts, added a twist
to that idea. She sold lemonade, baked goods--and tomatoes! "My
classmate's mom brought tomatoes from her garden, and lots of people
bought them," Brianna told TFK. In just four hours, Brianna made $1,625.
"I didn't expect to raise that much," she said.
The Sunkist company will give free lemonade stands to the first 2,000 kids who pledge to raise money for Katrina survivors. Learn more about their project at sunkist.com/takeastand.
Break the Bank! Kids Collect Coins
Kids have broken into countless piggy banks in the past few weeks. "We
like to say that we are teaching the power of the penny," sixth-grade
teacher Sherrie Jackson told TFK. Students at Meneley Elementary School,
in Gardnerville, Nevada, found out that even small change adds up
quickly. "We're getting $300 a week in just pennies, and our total is
almost $2,000," says Jackson. "There are 550 kids in our school, and I
don't think there's a single student who hasn't given something."
The scene became a familiar one as kids lugged piggy banks into schools, churches and Red Cross and Salvation Army collection sites across the country. At the California State Fair, the biggest piggy bank in the world, which stands 14 feet tall, 21 feet long and 18 feet wide, took in over $5,000 for Katrina survivors in the last five days of the fair.
Tubs of Love
Allie Soranno, 10, woke up early each morning and stayed after school
each afternoon for a week. She was busy helping a team of fourth- and
fifth-grade volunteers from Ford Elementary School, in Acworth, Georgia,
fill plastic containers with canned food, bottled water, school
supplies, soap and shampoo. The students called the packages Tubs of
Love. "It feels good to help people who don't have the things that I
do," Allie told TFK.
By midnight on September 9, the students had loaded a trailer truck with 300 Tubs of Love. The shipment arrived the following morning at Quarles Elementary School, in Long Beach, Mississippi, where the items were distributed to a grateful community in need.
Who's Your Buddy?
Each year at Mardi Gras--41 days before Easter--New Orleans holds a
grand celebration. Shiny strings of Mardi Gras beads are part of the
party. High school seniors Hannah Kirsch and Elizabeth Coffin-Karlin in
Sarasota, Florida, decided to sell the festive beads to friends to help
Katrina survivors who are attending school in their city. They call
their effort Bayou Buddies. They raised $1,000 in just two days.
"This will show the hurricane victims that people are rooting for them," Elizabeth told Kid Reporter Madison Chapman.