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Illinois Students Helping Katrina Victims and Making a Difference

The spirit of Thanksgiving has been symbolized by the deeds and actions of Illinois students throughout the state, who are helping with the ongoing Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.

The Illinois State Board of Education has recognized several high schools across the state for their efforts in having organized fundraisers, bake sales, walk-a-thons and many other events used to raise funds to help the areas damaged by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

In Lemont High School students were busy volunteering and fundraising to assist victims of this disaster in many different ways. Coins were collected at football games and over $1,577 has been raised and donated to the American Red Cross – Katrina Relief Fund. The high school also collected toiletries, sheets and blankets that were delivered to the Gulf Coast. Other activities included a bread sale which raised over $430 and selling Spirit Links during Homecoming Weekend which helped raise over $522.

Meadowbrook School raised $10,000 through a car wash, a Walk-a-Thon, bake sales and various individual and classroom efforts. $5,000 will go directly to the American Red Cross and the other $5,000 is targeted for the public schools in Pass Christian, Louisiana. Greenbriar School raised over $5,700 from its student lemonade stand projects, face painting and from spare change.

The Westmoor School raised $1,400 at a bake sale. The students also almost raised an additional $2000 through the Chores for Change project. For this project students do chores around the house, have parents sign a slip verifying the work and drop the chore ticket and the money in a piggy bank in the classrooms. Northbrook Bank and Trust will match funds with a 25 percent donation. The Westmoor School Girl Scouts also had a pajama drive and collected pajamas and books which were sent out to the victims of Katrina.

Northbrook Junior High raised $2,000 at a car wash and a total of $3,500 including individual student donations. The Farmersville Grade School and the Raymond Grade School collected school supplies and books for children affected by Katrina. Dallas CUSD #336, a small school district of 250 students in West Central Illinois, raised more than $2,400 for hurricane relief efforts. Students paid money to wear caps, pajamas and to have special privileges in the classroom. Teachers also allowed students to purchase lunches with them for a day.

The Oak Lawn Community High School Students Against Drunk Driving Chapter and the Student Mentor Program raised over $4,500 for the American Red Cross Hurricane Relief Effort by donating pocket change and selling New Orleans-style beads. The Dorn Primary Center’s Parent Teacher Association in Hickory Hills raised over $3,000 by hosting a community garage sale.

Today more than 400 children displaced by Hurricane Katrina are enrolled in 46 school districts across the state. Students and the local government are doing everything possible to help Katrina victims in Illinois and in the Gulf Coast. The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has developed a webpage with resources for schools enrolling children displaced by Hurricane Katrina, http://www.isbe.net/katrina/default.htm.