This came my way, and I thought some members of the xmca community might
take an interest:
>Dear Project Directors,
>
> I work for the Policy Program of the Rural School and Community
> Trust (formerly the Rural Challenge). I am not writing you as a "policy"
> person, but as someone who lives in North Carolina and hears new stories
> about the disaster of hurricane Floyd and now Irene, every day. I thought
> the students and teachers in the schools with whom you work might want to
> help our schools, staff and students.
>
>The schools, hamlets, and homes devastated by this flood are located in
>the eastern ONE-THIRD of our state-the most rural and poor section. The
>need is overwhelming and it will stay that way for a long time. If you
>have already made donations, thank you. If you or your community and
>school want to continue to help, here are some suggestions:
>
>There are two main web sites that I think are helpful. The NC Department
>of Public Instruction has a hurricane Floyd site for adopting a school. It
>is being updated daily and lists schools, contacts and some description of
>need. You can directly contact the person listed. Try email first; the
>phones stay tied up. Please be patient; most schools just re-opened. The
>site is www.dpi.state.nc.us.
>
>The NC Association of Educators sponsors the second site. They are doing
>two main things: They are receiving lists from their contacts at the
>schools of staff members who have lost everything. They are using
>donations to write checks directly to staff members listed and sending
>them to be distributed at each school. They are also having their contacts
>at the schools tell them the number of students who need clothing,
>glasses, etc., and the amounts they think they need to help the kids. The
>NCAE is sending a check to the school and the teachers there are getting
>the things for the children. They are keeping a master list of who is
>getting what, so there won't be duplication. They are stretching the
>donations as far as they can. Look at the web site for information on
>making out the checks and mailing them. It's www.ncae.org. They also have
>a teacher to teacher e-list at this site, but I found it laborious to use.
>
>Please don't be put off if you hear that schools have been adopted; while
>their needs for supplies will probably be met over time, I worry more
>about staff and children and their families. There is almost no limit to
>their need for both monetary and emotional support. And adopting a school
>will give you access to understanding the problems. I think you could also
>adopt a class through the school contact. (It is my personal view that no
>school can have too many books-either for the libraries or to give to
>children.) With the second hurricane, depression is setting in, and
>children, staff and families need emotional support every bit as much as
>material support.
>
>I have attached a recent article from the state paper of record, the News
>and Observer, to help you get the picture. Their web site also has tons of
>information: www.news-observer.org. Search archives using "Floyd." For
>example, if you or your school is particularly interested in helping
>Hispanic families and migrant workers or farm families, you can find
>information there.
>
>Thank you and all your networks for all you are doing and will be doing in
>the coming months. If you have questions, please email me at
>page.mccullough who-is-at ruraledu.org or phone me at 919/220-8004.
>
>Sincerely,
>Page McCullough
--=====================_1982243==_.ALT
Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii"
This came my way, and I thought some
members of the xmca community might take an interest:
Dear Project Directors,
--=====================_1982243==_.ALT--
The schools, hamlets, and homes devastated by this flood are located in
the eastern ONE-THIRD of our state-the most rural and poor section. The
need is overwhelming and it will stay that way for a long time. If you
have already made donations, thank you. If you or your community and
school want to continue to help, here are some suggestions:
There are two main web sites that I think are helpful. The NC Department
of Public Instruction has a hurricane Floyd site for adopting a school.
It is being updated daily and lists schools, contacts and some
description of need. You can directly contact the person listed. Try
email first; the phones stay tied up. Please be patient; most schools
just re-opened. The site is
www.dpi.state.nc.us.
The NC Association of Educators sponsors the second site. They are doing
two main things: They are receiving lists from their contacts at the
schools of staff members who have lost everything. They are using
donations to write checks directly to staff members listed and sending
them to be distributed at each school. They are also having their
contacts at the schools tell them the number of students who need
clothing, glasses, etc., and the amounts they think they need to help the
kids. The NCAE is sending a check to the school and the teachers there
are getting the things for the children. They are keeping a master list
of who is getting what, so there won't be duplication. They are
stretching the donations as far as they can. Look at the web site for
information on making out the checks and mailing them. It's
www.ncae.org.
They also have a teacher to teacher e-list at this site, but I found it
laborious to use.
Please don't be put off if you hear that schools have been adopted; while
their needs for supplies will probably be met over time, I worry more
about staff and children and their families. There is almost no limit to
their need for both monetary and emotional support. And adopting a school
will give you access to understanding the problems. I think you could
also adopt a class through the school contact. (It is my personal view
that no school can have too many books-either for the libraries or to
give to children.) With the second hurricane, depression is setting
in, and children, staff and families need emotional support every bit as
much as material support.
I have attached a recent article from the state paper of record, the News
and Observer, to help you get the picture. Their web site also has tons
of information:
www.news-observer.org.
Search archives using "Floyd." For example, if you or your
school is particularly interested in helping Hispanic families and
migrant workers or farm families, you can find information there.
Thank you and all your networks for all you are doing and will be doing
in the coming months. If you have questions, please email me at
page.mccullough who-is-at ruraledu.org or phone me at 919/220-8004.
Sincerely,
Page McCullough