Dear PTA leaders,
There has been a tremendous concern for the children, families, and schools in the areas hit by
Hurricane Katrina. There have been some excellent suggestions that Tom Nguyen as been
receiving related to working with our sponsors and partners. Pam Cohen and her staff have also
put together a strategy that other staff members are also working on.
I have been receiving many e-mails of suggestions as well. Today I have received three
messages that give us some specific ways that we can be of help to children, families and
schools. I pasted the messages into this e-mail to you so I can share with you what I know so
far. National PTA still suggests that monetary donations should be given to the American Red
Cross for immediate needs to be addressed.
Here are some suggestions from those who are most closely connected to the recovery efforts:
A) Thanks for checking on the Mississippi PTA and the other PTA's affected by Hurricane
Katrina. It is devastating. Words cannot be used to express the disaster. My family members in
South Mississippi are ok. However, some are without power and water, but they have shelter.
Greenville, Mississippi was not hit hard, but we are sheltering others from the hard hit areas. If
PTA's from areas not affected would like to make donations to assist the shelters in the
Greenville area, I will be responsible for getting it to the American Red Cross.
For the Greenville Area, please send donations to:
Mary Hardy
205 Teresa Drive
Greenville, MS 38701
For the Jackson Area, please send donations to:
Bailey Magnet High School
c/o Mr. Bruce Fulgham
1900 N. State Street
Jackson, MS 39202
Donations may also be sent to:
MSPTA Office
400 East South Street,
Jackson, MS 39201
OR
P.O. Box 1937
Jackson, MS 39215-1937.
The American Red Cross is asking for the following donations: wipes; toothbrushes and
toothpaste; feminine hygiene products; sanitizing lotions; first-aid supplies; dry shampoo; bedding
towels; baby items such as formula, food and diapers; toiletries; water; food; paper items; and
clothing.
Thank you for remembering us in this time of need.
Mary Hardy
MSPTA President
B) From Lynn Evans, MSPTA Secretary
I just wrote this up for our website. Any ideas or help would be appreciated.
Mississippi PTA is very grateful for the prayers and offers of help from our fellow PTA members
around the country. Our schools on the Gulf Coast have sustained incredible damage; in
Hancock County alone, only two schools remain standing and those two need substantial repair.
Forty-four school districts and 160,000 students have been severely effected. Schools all over
the state will be effected because storm refugee children are being welcomed into whatever
school serves the shelter where they are staying. We are cut off from reaching much of the
effected coastal counties by phone or by any transport because of the power outages and the
gasoline shortage. We know the schools will need basic school supplies, books, and janitorial
supplies as well as desks, tables, file cabinets, all the things that make a school a school. As we
receive information about when and what can get to the coastal counties, we will let our PTA
network know. For now, book drives or a school adopting a Gulf Coast school or school supply
drives will help let the children and teachers know someone cares. Anyone with access to mobile
classrooms or large contributions please call the Mississippi Department of Education Bill Welch
at 601-359-1028 or e-mail him at bwelch@mde.k12.ms.us because they will be needed right
away. Thank you; we do need your help.-the Mississippi PTA
C) We now have a method for visitors to our website to contribute to a school supply fund. We
are working with the Texas Education Agency and EPI (the school supply company) to distribute
school supplies across our state. We are receiving new students in all regions of our state, not
just the Houston and southeast Texas area.
If you will visit our website, www.txpta.org you can read more information and make an online
contribution. As you know, collecting school supplies is great but sending money is the easiest
and most desirable method.
Also, I had a suggestion from one of our local units. They were wondering about "adopting" one
of the affected local units once their schools were back in business. The local PTAs will need
start up supplies and funds, too. How great if one unit adopted another.
Thanks
Pam Meyercord
Thank you all again for your concern and willingness to assist. I hope this will give you some
ideas for those of you who are eager to begin helping. Since it is a holiday weekend and staff will
of course be off enjoying their holiday, I will continue to send messages and updates throughout
the weekend as I receive them.
Enjoy your holiday weekend and please continue to remember everyone in your prayers who are
struggling through this horrible event.
Sincerely yours,
Anna
Anna M. Weselak
National PTA President
a_weselak@pta.org