Helping and healing—Kids Sell Bracelets
You don’t have to be a grownup to help Hurricane Katrina survivors. A little effort can go a long way.
By KATHERINE SNOW SMITH, Times Correspondent
Published September 5, 2005
St. Petersburg Times Online
As kids across the country watch the heartbreaking footage of families stranded on rooftops in New Orleans or read about whole neighborhoods wiped out beyond recognition in Mississippi, it’s almost guaranteed two questions will follow: Why did this happen? How can we help?
While it seems impossible to answer the first question, it’s very important to answer the second. The aid is desperately needed and it also helps children to cope with disaster if they feel like they are doing something to make a difference.
Service agencies and school administrators say it’s too early to collect anything besides money. When basic needs are met then children may start donating school supplies, toys, clothes and more. But for now any money they can raise through carwashes, band concerts, bake sales, magic shows or football games is greatly appreciated.
“Children have such pure hearts and they see the pain on television and it’s really an outlet for them to process their emotions and do something positive that makes them feel like they can help,” said Pam Settle, vice president of marketing for the United Way of Tampa Bay. “We encourage people to . . . find ways to raise funds and collect donations whether it’s from a carwash, a bake sale or something else. It’s a great way for kids to get involved and use their imagination to make money.”
The United Way will not take any administrative fees out of money raised for the hurricane fund. While there will be an ongoing need for things like school supplies, toys and much more in months to come, for the next few weeks or so any trucks going into the stricken areas need to be stocked with essentials like food, water and medicine.
“People need to harness the compassion they have now and find ways to raise money,” Settle said. Kids shouldn’t feel like they have to come up with $1,000 or even $100. If a bake sale brings in just $20, that’s about four cases of water, which can make a huge difference in the lives of several families right now, Settle said.
And all those small donations add up. After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Pinellas County schools set up a special fund to collect all the money students at multiple schools raised from carwashes, bake sales, adding up pennies and selling spirit ribbons. The students raised more than $15,000.
“One option is to set up a fund again,” said Sterling Ivey, spokesman for Pinellas County Schools. “We’re just waiting to see what the greatest need is.”
Hillsborough County Schools also will offer ways for students to help. After four hurricanes struck Florida last year, Hillsborough students collected everything from cleaning products and bug spray to baby wipes and diapers to donate to families in need.
St. Petersburg Catholic High School already has started planning ways to raise money for the students at a Catholic high school on the west bank of New Orleans that was hit hard, said Maureen McGough, director of student activities. And Bishop Robert Lynch has promised the Catholic Diocese here will match every dollar the students raise.
All proceeds from last Friday’s football game and $5 from every ticket sold to the homecoming dance Sept. 24 will go to hurricane relief. The school is also selling 1,000 rubber bracelets with the school’s mascot name, “Barons,” for $1 each. All money raised from that will go to the New Orleans school, too. And finally, students at the school who have their own bands, from punk to alternative, will hold a concert Sept. 20 in the school auditorium to raise money.
“It’s extremely important for children to feel they are doing something to help,” said Ruth Peters, a clinical psychologist in Clearwater who specializes in treating children. “They don’t have the survivors’ guilt or at least they don’t know it’s called that but they may be feeling upset . . . or helpless. This is a teachable moment. Every time you can get your kids to be compassionate it’s a good thing.”
1 Comment