Matching Donations to School District Needs

How can I help? How can I get help? While an incredible number of Mississippi's schools have been greatly impacted by Hurricane Katrina, we have also been blessed with a tremendous number of offers of assistance. We are very grateful for this generosity as we will need to utilize every resource available to recover and continue the business of educating our children. The task of matching school needs to offers of assistance has been a huge undertaking, however, in light of the devastation that many schools have experienced and their initial inability to coordinate relief efforts. Whether you are looking for assistance or are trying to provide assistance, please utilize the following information to help you in your efforts.

Contact School Districts Directly

From reconstruction of damaged buildings to enrolling displaced students, Hurricane Katrina has affected every school district in the state. Because the needs of these schools vary greatly, each school district has been encouraged to designate a staff member to serve as the contact person to coordinate the receipt of donations and offers of assistance. Please check the School District Contacts for Donations and Offers of Assistance list to contact individual districts to determine how you can assist with their needs.

Apply for A NEA Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund Grant

The Mississippi Association of Educators (MAE) has $125,000 available immediately through the National Education Association (NEA) Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund. Grants are available in amounts that range between $200 and $2,000 to help displaced children, public education employees and schools impacted by the hurricane. To apply for a grant, call 800-530-7998 or visit the MAE website at www.ms.nea.org.

Give to the Mississippi Hurricane Katrina School Relief Fund

The Mississippi School Boards Association (MSBA) has established the Mississippi Hurricane Katrina School Relief Fund to help schools get reopened and begin operating smoothly. Financial donations will be used to help schools become operational, assist displaced school employees and their families, help affected children return to their normal routines and assure that displaced children do not have to drop out of school due to financial hardship. More information may be found on the MSBA website at www.msbaonline.org.

Participate in the Hurricane Katrina Adopt-A-School Effort:

The Mississippi School Boards Association (MSBA) also is coordinating the Mississippi Hurricane Katrina Adopt-A-School Effort to match Mississippi schools affected by the hurricane with other schools, school districts, businesses, organizations and individuals that are able to help meet school needs. Assistance can range from a one-time shipment of a box of school supplies to providing ongoing assistance over a period of time. More information may be found on the MSBA website at www.msbaonline.org.

Serve as a Hurricane Katrina Volunteer

For more information, call the Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service toll free at 1-866-230-8903 or visit www.mcvs.org.

Additional Resources and Assistance:

American Red Cross CDC - Hurricane Katrina and Healthy Schools Child Care Spending Flexibility Council of Chief State School Officers Early Childhood Hurricane Relief Page Episcopal Relief Head Start Hurricane Waivers/Funding Highway Information Methodist Relief MindOh! Foundation MS Emergency Management Agency MSBA Hurricane School Relief Fund MS State Government Website Multi Agency Donations Staging Center Salvation Army United Way U. S. Department of Education National Clearninghouse for Ed. Facilities SACS/CASI Outreach Program