Deaf Students Help Survivors of Hurricane Katrina

By Michael Walton

Students worked at the fundraising store to help deaf students of Hurricane Katrina

Last summer, Hurricane Katrina destroyed homes, businesses, and many lives. New Orleans, Louisiana, Biloxi, Mississippi, and the surrounding area were devastated.

One thousand miles away in Washington, D.C., students and teachers at Kendall Demonstration Elementary School were among the Americans throughout the country who wanted to help the victims of the hurricane.

The Kendall students and teachers raised money for deaf students of the Louisiana School for the Deaf. Kendall teacher/ researcher, Susan Schatz, and her students began fund-raising by asking everyone at Kendall School to donate toys, games, clothing, shoes, small appliances, and other items. Schatz and her students planned to sell the items and send the money they earned to Louisiana School for the Deaf.

Teachers, students, and workers donated clothing and toys. Schatz and her students set up a "store." They made signs, hung pictures from the hurricane, and placed the toys and clothes on tables so students could sell them. "I want us to raise as much money as possible," said Derika Saunders, one of the Kendall students.

Other students at Kendall are also raising money for deaf survivors. The children at the child care center will have a bake sale. Students in grades 1, 2, and 3 are collecting pennies to send the money to deaf survivors. Students from grades 6, 7, and 8 are selling school supplies and brownies.

What do you think? Have you raised money to help the hurricane survivors, too? Has your school collected items for the survivors?

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