Thank You's

From DJ

Thanks, Leslie!

I check your blog often, there is such a wealth of information there. I'm going down to Lakeshore, Mississippi, from April 26th-30th (flying down to New Orleans) with five other women from our church. We're excited about it - we may be cooking for other volunteers, sorting items in the warehouse (the gymnasium of the destroyed and untouched Gulfview Elementary), or even painting, if some folks have gotten to that point in their rebuilding. Or - anything we're asked to do :-)

My husband will lead another team of men the end of June.We've got to keep caring...Thank you for all you do - you keep people inspired.

D-J

A huge Thank You to the students at Chenango Valley School District for taking on Pass Christian!
http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/03/chenango-valley-high-school-helping.html

From Leslie Holly to:

A huge Thank You to the Binghamton Tennis Center for their ongoing donation of dead tennis balls.
Dead tennis balls? Yes! The teachers in the affected region can put them on the bottoms of the students' chairs so they don't make marks on the floors of the FEMA trailers. This way, there will be no financial penalty for permanently marring the floors from (gads!) use.

Between the BTC and Binghamton University, we should obtain our initial goal of 300 within the month! After this first initial goal, we'll take it further to other schools as we are able.

Thank you again Mr. Starke!

And Thank You to the Calvary United Methodist Church in Vestal, NY

They recently had a rummage sale with some items left over - as is normal. I called and asked, and they allowed me, to come look over the 'left overs' for any items that might be needed. I collected a number of books, some area rugs and a CRIB to send down. WOW!

These folks are so incredible - they also allowed me to leave a poster for volunteers, a business card I made so people can access this blog and are going to help spread the word for the need.

Thank you so much!

From The Hancock County Library System
A huge Thank You from the Hancock County Library System to The Ithaca NY Rotary.
They were gracious enough to make a cash donation to the library system in order to assist in rebuilding.
Thank you so much!

Direct Quote - no editing: From Jeanne Brooks of The Charles B Murphy Elementary in Pearlington

Greetings from Mississippi! Good things are happening and I'd like to share them with you! These are a few pictures of what your time, talents, and resources have provided.

There are now 5 brand new Dell computers in each classroom with an additonal 3 in our office.(Buccaneer Computers/C. Hunter Richie Elementary) Our Renaissance Place educational programs are being remotely installed at this moment. Each portable shares an overhead and TV combo. (Thanks again, Gary)



There are bookshelves in place in every room holding lots of wonderful books for our children and teachers. (Longfellow School, Portland -shelving) (books from Carbondale, Brooksville, NY, Castine, Penobscot, Kentucky, New Jersey, California, Alabama )

I created a library in one-fourth of our office portable, bought Home Depot shelving, and with the help of a volunteer from New York, have unpacked EVERY box (and there were 100's) of books,that are now alphabetized and shelved. (Shelves from Savannah and N.C) And last, but not least, as of yesterday we have an 8x8 shed buillt by Sheds of Hope (thanks, Julie!).

As you can see, from microwaves (Carol), an office refrigerator( (Chris),a coffee pot (Deb) office furniture (Keith, Darrell, Ron, Tom/Carbondale), radios(Christine), clocks, watches, bookends, library supplies(Rick), school supplies, backpacks,jackets and clothing (Ms Anne/Tee) sweatshirts (Ms Sadie) laminator (Montana), binding machine(California), office chairs (Nevada) and even the camera that took these pictures (Kelly in PA), books, umbrellas, ponchos (Linda).

We don't know how we would have managed without you. You brought Thanksgiving baskets (Linda) and treats for our kids. Christmas presents arrived by the truckloads unitl I honestly felt like one of Santa's elves! There's no way I've even covered half of all you have done for us...not just gift cards and cash, but supplies, furnishings, cards, letters, phone calls, and the friendships and volunteer hours of so many people all over this country. We have become one with Maine, and Colorado, and Pennsylvania and Virginia and Georgia, and on and on... You've all done so much for us that's it's impossible to list everything, but please know that the children of Charles B. Murphy Elementary have been blessed by your efforts and have learned powerful lessons about the goodness and generosity of others that will impact their entire lives.

Many of you spent countless hours sorting materials, books, supplies and then lugged them to the post office or UPS store to get them to me. Some of you drove hours and hours and hundreds and hundreds of miles to bring things to me...someone you had never even seen before! You've listened to me laugh, cry, rant, and rave...and you've cared enough to listen and then were brave enough to keep calling!As a teacher for the past thirty-one years, I have weathered all kinds of situations. Personally and professionally my life has been changed by the events of the year. In looking back, though, as hard as this year has been since Katrina, I would go through all of it all over again if it meant that I would have you all as friends. The hole in my roof left by Hurricane Katrina has been repaired. And each of you, in your own special way, have filled the hole in my heart. I love you all!

With profound gratitude!
Jeanne Brooks