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This is your
chance to do something of immediate value for Hurricane Katrina and
Rita victims in the forgotten rural communities hit by these awful
storms. At www.ruraltorural.org, you can identify particular schools
in specific rural communities, learn about their losses, find out
what they need, and respond. Among the many in need, we have identified
and worked with those that were hardest hit to list on the website;
we are continually adding to that list of schools and needs.
 Rural
areas hard hit by these storms have been largely invisible through
the national media. But these rural children and their
families are not being forgotten by everyone. Other rural communities
are responding to their need, thanks to relationships forged
through the Rural School and Community Trust.
Both givers and receivers have benefited: the whole community
commitment of Jackman, Maine to send a load of lumber to Bogalusa,
Louisiana led a local businessman Allen DuPlessis to remark, “This
was the most successful community building work we’ve done
in 20 years. It has been empowering for the community to realize
the assets they have.. I can’t emphasize how important it
is to get community members working with schools.”
You can make a connection, too. Rural students, teachers, principals,
and schools still need your help:
* If your school or district has supplies, surplus furniture,
or other items youcan donate, you can directly contact a school
in this registry and make an in-kind donation. Search the database
to find the schools that need what you have to give.
* Your school or community club, church, or civic organization can hold fund
raisers, and direct your donation with a letter to a specific school.
* And you, personally, can make a credit card donation online and direct it
to a specific school, or if you prefer, tell us to send it where it is needed
most.
We are all responsible for helping those in need. But rural people,
especially in hard times and hard places, are often at the back
of the line. We have a chance to ease their pain a little and keep
them in the front of our minds. With your help, we can do it.
If you are a rural school in Louisiana, Mississippi, or Texas
affected by Katrina and Rita and you would like to be added to
the online registry, please contact Page.McCullough@ruraledu.org,
or call her at (919) 220-8004.
Click here to forward this e-mail to friends.
Rural to Rural is an initiative of the Rural
School and Community Trust.
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