[StBernard] Katrina not forgotten in Lake holiday efforts

[Westley Annis]

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013.story?coll=orl-news-headlines-lake>

Katrina not forgotten in Lake holiday efforts
Sarah Lundy
Sentinel Staff Writer

December 10, 2005

It has been almost four months since Hurricane Katrina slammed Louisiana and
Mississippi and changed thousands of lives forever.

But many in Lake County haven't forgotten and are working to make the
holiday season a little easier for Katrina victims.

Students, law-enforcement officials and others have donated school supplies,
stockings and toys to children hundreds of miles away.

This morning, Lake County sheriff's Sgt. Cliff Matthews and Cpl. Chris
DeLibro will begin a 500-mile journey with toys for law-enforcement families
in Harrison County, Miss., which is home to Gulfport and Biloxi. Donations
from deputies and Leesburg police officers filled a 6- by-8-foot trailer
with toys, including bikes, Barbie dolls, stuffed animals and books, Sgt.
Christie Mysinger said.

"It's our families helping their families," she said.

Girl Scouts in Clermont, FedEx workers and other groups joined with the Give
a Kid a Backpack Foundation to send hundreds of holiday stockings to Ocean
Springs, Miss., which is east of Biloxi.

Local students are doing their part, too.

Some are adopting schools and have helped with supplies during the past few
months.

On Thursday, a box truck filled with backpacks stuffed with goodies left for
St. Bernard Parish, which is about five miles from downtown New Orleans.

The Eustis High sophomore class adopted Chalmette High School outside of New
Orleans.

The sophomore-class project expanded and involved students from all grades
and other schools, said teacher Melissa Newman, who is the sophomore
adviser.

"I'm really proud of these kids," she said.

The donated bag has folders, pencils, rulers, calculators and other
supplies. Each student also gets a CD player and a maroon shirt decorated
with a Eustis High panther and a Chalmette High owl, the schools' mascots.
The message on them says, "Chalmette owls have friends at Eustis High
School."

Sarah Lundy can be reached at slundy at orlandosentinel.com or 352-742-5917.


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