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SMH encourages other communities to send books to schools impacted by Katrina. To know how to do so, go to www.nea.org.
Books bound for school in New Orleans
http://www.ohio.com/news/cardwell/9357711.html?page=1&c=y
Peggy Phillips is way far away from the devastation that Hurricane Katrina left in its wake in New Orleans.
Fortunately, her heart doesn't relate to geography.
The Randolph Township woman has not only found herself involved in making things better for students who lost so much their footing and in some cases their families she's also gotten others on board.
Phillips, a full-time University of Akron sociology major with a concentration in law enforcement and a minor in criminal justice, has organized an ambitious book drive to help get a New Orleans high school's library up and running.
A ripple of hope.
The hyper-passionate Phillips said she first learned how bad things were at John McDonogh Senior High School when she read an article in the Nov. 1 New York Times Students After The Storm, Left Alone and Angry for a sociology class project.
The high school which just reopened in September with that system's largest enrollment of 775 students is a frightening powder keg of all kinds of problems. Most are unrelated to academics.
On any given day, according to the Times, at least 25 security guards, a metal detector and police cruisers are on site.
It's been estimated that one-fifth of the students have no adult supervision in the home, with Katrina separating them from loved ones.
So, while authorities try to come to grips with those issues, others are also attempting to help.
Like the school's library that has yet to reopen.
''A quiet place to sit down and read seemed like such a simplistic thing,'' Phillips opined. ''But they don't have that.''
However, help is on the way, thanks to Phillips and others like her around the country.
Brenda Chapital the school librarian said she has received book donations from as far away as Wisconsin, New York and Delaware since the New York Times story ran.
Phillips is still going through boxes, tallying the numbers; but it looks like Northeast Ohio's book contribution will be substantial.
''I think it's wonderful what Peggy is doing,'' Chapital said in a recent telephone interview.
Phillips has placed book-collection bins in several places, including outside UA's sociology department and at various high schools.
Phillips said the response has been ''just overwhelming.'' She received strong assists from Manchester and Waterloo high schools, UA's honor society for sociologists, a Kent Mensa group called ''Project Ink-slinger,'' and retirees at Maplewood Senior Village in Streetsboro.
Members of the sociology department also kicked in a $100 gift certificate.
Phillips has been further buoyed by the folks from Roadway who will deliver the books up to 1,080 pounds.
''Roadway's generosity has been a life saver. I wasn't sure how I was going to get the books there,'' Phillips said.
Chapital said the library on the school's second floor wasn't damaged.
''But when the state took over the school, it discarded everything for fear of mold,'' Chapital said.
''We have 22 computers in the library; but only 10 are working,'' she said. ''More wiring is needed . . . ''
''It's all been very challenging and interesting, to say the least,'' Chapital said of the hurdles the community faces.
''We have students from all over the city and from a number of different subcultures here. Some have totally different mind-sets. They're trying to learn to get along with students from different backgrounds.''
Further complicating matters is that the school functions with only two cell phones for all communications.
Getting the library running while it may sound like a small thing is another step in the right direction.
Incidentally, Chapital and Phillips will meet next month when Phillips is there for a seminar.
Just think. She may arrive in time to see the books she helped collect being used.
Another ripple of hope.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
Peggy Phillips is way far away from the devastation that Hurricane Katrina left in its wake in New Orleans.
Fortunately, her heart doesn't relate to geography.
The Randolph Township woman has not only found herself involved in making things better for students who lost so much their footing and in some cases their families she's also gotten others on board.
Phillips, a full-time University of Akron sociology major with a concentration in law enforcement and a minor in criminal justice, has organized an ambitious book drive to help get a New Orleans high school's library up and running.
A ripple of hope.
The hyper-passionate Phillips said she first learned how bad things were at John McDonogh Senior High School when she read an article in the Nov. 1 New York Times Students After The Storm, Left Alone and Angry for a sociology class project.
The high school which just reopened in September with that system's largest enrollment of 775 students is a frightening powder keg of all kinds of problems. Most are unrelated to academics.
On any given day, according to the Times, at least 25 security guards, a metal detector and police cruisers are on site.
It's been estimated that one-fifth of the students have no adult supervision in the home, with Katrina separating them from loved ones.
So, while authorities try to come to grips with those issues, others are also attempting to help.
Like the school's library that has yet to reopen.
''A quiet place to sit down and read seemed like such a simplistic thing,'' Phillips opined. ''But they don't have that.''
However, help is on the way, thanks to Phillips and others like her around the country.
Brenda Chapital the school librarian said she has received book donations from as far away as Wisconsin, New York and Delaware since the New York Times story ran.
Phillips is still going through boxes, tallying the numbers; but it looks like Northeast Ohio's book contribution will be substantial.
''I think it's wonderful what Peggy is doing,'' Chapital said in a recent telephone interview.
Phillips has placed book-collection bins in several places, including outside UA's sociology department and at various high schools.
Phillips said the response has been ''just overwhelming.'' She received strong assists from Manchester and Waterloo high schools, UA's honor society for sociologists, a Kent Mensa group called ''Project Ink-slinger,'' and retirees at Maplewood Senior Village in Streetsboro.
Members of the sociology department also kicked in a $100 gift certificate.
Phillips has been further buoyed by the folks from Roadway who will deliver the books up to 1,080 pounds.
''Roadway's generosity has been a life saver. I wasn't sure how I was going to get the books there,'' Phillips said.
Chapital said the library on the school's second floor wasn't damaged.
''But when the state took over the school, it discarded everything for fear of mold,'' Chapital said.
''We have 22 computers in the library; but only 10 are working,'' she said. ''More wiring is needed . . . ''
''It's all been very challenging and interesting, to say the least,'' Chapital said of the hurdles the community faces.
''We have students from all over the city and from a number of different subcultures here. Some have totally different mind-sets. They're trying to learn to get along with students from different backgrounds.''
Further complicating matters is that the school functions with only two cell phones for all communications.
Getting the library running while it may sound like a small thing is another step in the right direction.
Incidentally, Chapital and Phillips will meet next month when Phillips is there for a seminar.
Just think. She may arrive in time to see the books she helped collect being used.
Another ripple of hope.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
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