KelliODonnell
12-10-2005, 05:02 PM
For those of you that donated to Ro's foundation for the Katrina Relief efforts, below you will find an update from the executive director of the foundation, Sandy Cobden. Thanks again for helping out my home state of Louisiana.
FROM SANDY COBDEN:
Kelli: I wanted to update you on our efforts to help children directly
impacted by Hurricane Katrina (and Rita and Wilma). As you know,
beginning in early September, we provided emergency supplies to over
one hundred faith-based shelters in Baton Rouge and the surrounding
areas that helped these organizations provide necessary items to
displaced families during the early stages of recovery when they were
having significant trouble accessing FEMA's recovery resources. We
provided thousands of diapers, formula, wipes, sippy cups, children's
sneakers and socks, sheets, towels, feminine hygiene supplies,
children's over-the-counter medicines, etc. All necessary and all
difficult, if not impossible, for these organization to provide on
their own. In conjunction with Nickelodeon, we held a Fun Day for
approximately 5,000 displaced children and their families. As you
know--because you helped us oversee the Fun Day--it was a wonderful
success and brought smiles to the faces of children and adults alike.
We have sponsored a group of art therapists who have made two
week-long trips to the Baton Rouge area to work in shelters and FEMA
mobile home sites with children who are expressing significant anxiety
and trauma-related symptoms at a result of their experiences. We are
sending them back for another week in mid-December. On December
13-14, we will be hosting a "Visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus" for the
children at the FEMA mobile home sites in the Baton Rouge area. All
children will receive a gender and age appropriate gift and a quality
photo of them with Santa and Mrs. Claus. On a more administrative
track, we have been working with FEMA and the Joint Housing Solutions
Center to put together a database that summarizes all the services
national organizations are offering to the affected regions so that
community non-profits will have a single comprehensive resource to help
them access the help that they need. Finally, and perhaps most
importantly, we are working with a coalition of childcare providers,
FEMA and the Louisiana governor's office to get childcare facilities
built into the FEMA mobile home sites. Although deemed "temporary" by
the government, these sites are expected to be serve displaced families
for at least 18 months. However, 18 months is a huge amount of time
for a developing child to be without a safe and educational childcare
program. In order for these families to get back on track and these
children to thrive as they certainly deserve to, we--as a part of their
greater community--must help to provide safe, secure and educational
havens for them. And, Rosie's For All Kids is doing its best to
achieve that goal. --Sandy Cobden, Executive Director
Sandra L. Cobden
Executive Director
Rosie's For All Kids Foundation
212-703-7405
FROM SANDY COBDEN:
Kelli: I wanted to update you on our efforts to help children directly
impacted by Hurricane Katrina (and Rita and Wilma). As you know,
beginning in early September, we provided emergency supplies to over
one hundred faith-based shelters in Baton Rouge and the surrounding
areas that helped these organizations provide necessary items to
displaced families during the early stages of recovery when they were
having significant trouble accessing FEMA's recovery resources. We
provided thousands of diapers, formula, wipes, sippy cups, children's
sneakers and socks, sheets, towels, feminine hygiene supplies,
children's over-the-counter medicines, etc. All necessary and all
difficult, if not impossible, for these organization to provide on
their own. In conjunction with Nickelodeon, we held a Fun Day for
approximately 5,000 displaced children and their families. As you
know--because you helped us oversee the Fun Day--it was a wonderful
success and brought smiles to the faces of children and adults alike.
We have sponsored a group of art therapists who have made two
week-long trips to the Baton Rouge area to work in shelters and FEMA
mobile home sites with children who are expressing significant anxiety
and trauma-related symptoms at a result of their experiences. We are
sending them back for another week in mid-December. On December
13-14, we will be hosting a "Visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus" for the
children at the FEMA mobile home sites in the Baton Rouge area. All
children will receive a gender and age appropriate gift and a quality
photo of them with Santa and Mrs. Claus. On a more administrative
track, we have been working with FEMA and the Joint Housing Solutions
Center to put together a database that summarizes all the services
national organizations are offering to the affected regions so that
community non-profits will have a single comprehensive resource to help
them access the help that they need. Finally, and perhaps most
importantly, we are working with a coalition of childcare providers,
FEMA and the Louisiana governor's office to get childcare facilities
built into the FEMA mobile home sites. Although deemed "temporary" by
the government, these sites are expected to be serve displaced families
for at least 18 months. However, 18 months is a huge amount of time
for a developing child to be without a safe and educational childcare
program. In order for these families to get back on track and these
children to thrive as they certainly deserve to, we--as a part of their
greater community--must help to provide safe, secure and educational
havens for them. And, Rosie's For All Kids is doing its best to
achieve that goal. --Sandy Cobden, Executive Director
Sandra L. Cobden
Executive Director
Rosie's For All Kids Foundation
212-703-7405