KIDS CREATE, COLLECT; SCHOOL PUPILS REACH OUT TO AID VICTIMS OF HURRICANE.Byline: John Huddy Daily News Staff Writer Pupils at Mesa Verde Middle and Campus Canyon Elementary schools in Moorpark have found a way to help out victims devastated dev·as·tate tr.v. dev·as·tat·ed, dev·as·tat·ing, dev·as·tates 1. To lay waste; destroy. 2. To overwhelm; confound; stun: was devastated by the rude remark. by Hurricane Mitch Hurricane Mitch was one of the deadliest and most powerful hurricanes on record in the Atlantic basin, with maximum sustained winds of 180 mph (290 km/h). The storm was the thirteenth tropical storm, ninth hurricane, and third major hurricane of the 1998 Atlantic in Central America Central America, narrow, southernmost region (c.202,200 sq mi/523,698 sq km) of North America, linked to South America at Colombia. It separates the Caribbean from the Pacific. by collecting clothes and food - and making banners. ``When kids see a disaster like this, they want to help out,'' said teacher Kevin Lorch, whose leadership class at Mesa Verde created banners supporting the local relief effort, sponsored by the Moorpark Unified School District A unified school district is a school district which includes both primary school (kindergarten through middle school or junior high) and high school (grades 9-12). In Illinois, these districts are called unit school districts. , and area volunteers Lisa Williams Lisa Williams (born in Birmingham, England) is a self-described medium and clairvoyant starring in a show on Lifetime called Lisa Williams: Life Among the Dead. The show follows Williams on a typical day, as she allegedly communicates with the dead, investigates haunted , Valerie Jacobellis and Patty Perdigao. ``Sometimes they don't have the means to help out, like a car or a pocketbook - so they contribute in their own way . . . like this.'' Lorch's leadership class encourages pupils to get involved with school events and the community by creating banners and posters for community awareness. For pupils like Melissa Corkery and Shannon Hermansen, both 13 years old, awareness and response is what the support is all about. ``It was fun knowing that we could help people and that people could see that we helped out by looking at our banners,'' said Melissa, who is still trying to scrub marker ink off her hands from creating the banners over the past few days. ``We got a lot done - everyone was real serious about it and not fooling around.'' More than 15 banners were created for the relief aid. Other pupils, like Shannon who also got her hands spotted with ink in the artistic process, found that there were other benefits from helping. ``The best part about making the banners is that people realized that we helped out these people who were in need of help,'' said Shannon, who helped out on four banners. Mesa Verde was one of several local schools participating in the communitywide relief effort. Other schools, like Campus Canyon in Moorpark, persuaded kids and parents to get involved by donating canned food canned food food sterilized by heat in a closed, durable container such as tin and aluminum cans, flexible aluminum foil and thermoplastic containers including squeeze tubes. Technically, the processes used are highly efficient and used universally. and clothing to ship down to victims of the Central American Central America A region of southern North America extending from the southern border of Mexico to the northern border of Colombia. It separates the Caribbean Sea from the Pacific Ocean and is linked to South America by the Isthmus of Panama. calamity. ``I feel sorry for them,'' said Donald Raskin, 8, a pupil at Campus Canyon who brought in a can of chicken broth Noun 1. chicken broth - a stock made with chicken chicken stock broth, stock - liquid in which meat and vegetables are simmered; used as a basis for e.g. soups or sauces; "she made gravy with a base of beef stock" for Nicaraguan victims. ``They suffered a lot and deserve something to make them happy.'' For Campus Canyon Principal Linda Bowe, the amount of support from parents and kids was very encouraging. ``We usually have only a few boxes of food,'' said Bowe. ``But this has been unbelievable - our kids are really in the spirit of charity.'' Jessica Rodriguez, 6, agreed whole-heartedly with her principal, saying, ``Caring is the best part of helping people.'' One of Jessica's older classmates Classmates can refer to either:
``It feels good to help the poor people - it's sad that they don't really have a lot of clothes or food.'' Steven continued to say the relief support this year for him was a family effort, with his mother and older brothers, John and Tom, 13, also lending a hand - donating two bags of clothes to be sent out with the rest of the items today. Other items that will be on their way to the Nicaraguan Consulate in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. include: medical supplies, toys, food, diapers and clothes. Trucks transporting the donated goods will have the banners created by the Mesa Verde leadership class draped drape v. draped, drap·ing, drapes v.tr. 1. To cover, dress, or hang with or as if with cloth in loose folds: draped the coffin with a flag; a robe that draped her figure. on the sides. ``This is the farthest that our pens and paper have ever reached,'' Lorch said about his banners getting a free ride down to Los Angeles. ``When the opportunity arises to help - we do it.'' CAPTION(S): 2 Photos PHOTO (1--Color) At left, Heather Gonzales, 8, and Casey Baumgartner, 6, tape up a sign of support Friday at Campus Canyon Elementary School for victims of Hurricane Mitch. (2--Color) Campus Canyon kids created banners to assist in a campaign being held in Moorpark. Tina Gerson/Daily News |
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