Disaster Relief
"The levees broke, the water came, and homes were destroyed, but the battle is not over. The waters are receding, but this only marks the beginning of the end. The people now have to start the long journey back to their normal lives. Volunteers are now interested in helping with the clean up. There is a group of teenagers that are having a city-wide Paint-A-Thon, to put new coats on flood damaged homes. Others are helping rebuild and repair the homes."
Beth Blunier, Eureka High School, Eureka, Illinois
"People from a small school in Sacramento, California, donated 1,100 pounds of toys and coats, and eight hundred dollars, to help children in Des Moines, Iowa, who were affected by the floods."
Justin Lockwood, Bondurant-Farrar High School, Bondurant, Iowa
"During a natural disaster, it is amazing how many people get up out of their chairs and go help people who are in need. Just this past year there have been several large scale disasters in the United States. Floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, plane crashes, and train crashes. People feel lucky it didn't happen to them so they forget about everything in their own personal life just to help people who have been devastated. I am thankful that there are people in America who care about others."
Randy White, Centerville High School, Centerville, South Dakota
"Likewise, during the Flood of '93 many people learned lessons in responsibility. There were many people who lost everything, but they continued to sandbag in hope of saving others."
Sara Knobloch, Eureka High, Eureka, Illinois