AASA's Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts to Help Schools Ravaged by Storm

Thank you for all of your interests, donations, and participation in helping 22 districts recover from Superstorm Sandy. AASA is no longer facilitating district-to-district exchanges but you can continue to make monetary contributions through AASA’s Urgent Need Mini Grants: 

AASA
1615 Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
ATTN: Accounting - Hurricane Sandy 

This devastating storm has affected millions of people on the East coast. Thousands of children have been displaced and have no place to go, their homes and neighborhoods left destroyed. Efforts to rebuild affected areas will take years as communities work to restore homes, schools, roads, libraries. AASA believes that we all must reach out to lend a helping hand to those most in need. AASA’s Hurricane Sandy Relief efforts will aid these ailing communities through a four-pronged response to the storm and its aftermath.

• Districts helping Districts: AASA has set up an online district-to-district exchange where members can see what the affected districts need most and contribute to the district’s efforts to rebuild and reopen their schools with equipment, transportation, and resources. 
• Schools helping Schools: AASA is promoting fundraising strategies for schools that want to lend financial and material assistance to affected communities. These strategies have the added benefit of engaging young people and your community in raising money and resources for those devastated by the storm.
• AASA Members helping Children and Families in Need: AASA’s decade-long giving program, Urgent Need Mini-Grants, helps districts meet the urgent health, mental health, education, and social service needs that impact poor children and their families. This year’s program will provide funds to assist children and families affected by Hurricane Sandy AND children and families in other school districts who need a leg up.
• Corporations Helping Impacted Communities: AASA has partnered with Edbacker to work with schools impacted by Hurricane Sandy to help them secure the resources they need to rebuild following the storm.

AASA DISTRICT-TO-DISTRICT EXCHANGE
AASA and its members are working to assist districts and students in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. As we did after Hurricane Katrina, AASA will identify affected districts’ specific needs and link those in need with school leaders across the country willing to donate resources. In these instances, AASA members have always shown solidarity for public schools and the children they serve.

AASA has organized an exchange to connect what districts are able to give with those most in need. We are regularly updating this list with information from districts we have heard from awhile also expanding the list to other affected areas:

For those interested in donating to students and schools in need in these districts, we ask that you contact us at children@aasa.org. We will connect your school district with the one in need for a seamless donation.

We thank you for your willingness to donate, as your efforts will assist those working to pull their schools and communities back together after this terrible event.

WAYS SCHOOLS CAN HELP VICTIMS OF HURRICANE SANDY
Students, staff, and families of the schools impacted by Hurricane Sandy will have many needs in the coming months as they continue to realize the extent of their losses. Schools across the country have the capacity to help those in need. Here are some ideas and suggestions for how you can help:

• Fundraising and Donation Strategies
• Monetary donations/fundraisers: 
• School dances car washes, or ‘paid’ non-uniform days with proceeds going to Sandy victims or for purchasing (in bulk) some of the goods below which schools and families need.
• Collecting goods for those in need:
• School supplies: textbooks and school supplies
• Technology: computers, calculators, projectors, cameras, laboratory equipment (ex. Bunsen burners, beakers, etc.), copiers, telephone systems, public address systems, etc.
• Clothing drives: students and teachers need clothing (ex. warm coats, regular clothes shoes, etc.) to replace what was lost as a result of the storm
• Athletic equipment: balls, nets, pads, poles, etc.

AASA’s URGENT NEED MINI-GRANT PROGRAM
The American Association of School Administrators (AASA) developed the Urgent Need Mini-Grant program in 2002 to help public school districts meet the urgent health, mental health, education, and social service needs that impact poor children and their families. Every day you see the kinds of hardships faced. And, as school administrators, you know how the smallest kindness can enhance a child’s life…make them feel good about themselves and more connected to school.

This year, the AASA Urgent Need Mini-Grant will, through your membership and goodwill, provide funds to assist both children and families affected by Hurricane Sandy AND those children and families in school districts who need a leg up.

In 2009, AASA awarded monetary grants to 16 school districts for dental health, school uniforms, winter clothing and coats, school supplies and more as a result of the Urgent Need Mini-Grant Program. AASA strongly encourages those districts serving children affected by Hurricane Sandy to apply for this opportunity. For more information and to apply click here.

Follow @AASAHQ and @AASATotalChild for more information as it becomes available. For immediate questions, email children@aasa.org.