Multiple efforts to help those who lost so much to the destruction of Hurricane Katrina are underway here in Castle Pines North and throughout Douglas County. Residents who want to help can start with these relief efforts:

Boy Scout Troop 316
Douglas County Schools
Colorado SART (State Animal Response Team)
Douglas County FUNd-Raiser

Boy Scout Troop 316

Michael Elmore and troop 316 are collecting new or used backpacks to truck down to the relief effort in Biloxi, Mississippi. Please fill the new or used backpacks with the following items.

First aid kit
Change of clothes
Lightweight sleeping bag or blanket
Toys, games or stuffed animals
Rain poncho
Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops can put their troop shirt, hat or something with their Troop number to let the recipient know where it came from.

Children of various ages need these basic items. Indicate what age group the backpack is for on the outside of the bag. On Sunday, September 18 at 12 noon Troop 316 will be at the King Soopers parking lot to load the truck.

Douglas County Schools

The Douglas County Educational Foundation is collecting supplies and providing tangible help to those who need it. Douglas County Schools are asking parents to please consider donating some of the following supplies from this list to children who have lost everything. Most schools will be accepting donations through September 12th and they will be shipped ASAP to those in need. Please call your neighborhood school to determine their participation and appropriate place to drop off your contributions.

Supplies needed: (new or lightly used)

Back Packs

Construction and Graph Paper
Crayons
Coloring Books
Scissors
Markers
Spiral Notebooks
Highlighters
Rulers
Compasses
Protractors
Ballpoint Pens
Glue Sticks
Toiletries
Books
Pencils
Tissues
Hand Sanitizer
Small Stuffed Animal

Colorado SART
Coordinating State Efforts to Help Animal Victims of Hurricane Katrina

Colorado SART (State Animal Response Team), a program of the Colorado Veterinary Medical Foundation, is coordinating the efforts of animal groups in Colorado to help the animal victims of Hurricane Katrina. Colorado SART is in direct contact with the agencies involved in animal rescue efforts in the hurricane-affected areas and will serve as the State’s focal point for requests for resources and assistance. Colorado animal groups willing to assist will be asked to work through SART to provide a coordinated, effective response effort so that resources can be mobilized to the areas in greatest need.

“Our assistance efforts should be timely and well-organized to best meet the needs of the animals,” said Dr. Kevin Dennison, program director for SART. Dennison added, “We are all concerned about the victims of Hurricane Katrina and want to help in any way we can. The best way Coloradans can help is to donate money, not supplies, for agencies in the hurricane areas to use where needed most.”

Citizens of Colorado who want to help the animal victims of Hurricane Katrina can donate through the Colorado Veterinary Medical Foundation. CVMF will direct 100 percent of funds collected to organizations assisting the animal victims – both those owned by evacuees as well as shelter animals awaiting adoption. Checks payable to “CVMF – Katrina Fund” can be mailed to 789 Sherman Street, Suite 550, Denver, CO 80203.

For additional information:

Please contact Dr. Dennison at 303.895.1138 over Labor Day weekend or Jayme Nielson-Foley, Director, Public Relations, at 303.318.0447 during normal business hours.

Douglas County FUNd-Raiser

Douglas County is planning an all day FUNd-Raiser to help victims of Hurricane Katrina for September 23. For more details visit the Douglas County website.