Meeting the need; preparing for the future
The Home School Foundation established the Hurricane Emergency Response program to help homeschooling families who have suffered great losses. This disaster has shown us that being prepared in the face of any emergency is the best way for us to meet the needs of families. We know that disasters will affect homeschool families in the future. Current donations will be used for those suffering loss in the 2005 hurricane season as long as there are needs. Future gifts should be designated Compassion Emergency Fund so that HSF is prepared to assist the homeschool community when future disasters strike.
One bright spot revealed by the 2005 hurricane season is that homeschoolers are some of the most generous people around. HSLDA and HSF have been inundated with offers of assistance. More than 3,500 homeschool families have offered to help with housing, curriculum, transportation, job training, groceries, prayer and financial assistance. Offers of help continue to pour in.
The volume of support from those offering help is so great that we are unable to respond to them individually. Your offer of help is stored in our database. If families affected by the hurricane request housing in your area, you will be contacted. The HSF extends a heart felt thank you for the loving offers of support for fellow homeschool families. These families are deeply touched by your generosity.
We've also heard from many with needs. HSF is filling requests, awarding grants, and assisting families as promptly as we can. To date the foundation has awarded more than $100,000 in grants. Donations received are in excess of $160,000. Requests continue to come in.
We realize the rebuilding process will be lengthy. Some homeschool families are just finding out that HSF is available to assist them. We are working to get the word out so that no family needs to stop homeschooling because their curriculum was lost or temporary emergencies prevented them.
We need your eyes and ears to assist us in locating homeschooling families who have been displaced because of the hurricanes. We are in contact with state homeschool organizations across the southern United States, and we're also notifying a number of relief agencies, churches, and media outlets in an effort to get the word out. Parts of the gulf coast communications infrastructure remain under repair. Some families who have had their computers destroyed use local libraries to communicate with us. Please pray that homeschool families needing assistance will be able to reach us.
Thank you again for partnering with HSLDA and the Home School Foundation as we demonstrate the love of Christ to each family who is precious in His sight.
Need Help
Does your family need assistance as a result of Hurricane Katrina? Or do you know of a family who does? Homeschool families from around the country are offering places to stay, job placement, help with curriculum, and even transportation to another location. At this time, we have way more offers than takers!
If you need help, please fill out this application and mail to the Foundation. We will process it as soon as we can.
