Girls Inc. Affiliates Respond to Hurricane Katrina

The Girls Inc. community of girls has been extremely active in responding to the needs of those affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Girls from across the country are doing considerable work at the local level and making a real difference. Read about their efforts!

• Girls Incorporated of Sarasota County (FL) donated Girls Inc. t-shirts to the hurricane relief effort via a local radio station with a sister station in Baton Rouge, noting that if ever there were girls epitomizing "Strong, Smart, and Bold" they are the girls of New Orleans.

• Girls Incorporated of the Central Savannah River Area (GA) planned a neighborhood rally at which all members marched up and down the streets, making as much noise as possible, and knocking on doors, asking for the donation of the cost of a gallon of gas. The money was donated to the local Red Cross. In addition, the girls are making banners and signs to take to the rally.

• Girls Incorporated of Bay County (FL) girls are collecting change to purchase gift cards for the 2700 evacuees in their area.

• Girls Incorporated of Sioux City (IA) has launched three relief efforts: 1) a bake sale (the girls, Board members, staff, parents, and community members are baking), 2) a Halloween/Fall dance to be held at the center in late October, and 3) a non-perishable goods drive to help their sister city, Lake Charles, Louisiana.

• Girls Incorporated of Greater Santa Barbara (CA) girls are collecting crayons, coloring books, pencils, markers, and basic school supplies for the kids affected by Katrina. In addition, the girls are having a coin/dollar drive and have collected more than $100 to donate to the American Red Cross.

• Girls Incorporated of Greater Lowell (MA) has a number of fundraising efforts in progress - the first was a lemonade stand where they made $100 in one hour!

• Girls Incorporated of Huntsville (AL) collected canned food items to donate to Hurricane Katrina victims. The girls collected a total of 798 food items to donate and also donated other items, such as bottled water, toiletries, and clothes.

• Girls Incorporated of Central Ohio created bags with flashlights, Kleenex, gum, pens, paper, coloring books, etc. for family members evacuated from the hurricane. In addition, they made bags for the children being sheltered in Columbus and Phoenix City and made donations to the Red Cross.

• Girls Incorporated of Central Alabama have been collecting donations of non-perishable food items, diapers, clothing and bottled water from the staff and girls. So far, they have made two deliveries of these items to America's Thrift Store, which in turn is driving the items to New Orleans. In addition, they are working with a board member employed by the Birmingham City Schools to identify schools with evacuee children to see if they can provide services to those children.

• Girls Incorporated of the Greater Peninsula (VA) is in partnership with Anheuser Busch and Budweiser and First Friday of Virginia. Girls Inc. girls were on the radio for two days, asking the community to come out to First Friday of Virginia at the Hampton Convention Center to give toward the Fund. Anheuser Busch and Budweiser pledged the first $500.00 and challenged other businesses, organizations and individuals to match their donation. All proceeds collected will go to help victims of Hurricane Katrina.

  Learn about other Affiliates in Action.