A presidential effort of relief

Jeff Benson

It may have taken the solemn expressions of once-rival presidents

George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton on national television to make it

happen, but the seeds of tsunami relief are being sewn locally.

School board President Serene Stokes and other officials are

trying to do their part to help those in Asia whose homelands were

ravaged by a tsunami triggered Dec. 26 by an earthquake.

Thailand, Sri Lanka, the Indonesian island of Sumatra and parts of

India all suffered under the devastation.

Stokes and her counterparts are urging parents, teachers and staff

members to donate money to families who may have lost even more than

their homes and possessions.

The district will donate cash and checks to the American Red Cross

on Jan. 14 as part of its “Pass it Forward to the Tsunami Victims

Day.”

“It’s really important for everyone, especially for children, to

learn that when there’s a tragedy, then they can help too,” Stokes

said. “It’s very important that the district steps forward and does

something collectively.”

Informational fliers were e-mailed to each school in the district

Tuesday, and teachers passed them out to their students.

District financial analyst Jean Cook made the first donation, $50,

only minutes after she heard about the initiative.

“You read the newspapers and see the pictures, and everybody wants

to donate,” Cook said.

“But finding the avenue to do it is what you’re looking for.

We live near the shore, near the ocean, and even if you didn’t,

you’d like to help.

“It’s beyond the devastation you could imagine.”

The fliers also encouraged Newport-Mesa families and staff to

create an emergency disaster plan as a precaution for any emergency

that could happen.

The notice mentioned several useful tips to prepare for the

possibility of an emergency, included creating a list of names and

phone numbers and keeping the list in handy places, such as wallets

or purses.

Families should also designate two meeting places to gather in

case of an emergency -- one local and one farther away. Water, first

aid kits, radios, batteries and nonperishable food should also be

kept in a safe place.

Students and parents can bring cash or check donations -- made out

to the American Red Cross -- to their respective schools, district

spokeswoman Jane Garland said.

Parents can also send or bring contributions to the district

office, at 2985-A Bear St., Costa Mesa.