In cities across the country, especially in the south in the areas of Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and others, thousands of displaced children from Hurricane Katrina will wake up tomorrow (and for the foreseeable future) in shelters. They have none of their belongings, no sense of normalcy and no schools to go to, because theirs have been destroyed.

Hundreds of school districts are opening their doors to these kids, and offering them schools to go to in order to help them focus on the future, instead of this disaster. Getting these kids back to school and learning should be a high priority for our nation.

In many cases though, while districts will make room for these kids, the influx is going to cause a huge drain on already scarce recources. That's why I am asking you to help them, by joining with me to collect school supplies that these districts and kids need to help them learn.

I am asking all local districts, PTA's, school organizations, parents and businesses to join with us to collect school supplies and backpacks, and I am also calling on local business to donate supplies, as well as pick up some of the cost of shipping them to districts in the south. The Humble, Texas School District has been kind enough to even post a list of needed supplies on their web site - click here to see the lists.

This is a time to put politics aside, and help Americans in need. These kids are literally going to go to new schools (hard enough) without knowing anyone, with quite literally nothing but the shirts on their backs.

Can you help? My office phone # is (805) 306-0024 and we will begin collecting supplies on Tuesday the 6th. Please help these kids get back to school.

Sincerely,

Tim Keaney