Katrina-What do the children need?

HI everyone!! I am going to be attending a meeting with my son and the meeting is about a project to help the children of Katrina that have lost everything and will not be able to attend school for quite a while. Can anyone please give me some ideas as to what these children may need, besides the obvious things? I want to bring some good quality ideas to the table, something that will really benefit the children there. Also can anyone give me some good, fun, creative ways that 5th and 6th graders can raise money for the cause too? Thank you all in advance for all of the suggestions and I hope that in our small way here, we can help out abundantly!! Thank you all, Allie from Texas

Honestly, I think in addition to what the children need, I think the focus should also be on the emergency service workers who have lost all their homes and possessions yet are continuing to have to work through this time - helping others who are in their same predicament. I just got a notice that they are looking for clothing and toiletries for these workers because they are wearing the same uniforms and even underwear and socks they were wearing when Katrina hit. Yes, it's rough all over, but most of the people who are left remaining there are not having to put their needs and despair aside in order to help others out like the police officers, dispatchers and other emergency service workers are having to do. Dina