June 13th
One of the YMCA’s core values is Responsibility,
and especially Social Responsibility. Before we started art class today the
campers and counselors discussed what that means to them. After we decided on a
definition the campers were asked, “What do you think of when you hear the name
New Orleans?”
There were all sorts of answers.
“I think of the doughnuts.”
“I think of when I went to visit”
“I think of Mardi Gras”
“The ocean!”
Then there was the inevitable;
“I think of the flood.”
Since 2005 New Orleans has been a
city in recuperation. Habitat For Humanity still visits regularly; many houses
and individuals are still in need for support. For anyone of the older
generations all of us can remember the massive hurricane and endless news
reports. Yet, as the Tiger Girls pointed out, they were only one when the
disaster occurred. Still, they were more then eager to help.
When New Orleans began looking to
rebuild, scientists surveyed the land for damages only to discover that the
entire soil beneath the city is contaminated with lead that places new
generations in harms way. It is possible to clear this contamination, but not
easily. The cost to the U.S. government of such a cleanup would be a whopping 300
million dollars. When this information
became public artists heard the call for help and created a program entitled
Fundred.
Fundred is an organization that
offers “100 dollar bill” templates for educators and non-profits. “Donators”
can design and color these templates and then send them to a collection point
where the dollars are then transferred to a holding spot outside of New
Orleans. Upon the receipt of the equivalent of 300 million of these handmade
dollar bills Fundred has made plans with the United States Congress to bring
these bills forward, effectively showing the support of thousands of members of
the newest generation.
When the campers heard about this
and realized they could make a difference for kids there age only a few states
away they were ready to draw! Many did at least two or three bills, signing one
as themselves and signing the names of their loved ones on the others. Even the
counselors joined in.
For more information on the Fundred
project please visit:
The campers will keep working on
these during free time through out the week, by the end we will have several
stacks ready to ship off to help change the world!
A video from other students working with the Fundred program:
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