Over the summer, I have written about some ways Kingston High School students get involved in our community. I had an opportunity to be involved in a service project with a large community July 21 through 30.

I participated in a service event with 37,000 teens from all over the United States. We came together in New Orleans to lend a helping hand to survivors of Hurricane Katrina who are still struggling to overcome the heartbreak of an event now four years old.

Besides being part of a massive adrenaline rush, I was touched by a first-hand account of Hurricane Katrina from Patricia Anne Spicuzza.

I was helping with a group of youth around the town of Lacombe, which is about an hour away from New Orleans, and one night Spicuzza came by to tell us her story.

During Katrina, Spicuzza lost her house and all her possessions. Scarred with awful images, she returned to her town and home after evacuating to find that she had been left with only the clothes on her back.

After four years, you would think someone who had lost everything would have gained something back. But no, so many people still have nothing.

Spicuzza is one of the people who received a FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) trailer to live in. She was lucky; some families didn’t even get that. She still struggles every day just to get by.

But despite her struggles, Spicuzza has opened up her FEMA trailer and land to more than forty animals that needed a home.

I don’t think Spicuzza knows it, but she touched many with her story. She made us realize that so many Katrina victims are still in need of help.

Donating money or even writing President Obama an e-mail telling him how Katrina victims are still in trouble would be doing something.

I want to thank Patricia Anne Spicuzza for telling her story, because if it wasn’t for her story, I don’t think I could ever really understand the problems Katrina victims are still facing today.

Updates:

On Aug. 31, student orientation was held at KHS. Incoming freshman met that day at 9 a.m. to be given a tour of the school, get their school photo taken, and pick up their class schedule for the year.

Sophomores, juniors, and seniors showed up between noon and 4 p.m. and went through the same routine as the freshman, with no tour of the school needed.

Each grade was also given the chance to buy their yearbooks and ASB cards.

Over Labor Day weekend, students will be enjoying their last days of summer. Whether out camping or relaxing at home, we hope the weather stays nice, hot and sunny.

With that said, welcome to the 2009-2010 school year, Buccaneers!