As the massive destruction of the Gulf Coast of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana flickered across the TV screens, Coweta residents started getting busy to help affected victims.

A Red Cross shelter was established at Central Baptist Church in downtown Newnan, and citizens started opening their wallets and residences to Katrina's evacuees.

The Coweta County School System had 30 students fleeing the storm enrolled by Wednesday afternoon.

"All they have to do is provide an affidavit of where they live. All the shots and transcript requirements have been waived,' said Public Information Officer Dean Jackson.

Jackson said he expects more students to enroll and said that many of the schools are conducting fundraisers to help the victims.

Some of the efforts completed so far, said Jackson in a press release this week, include:

- Arnall Middle School collected $3,584.50 from students and teachers through past Friday.

- Elm Street Elementary sent eight car loads of water, bleach, non perishable food items, clothes, and first aid kits collected by Elm Street families to Go Cart World for delivery on Friday.�Second-grade students are also making red, white and blue bracelets to sell for $1 to benefit the Red Cross.

- Newnan Crossing Elementary conducted a parade on campus Sept. 1, for the hurricane victims. Students brought their donations and, as they marched around the school to celebrate 1,001 students enrolled at Newnan Crossing, they dropped their money in the containers. Also, during the last Open House, the school received donations from parents.�In all, Newnan Crossing has raised more than $2,000 for the victims of the hurricane.

- East Coweta High's Junior Red Cross is worked in conjunction with some other clubs to take up money to give to the Red Cross relief efforts.

- Arbor Springs Elementary collected money to purchase blankets for the storm victims. Sherry Lott and her husband will join a group taking truckloads of supplies to Mobile for distribution through relief agencies.

- Northside Elementary School families have relatives in the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina, so students and teachers at Northside have set up the Hurricane Katrina Northside Relief Fund to collect funds for the Red Cross and the Salvation Army.

- Central Education Center is looking for a school in the affected area "that we can work with to help them recover, when that process begins," said CEC Director Andy Peryam.

- Willis Road Elementary students are learning how to "'Be a Wolf' in our community," said Assistant Principal Lorraine Johnson. The Willis Road Student Council and REACH classes are sponsoring the Wolf Pack Hurricane Relief Fund.

- Canongate Elementary has collected money and other items such as toiletries, baby items and water.

- Atkinson Elementary teachers are buying stickers at $10 each to be able to wear jeans once a week.

- Northgate High's new Air Force Jr. ROTC is spearheading a drive of supplies to be taken to the area. Other school clubs are also beginning their plans to accept donations.

- Grantville's students may pay $1 to wear a hat every Friday in September. Every student is also being asked to bring one bottled water.

- Ruth Hill's students, families, and staff are collecting funds through 16 to donate to the American Red Cross and the Coweta County Red Cross. Students also can pay $1 per day to wear a hat to school, with money donated to the relief fund.

- Moreland's students and staff are wearing "Kaps for Katrina."�For a donation, students and staff can wear their ball caps to school on Fridays.�The school has collected $525 so far.

- Madras Middle's Beta Club has organized "Hats for Humanities." Students wore hats Wednesday for a $1 donation. Also, some teachers had donation buckets in their rooms to add to the total Wednesday.

- Newnan High's Student Government Association is leading the collections. Each first block class is collecting funds to be provided to the Red Cross. Other organizations on campus are also mobilizing efforts for relief aid.�

- Thomas Crossroads' Junior Beta Club is collecting money for the Coweta chapter of the American Red Cross. Students are donating their ice cream money, fruit by the foot and cookie money, and paying may pay $1 to wear a cap through a "Kaps for Katrina" fundraiser.