Last modified: Monday, January 5, 2009 2:14 AM EST Foxboro students aiding Hurricane Katrina victims in Mississippi BY EVIE MALM FOR THE SUN CHRONICLE FOXBORO - Ten seniors in Foxboro High School's National Honor Society will forfeit the comforts of home as they head to Ocean Springs, Miss., this February vacation to lend a hand in the on-going reconstruction of a Gulf Coast town still suffering from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. While the group has raised $1,000 toward the trip, they now begin the formidable task in tough economic times of raising another $9,000 to cover expenses, including flights, accommodations and transportation to and from the work site, said honor society member Blair Read, who came up with the idea. In addition to having sponsored several school events, including this upcoming weekend's Foxboro High School Snow Ball, they are looking to having a townwide bottle and can collection. The group is also asking the community to save Jan. 31 to attend a pasta dinner at the American Legion Hall, which will include live music, raffles and dancing. National Honor Society President Pat Mitchell said that while some money will go for the trip, a portion also will go to the local Foxboro Discretionary Fund. All 10 are open to "gladly doing odd jobs for people in the community in exchange for donations," Read said. Odd jobs can cover anything from getting the final raking of leaves to cleaning out basements or attics. "We would be glad to do any and all of the odd jobs in the community that no one else wants to do and we will do it with a smile," said Seana Peterson. Peterson, co-chairwoman of the project and an National Honor Society member, points to the high motivation of the group. Read and Peterson started doing research and planning for the project last summer, lining up lodging and working with a travel agent to get plane tickets and designing fundraising activities. While Read had been to Mississippi with a church group in the past, Peterson was eager "to expose us all to some of the issues outside of our immediate community that need a lot of attention." "Knowing that only 33 percent of the houses destroyed from Katrina have been replaced, alone, horrifies me," she said. The Foxboro group will be joining other young people across the country, who also will be volunteering with a nonprofit group called Camp David, which Mitchell explains "is similar to the more commonly-known Habitat for Humanity." After being instructed by professionals on a particular project, the group will go on to complete the task on their own. "We could be doing a variety of jobs, anything from demolition to putting the finishing touches on homes with the final layers of paint," Read said. Stephanie Storer, a Foxboro High School senior, is looking forward to the trip. "I truly believe that many of us take so many things for granted and don't take time to see how fortunate we are," she explained. Mitchell points out that, while many Foxboro young people are facing difficult times, they do not realize that others in other parts of the country are in worse situations. "Going to Mississippi will definitely be a bit of an eye-opener for all of us Foxboro kids who (for the most part) lead relatively sheltered lives." Anyone interested in offering an idea for raising money or would like to "hire" some of the group to do odd jobs, is asked to contact any member of the group going on the trip or call or email seana@gmail.com or blair_m_read@yahoo.com. If you wish to send a donation, make out the check to the National Honor Society and specify the money goes towards the Mississippi trip. Send the check to National Honor Society c/o Foxboro High School, 120 South Street, Foxborough, MA 02035.