katrina refugees

i just found out that about 300 refugees from the gulf have been relocated to the DC armory, which is about 8 blocks from my apartment building. they just got here this afternoon. it's weird that they are so close, yet so separate from everyone else. since i'm so close by, i just signed up with the red cross to volunteer at the armory, although i don't know what kind of stuff they will be needing people to do. i'd love to go over and help out with the kids-- work on some kind of after-school program or something, or even just spend time with them... but who knows what they will need me to do, or if they will even need me at all, given that so many people have probably volunteered.

the refugees are expected to be housed in the armory for 1 to 3 months, and by then perhaps some of them will decide to stay in DC permanently. in the meantime, i wonder if the kids will be attending DC schools... that would be really weird for them, but luckily it is the first week of school anyway, so maybe they could just start off the school year with everyone else.