Hurricane Irene devestated many parts of the Northeast.  In upstate New York and Vermont for example entire towns have been wiped out.  One of the things often overlooked when trying to recover from these types of disasters is simple ways to help.  There is a desperate need in many of these communities for basic school supplies so that the children can get back some sense of normalcy.  So when you are buying that extra bag of groceries or bottled water to help out families in need, consider tossing in some pencils and notebooks.  This time of year they are available at amazongly cheap prices, and a little money can go a long way towards helping a school district.