MENIFEE —— Jennifer Carter says she hasn't slept for the past two nights. She is so gripped by the desperation of Hurricane Katrina's survivors that she has been staying awake trying to figure out how to help.

Although she has several friends in the New Orleans area who escaped to Georgia, she is concerned about those who didn't make it out.

At first, she thought about driving down to Louisiana and volunteering, but nixed that idea, thinking it might be too dangerous. Then she got the idea to collect food and supplies and drive those down instead.

Tuesday morning she will be collecting donations at Great Oak High School in Temecula. She has the support of the Great Oak Academic Leadership Society, of which she is a member. Her younger sister attends the high school.

"I just felt like it's something we should do as a community," said Carter, 30. "It just breaks your heart to watch (the destruction of the hurricane) over and over."

Great Oak Principal Tim Ritter said it's wonderful to see someone making such a concerted effort to help those less fortunate.

"I think it's great that we have that level of concern within our community, that there are people trying to reach out and do the right thing and touch lives that have been so devastated," he said.

Carter is working with an official from the Department of Homeland Security in Louisiana, who told her the victims there really need food and items such as baby wipes. She is requesting people donate things such as canned food, deodorant, toothpaste, diapers and baby formula.

She already got one U-Haul truck donated, but probably will need more, she said. Prepaid gas cards would also come in handy, she said.

She plans on leaving Wednesday morning and driving down to Louisiana with five of her friends. Once there, she will be handing off her donations to the Homeland Security department for their officials to distribute. Her family members in Michigan are also coordinating donation efforts and plan on delivering what they collect as well, she said.

The students at Great Oak High School are also concerned about the hurricane victims and are raising money to donate to the Red Cross, Ritter said.

Learn more

What: The donation relief effort for Hurricane Katrina victims

Where: Great Oak High School, 32555 Deer Hollow Way, at the football field parking lot

When: Tuesday morning from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Information: Jennifer Carter, (951) 551-0309. She is requesting donations such as canned food, deodorant, toothpaste, diapers and baby formula.

Contact staff writer Deirdre Newman at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2623, or dnewman@californian.com.