Pearlington’s prayers are being answered by the students, teachers and parents of Redwood Elementary.

Judy Williams, character education teacher at Redwood, said she was inspired by a video created by Miss Mississippi Kristian Dambrino and titled &#8220Pearlington’s Prayers.”

In turn, the Redwood community has raised more than $4,800 for Pearlington to help residents rebuild their lives after their town and others across the Gulf Coast were devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

The Aug. 29 storm left 16 people dead and virtually every home and business destroyed or badly damaged in Pearlington. The 2,200 residents were overwhelmed by the destruction and, without an emergency management coordinator, finding the &#8220calm after the storm” seemed impossible.

Dambrino visited and worked as a volunteer and was inspired to write the song about the small town, not often mentioned in national coverage.

Some Pearlington residents are still living in tents, while others are quartered in 12-by-30-foot Federal Emergency Management Agency trailers. Businesses and stores have not reopened.

Williams viewed the &#8220Pearlington’s Prayers” video in February at First Baptist Church on Cherry Street and immediately began her own Pearlington Project.

&#8220I spoke with David and Patty Baldwin, who are living in Pearlington while directing rebuilding efforts in that community, to find out what they needed,” Williams said. &#8220David said that people were ready to rebuild but did not have the supplies; they really needed precut lumber.”

She made calls to area lumber yards and was told by James Burnett, the owner of Mid-South Lumber and Supply, that a 2-by-4 precut spruce board costs about $2.75.

&#8220I thought that the price Mr. Burnett gave me was affordable for our school population, so I decided to get the students involved,” she said.

Williams sent letters home with the students explaining the importance of participating in the rebuilding efforts and asked parents to donate money for the lumber. The students are writing notes or drawing pictures on labels to be attached to the boards.

&#8220I’m amazed at how people have responded to the letter,” said Williams.

Several families from First Baptist are headed to Pearlington Monday to deliver the lumber and work with other volunteers in rebuilding efforts.

&#8220We need more trailers to help haul the lumber, otherwise someone will have to return to Vicksburg in the middle of the week to get another load,” she said. &#8220They also need tools, water and nonperishable items,” she said. &#8220Everyone can help, but they also need professional plumbers, welders and cooks.”