RUMFORD – Christina Puiia and Tayla Cunningham, juniors at Mountain Valley High School, were chatting a few weeks ago about what’s going on in the world and community service projects.

The topic rolled around to the continuing devastation in New Orleans as a result of Hurricane Katrina, and the humanitarian group known as Habitat for Humanity.

Suddenly, Christina realized, “We can do that.”

A group of 11 juniors and seniors, along with three teachers and a parent, and an MPBN radio reporter, are now planning a trip to the Louisiana city during April vacation. Not necessarily to see the tourist sites, although they hope to be able to fit in a bit of sightseeing, but to help build a new home for one of the victims of the violent hurricane.

On Tuesday, the group received its

first donation toward the $8,000 price tag needed to travel to New Orleans, stay at a Habitat for Humanity shelter, and eat three meals a day.

The River Valley Arts Council presented the group with a check for $1,486, raised through two concerts held in the Municipal Auditorium last year.

The idea for helping the people of New Orleans started well over a year ago when Rumford resident and arts council member Dot Dunton approached former town manager Stephen Eldridge to see if the town could raise money for a donation to the people of New Orleans. Soon after, concerts by the Franklin County Fiddlers and the Portland Jazz Band took place.

The arts council held onto the money until the local high school group announced, and received approval from the school board, that they wanted to take part in Habitat for Humanity.

“It is with great pride in our students that the arts council makes this contribution to their Louisiana travel fund,” Dunton said.

The eight girls and three boys, all juniors or seniors, will stay at Camp Hope, which is a camp for Habitat workers, said social studies teacher and advisor Carrie Youcis.

Youcis, along with physical education teacher Kris Tyler and science teacher Ken Baker and parent Jim Ridge, will accompany the young people. MPBN reporter Sara Nics also plans to travel with the group and produce a half-hour documentary on the project, Youcis said.

Puiia said a fundraising meeting is planned for Thursday. Among other fundraising events, they plan to ask area businesses for donations.

Arts council member and Selectman Jolene Lovejoy suggested that the group ask for donations from SAD 43 towns, as well as from area civic groups.

Once they return, video presentations planned for creation by Tyler will be shown to the school, towns, civic groups and perhaps over the local access channel.

The students are leaving April 13 and must have the funds in place by April 1.

Both Puiia and Cunningham have had some experience working with hand tools when they’ve helped their fathers with home projects, they said.

Youcis said this is the first time any of the students have been to New Orleans.

“I’m excited to see something different,” Puiia said.

Other students traveling south are Maddy Aylward, Aaron Cayer, Terissa Ridge, Mollie Kaubris, Maegin Jolin, Jessie Sirois, Christie Folsom, DJ Gerrish and Devin Roberts.