After Katrina

By Staff
Info &how to help
Day of Caring
Hartselle's Day of Giving to benefit the victims of Hurricane Katrina will be held Saturday, Oct. 15, noon-8 p.m. at E.A.R.T.H. Park featuring live entertainment, a blood drive, vendors, donation opportunities, and survivor testimony. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the American Red Cross.
Girl Scout project
Girls Scouts Service Unit 14 in Hartselle is collecting school supplies and personal hygiene products for children of Hurricane Katrina evacuees who are currently enrolled in the Hartselle school system. Drop-off locations are the Volunteers of America office on Chestnut Street in Hartselle and WYAM-TV 56 on the Central Parkway in Decatur. Donations will be accepted until September 25th. For more information, call Cari Johnson at 751-2030.
Ten children now in school
Ten children of Hurricane Katrina evacuees, six from Louisiana and four from Mississippi, enrolled at Hartselle schools on Tuesday after Labor Day, according to Dr. Mike Reed, superintendent.
He said they were accepted and placed in classes in accordance with guidelines provided by the State Department of Education. All were eligible for free or reduced price lunches.
"We had several agencies call us and ask what we could do to help?" Reed said. "We're pleased to have these children in our schools and we'll do everything we can to help them stay current in their education."
First Baptist joins in drive
First Baptist Church of Hartselle collected bottled water, canned foods, cleaning supplies, paper goods and other supplies for distribution to members of Bayouview Baptist Church in Gulfport, Miss. last week. The donations filled a 16-ft. enclosed trailer. They were transported to their destination by Barry and Cissy Pearson.
"We learned of the needs there through Richard Brown, Bayouview's minister of youth," Pearson said. He and his family were members of our church when they lived in Hartselle."
"The Browns were lucky to get through the hurricane without injury or the loss of their house," she said, "but their church was heavily damaged and many of its members lost everything."
"Conditions are slowly improving but there's still no safe drinking water, most stores remain closed and many are without power," she added.
Hartselle items sent to shelter
More than 100 Hurricane Katrina evacuees lodged in a shelter on the campus of the University of West Alabama at Livingston received much needed supplies from Hartselle donors Sept. 2.
The supplies, which included bottled water, canned foods, diapers, clothing, personal hygiene items and toys, were donated by friends, neighbors and co-workers of Bobby and Brenda Halbrooks. Their daughter Robin is a junior at West Alabama.
"We were going down there anyway to visit Robin so we decided to gather up as many supplies as we could and take them to the folks staying in the shelter," Mrs. Halbrooks said. "I called some friends and co-workers to get the word out and the response was far greater than our expectations. We filled our pickup and a U-Haul trailer. The people at the shelter were very appreciative."
Churches join for relief
The Committee on Church Cooperation, in cooperation with other local agencies, is providing assistance to victims of Hurricane Katrina who have evacuated to Morgan County. Groceries, clothing and fuel assistance continue to be provided. The CCC has helped to permanently relocate five families and expects to help more in the coming weeks and months. Financial support is being requested to assist the CCC in this effort, as well as continuing to provide for the less fortune residents of Morgan County. The CCC asks for your support to help continue in our mission and ministry to serve those in need. For more information, call 355-8893.
State advises gas savings
With already high gasoline prices worsened by refinery shutdowns following Hurricane Katrina, the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is advising state residents to cut back on their fuel usage.
Among their suggestions are:
National Day of Prayer planned
A National Day of Prayer and Remembrance has been set for Sept. 16 for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. President George Bush has asked churches around the nation to set aside the day with special services and observances.
Hurricane victims and evacuees who fled the storm and are now in Alabama will also be recognized during the service.
First Baptist sends supplies
Hurricane victims in South Alabama received a truckload of needed supplies from First Baptist Church of Hartselle earlier this week. A truck filled with bottled water, canned and paper goods, personal hygiene items and cleaning supplies was taken to Robertsdale First Baptist Church for distributions to needy families in that part of the state.