In the spirit of giving, area businesses and groups continue to
send support to the victims of Hurricane Katrina along the gulf
coast.
Dave Foster, business unit manager of Werzalit of America Inc.
on Holley Avenue, gave The Era a flyer he received from New England
Motor Freight of Falconer, N.Y. He does business with the
organization and found they were looking for a place that would
help them receive goods for the victims in the gulf coasts of
Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida panhandle.
The motor freight company would then take the goods to the areas
it is most needed where it will be distributed through the Federal
Emergency Management Agency. Foster said he received the flyer at
1:30 p.m. Friday afternoon and the driver who handed it to him said
that they didn’t have anyone in Bradford that might house donated
items. So Foster said he thought he would help.
New England Motor Freight are working to fill at least 20 other
53-foot trailers at different terminals.
The deadline for donations is Thursday.
Foster said he will donate his time between noon and 4 p.m.
today at the Holley Avenue location for those wishing to donate. He
will also be there Sunday between the same times.
Items needed or that will be accepted include bottled water,
Gatorade, work gloves, batteries, canned foods or those that are
non-perishable. Foster said in a telephone interview that just
about any item that could be thought of will be needed.
“Items like razor blades, anything you would normally use, these
guys have nothing – even a toothbrush would be good,” he said.
“Just the basic things you might need.”
Donations will be accepted through Wednesday at the same
location and in Falconer, N.Y. or items can be picked up by calling
800-591-4881.
The Bradford Area Public Library is offering ways to earn
special treats through donations with the donations to be forwarded
to the American Red Cross. Donation deadline is before Sept.
20.
Becky Boorum of Port Allegany called The Era Friday to announce
that she and Dawn McNeil have been organizing a benefit dance they
plan to hold for the victims as well.
She said the dance will be held from 7 to 11 p.m. Sept. 10 at
the VFW on Route 155. A donation will be charged at the door.
Also available at the dance will be food and drinks with all
proceeds to go to the American Red Cross. Boorum said they have an
account set up at First National Bank under the name of Hurricane
Katrina Disaster Fund.
Also available for those wanting to attend the dance is a
babysitting service with registration required before Thursday by
calling Boorum or McNeil. Boorum said the Arnot Day Care donated
their facilities and others such as the Cabin in the Woods Day Care
are possible contributors.
The Allegheny National Forest (ANF,) in conjunction with the
Green Mountain National Forest, also sent a crew of 20 trained
personnel to help with the relief effort for Hurricane Katrina in
the New Orleans, La., area on Wednesday.
Those employees are trained in the Incident Command System and
will be used to help establish assistance to victims of the
hurricane and subsequent flooding.
Steve Miller, ANF spokesman said Friday night that the people
they sent are administrative types.
“They are accustomed to operating incident command and have
skills to work in emergency disaster response,” said Miller.
“During Sept. 11 we sent quite a few people to New York City.
“A standard assignment is two weeks,” continued Miller. “Then we
rotate others in or the assignment may be completed, it depends on
the needs.”
To date, the forest service has dispatched a total of 1,674
personnel to the incident. The forest service employees from the
U.S. Department of Agriculture join other federal agencies in a
combined relief effort.
Also offered through the U.S. Army Reserve are Web sites and
phone centers set up for family members who are trying to contact
those serving in the disaster affected area.
The toll free number, according to a press release for the
center is 877-464-9330. Phones will be manned 24 hours a day.
Families of deployed/mobilized Army Reserve Soldiers and Army
Reserve Civilians can go to www.afrp.org.
While donating to disaster relief groups, readers are reminded
to make an extra effort to be careful that they donate to credible
sources whether it is by e-mail, in person or over the
telephone.
