More than 70 families driven from the Gulf Coast region by Hurricane Katrina are living at least temporarily in Southern Maryland, the director of the local Red Cross chapter said this week.
The Southern Maryland Red Cross is providing emergency assistance to 50 families in Charles County, 12 in St. Mary's County and 10 in Calvert County. Services include food, clothing and shelter, with more than $43,000 having been used for food and clothing alone, according to a statement released by the organization.
More than $75,000 in donations had been received as of Tuesday, said Mike Zabko, director of the Red Cross in Charles County. He said that figure does not include online contributions. In addition, he said, more than 70 people from the area have volunteered to travel to the hurricane zone.
During Air Expo '05 at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, more than $20,000 was collected. Donations may be sent directly to the American Red Cross National Disaster Relief Fund, PO Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting http://www.redcross.org .
Zabko said contributions are coming from a variety of local donors. One anonymous donor sent in a check for $25,000; and in a local neighborhood, children walked door to door with red cans to collect money for the hurricane's victims. Many Southern Maryland corporations and businesses have also pledged financial support to the disaster relief efforts.
Although monetary donations are needed for relief efforts, so are trained volunteers. Four Red Cross-trained volunteers from Southern Maryland have been deployed to the affected areas, and eight more are awaiting deployment. About 60 people are scheduled for training.
To volunteer, people must be willing to be gone for three weeks and work and live in conditions that include no air conditioning and congregate shelters. Work days may approach 18 hours with no days off. State of Maryland employees deploying under provisions of the state Disaster Leave Law will serve two-week assignments. There is no monetary cost to the volunteers.
In addition to the Red Cross, several other organizations are helping with particular needs in the hurricane zone, and Southern Marylanders may contact them to find out how to help.
To assist with animal rescue, contact the Humane Society of the United States at http://www.hsus.org or the American Humane Association at http://www.americanhumane.org for more information.
To assist with food efforts, contact Second Harvest. Companies that want to donate a full truckload of dry storage products, can call 800-771-2303 and ask for Second Harvest's Food Sourcing Department. Corporations may sponsor a load of goods and the shipping costs through Convoy of Hope.
Newtowne Players
The Newtowne Players are sponsoring a disaster relief benefit concert Saturday at Three Notch Theatre in Lexington Park. Tickets cost $25, and all proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross National Disaster Relief Fund.
The concert is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. Local performers include Pond Scum, the Bushwood Mill Band, Blonde Ambition, the Southern Maryland Traditional Music Group and Joe Norris.
