Local hearts and imagination respond to Katrina

Bethel, NY

Cajun festival to further relief effort

The Gerry Foundation will tailor its scheduled September 11 Harvest Festival at Bethel Woods in order to inform residents about how they can aid victims of Hurricane Katrina. Booth space will be available for Sullivan County representatives of Habitat for Humanity, the American Red Cross and the United Way to provide information about ways to contribute to relief efforts.

“The Gerry Foundation is inviting local and national organizations involved in the relief efforts to be a part of our Harvest Festival this week,” said Gerry Foundation Executive Director Jonathan Drapkin. The originally planned Cajun Festival celebrating the historic spirit of Louisiana will take place, and information that can link local residents with hurricane relief organizations serving the people of Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana will be available. Festival-goers are urged to dress in official Mardi Gras colors of green, gold and purple to remember New Orleans and support the spirit of the citizens of that region. The festival takes place from 11:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the intersection of Hurd and West Shore roads.

Matamoras, PA

Helping Katrina survivors

MailNet, a local pack-and-ship center, has connected with an affiliate store near Baton Rouge Louisiana to get needed goods into the hands of Hurricane Katrina survivors. MailNet is currently accepting donations that will be packed and shipped to an outlying New Orleans area for distribution to relief shelters. MailNet has pledged to ship the first 500 pounds of donated items free.

MailNet will collect relief supplies and ship them to a store near the devastation. Located about 100 miles from New Orleans, the Ship-N-Store is a combination mail and parcel center and self-storage facility that will serve as a delivery hub for relief-related items. Hours of operation for MailNet of Matamoras are Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 to 1:30. Suggested donations include non-perishable food (snacks, cheese/peanut butter crackers, candy, cookies), baby food, diapers and other baby items, sheets, towels, batteries, flashlights, radios, toiletries, adult Depends, first aid kits/supplies, small games/toys for children, pre-paid phone cards, pens, pencils, paper, waterless hand cleaner, ziploc bags and pet food. No clothing is being accepted at this time.

Sullivan County, NY

Firefighters gather funds

As many people were preparing for a gorgeous three-part Labor Day weekend in Sullivan County, Hurleyville firefighter James Kaufman thought up a way to help community spoiled by Hurricane Katrina.

Kaufman, Hurleyville’s assistant chief, decided that weekend drivers could be asked to contribute money for victims, and what began as one firefighter’s idea snowballed into a countywide fundraiser. Hurleyville Chief Chris Gibson helped Kaufman organize the effort, which involved the Fallsburg, Rock Hill, Monticello and Wurtsboro fire departments. Other companies sending checks include Hankins, Roscoe-Rockland and Lake Huntington. On Labor Day, over 35 people gathered about $12,000. Crystal Run Health Care agreed to match up to $10,000. Most of the money will be sent to the Red Cross, and some will go to victims through United Methodist Charities.

Monticello, NY

Sullivan seeking emergency housing from resorts

Sullivan County Emergency Management Director Richard Martinkovic is seeking the assistance of the Sullivan County Visitors Association in coordinating a response effort. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is looking for long-term (two to three months) housing for people left homeless after Hurricane Katrina.

FEMA is reaching out to resort communities in the Catskills to aid in this relief effort.

Martinkovic said that once FEMA is provided with the room information, officials will negotiate a rate of reimbursement.

Town of Rockland, NY

Rockland to adopt Katrina ‘sister’

Residents of the Town of Rockland have decided to adopt Covington, Louisiana, on the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain, as a “sister city.” They will hold a cash drive and, once they have established their “sister town” affiliation, will funnel the cash to that community. In addition, they plan to offer temporary transitional housing and employment to people willing to relocate to the Town of Rockland.

The Livingston Manor Community Center, a nonprofit corporation, will be the conduit for these funds. Donations are tax deductible as allowed by law. All checks should be made payable to “Katrina Relief Fund – LMCC,” P.O. Box 903, Livingston Manor, NY 12758.

For more information call 845/439-4399 or 845/665-6152, or email patriciapomeroy@citlink.net.

Port Jervis, NY

Help for Gulf Coast pets

The Humane Society of Port Jervis will donate all the profits from its Motorcycle Run on Saturday, September 10 and from pledges received at their “Walk For Our Shelter Pets” event on Sunday, October 2 to a non-profit animal shelter in the Gulf Coast states hit by Hurricane Katrina. For more information call 845-856-3677 or visit pjhumane.org.