Americans Send Donations for Storm Victims

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OS ANGELES - Thousands of Americans reached out to victims of Hurricane Katrina on Wednesday as pictures of the storm-ravaged Gulf Coast overwhelmed living rooms and offices across the country. From churches to ballparks and radio stations to train stations, efforts to help were under way.


Substitute teacher Liliette Pena watched TV images of the devastation wrought by Katrina until she could watch no more. She turned to her checkbook.

"It's heart wrenching," Pena said, stifling sobs as she waited to donate $100 at a Red Cross center at Dodger Stadium. "I'd like to think that if anything like that happened to Los Angeles, people back East would do the same thing."

Many givers, like Pena, reached for their wallets. Others packed their bags and prepared to join the stream of civilian doctors, nurses, paramedics, morticians and veterinarians headed south.


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