Americans Send Donations for Storm Victims

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. Still more opened their restaurants, churches and even bowling allies for impromptu fund-raisers for stricken friends and relatives — some still missing days after Katrina passed by. The Red Cross had collected $21 million, nearly $15 million of that from individual donations through its Web site, Red Cross spokeswoman Kara Bunte said. Some insisted on making their donations in person. "I just felt the situation down in New Orleans is something that can happen anywhere in the world and I wanted to be a part of the whole thing," said Los Angeles electrician Barry Durham. "I wanted to be more personal about it." The help came from individuals, Fortune 500 companies, sports stars and entertainers.

The U.S. Chamber of Commercesaid initial corporate donations to the relief effort could total more than $100 million, including $5 million from Chevron Corp., $3 million each from JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Citigroup, $2 million from Pfizer Inc. and $1 million from insurer State Farm. The Walt Disney Co. contributed $2.5 million, $1 million of which will go to the American Red Crossand the rest for rebuilding efforts and volunteer centers helping affected communities. Nissan North America sent 50 trucks. Anheuser-Busch offered more than 825,000 cans of water. Sprint Nextel Corp. donated 3,000 walkie talkie-type phones for emergency personnel.

Seven truckloads of crackers and cookies were on the way thanks to Kellogg Co. Two dozen cars and trucks were offered by General Motors Corp. Home Depot and Lowe's pledged cash and manpower, while Culligan International sent five truckloads of water. More than 100 tractor trailers from as far away as California and Wisconsin were on their way to aid Katrina's victims in southwest Alabama with food, water, ice and blankets. "It's a good feeling to help. They don't have food, no water, blankets or anything," said driver Tim Cupp, who is ready to deliver a truck full of Meals-Ready-to-Eat. "It's hard to put yourself in their shoes."Governors across the nation pledged to send troops, doctors and engineers. They also opened their schools for any displaced students who couldn't afford to lose a semester on their way to a college degree.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050901/ap_on_re_us/katrina_donations_hk4

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