Donations pouring in at SM Red Cross
CITYWIDE — Two Santa Monica parents frustrated by a slow federal response to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina took matters into their own hands over the holiday weekend, as hundreds of people across the Southland joined them in filling six 50-foot tractor trailers with supplies that are now bound for Louisiana.
Franklin Elementary School parents Tom Browne and Debra Young Krizman, former residents of Louisiana, began what they believed would be a small collection to assist victims of Katrina. In an e-mail they sent to local parents on Friday morning, Browne and Krizman asked for items to be dropped off near Franklin Elementary. Browne agreed to pack all collected supplies into a truck and deliver them to hurricane victims. Word spread quickly over the Internet, however, and hundreds of concerned citizens and business representatives from across Southern California contributed several tons of food, clothing, bedding and medical supplies for Katrina relief efforts.
Krizman said one reason for the drive’s success was that it enabled people to be proactive about the devastation caused by Katrina, which is being characterized as the most devastating natural disaster on record to hit the United States.
“I thought I was mostly going to sit on my lawn chair for a few hours and read a book,” Krizman said. But the turnout and outpouring of donations over the four-day collection period was more than she anticipated.
“It seemed everyone was so frustrated that nothing was being done by the federal government,” Krizman said. “I have never seen anything like it.”
Fellow parents, industry executives and homeless individuals were among those who supported the cause by dedicating their time, energy and resources from Friday to Monday.
Children sold lemonade, emptied their piggy banks and raised funds for the victims. A local Girl Scout troop gave $600 to the Red Cross and brought $600 in baby supplies to the drive.
A shoe company donated 5,000 pairs of shoes, and 20th Century Fox Studios contributed 200 new blankets and a truck filled with medical supplies.
Browne, who owns a lighting company, said he and others will be bringing the supplies to Slidell, La., where he grew up. They will be met by Slidell police officers at the border of Louisiana and escorted to the city. More than $15,000 was raised to pay for gas alone, which is expected to cost $2,800 round trip for each of the six diesel trucks being used, Krizman said.
They were en route on Tuesday. Krizman said some at the scene of the drive, including an LA Times reporter, were brought to tears by the unexpected show of charity.
“All you hear about these days is how divided the world is,” Krizman said. “It was good to see people can stop what they’re doing and work together to make something like this happen.
“I was very happy by how successful we were.”
Other groups committed to the relief effort are also making headway.
As of 4 p.m. on Tuesday, the Santa Monica chapter of the Red Cross had raised $167,000 for hurricane relief.
Nearly 400 Hurricane Katrina disaster relief containers have been filled by donations from Santa Monica residents, and people are still streaming in the door with donations and mailing in checks, according to local Red Cross representatives.
Fund-raising efforts in Santa Monica are expected to continue indefinitely. A “drive-through,” where people can stop by to drop off donations, will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1450 11th Street. The national Red Cross is hoping to gather $150 million.
So far, 487 shelters are expected to open in 16 states to house 142,121 surviving victims of Katrina, according to local officials. There have been 5,000 volunteers deployed, and the Red Cross hopes to have 40,000 total trained by November, according to Red Cross representatives.
Displaced persons are likely to be airlifted to parts of Southern California soon.
A “fast track” system has been established to make it easier for volunteers to receive basic disaster relief training so they can be in the field quickly to provide aid to hurricane victims. Those wishing to volunteer must attend four classes to qualify, and all sessions are held at the Santa Monica chapter.
In one week, 389 people have signed up to become volunteers.
Two disaster volunteers from the Santa Monica chapter have already been deployed. Karen Sue Donoho has been deployed to Picayune, Ala., and Christy Courtemanche is working in a shelter in Houston, Texas, where flood victims were bussed from New Orleans 230 miles away.
Volunteers going to the disaster area will serve for a minimum of nine days, although a two-or three-week period of availability is preferred. Air fare to and from the disaster locale, food and housing expenses are covered by the American Red Cross.
Many Katrina shelters are located in areas with virtually no amenities. Volunteer housing will most likely be in a public shelter. At the current time, power is still off and water is scarce in most locales.
“Working in a disaster environment is likely to be very uncomfortable and not advisable for those who are used to creature comforts,” said Robert Chatman, the chapter’s director of disaster services.
Those willing to help, but who want to stay closer to home, can contribute to the cause in other ways.
Pastor Edward Bell of Mount Hermon Baptist Church at 19th Street and Pico Boulevard will be hosting a car wash from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. The proceeds will go toward Katrina relief.
Bell said many youngsters, feeling the need to pitch in, have organized the fund-raising event.
“This disaster has touched the hearts of everyone in America, and we feel it’s our duty to help,” Bell said.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 7, 2005. Read the original PDF.