Logan Countians have joined together in their churches, organizations, schools, and jobs to help those in need in the Gulf Coast region affected by Hurricane Katrina.

The amounts of resources flowing from Logan County are far reaching as the community pulls together to help our neighbors to the south.

n Willie Maxwell and Adam Shrull are heading to Jackson, Miss. tomorrow with a truckload of tents, disinfectants, baby wipes, feminine products, and other staples. Maxwell, with just a small group of people, have gathered enough resources to last at least the next three weeks. He will continue to truck the supplies down as long as they fill up his trucks.

As of right now, Maxwell was told that in order to travel past Jackson, he had better bring enough gasoline to get back because there just isn't any available further south.

So he is dropping off the supplies with the Church of Christ group stationed in Jackson.

He and his wife Robin were originally planning on having a vacation in October, but instead plan on going down and working with relief efforts and rebuilding.

n The Logan County Sheriff's Department and the Russellville Police Department aresending supplies to the Hancock County, Miss. Sheriff's Department. They are sending underwear, socks, t-shirts (sizes s - xxx) and toiletries. Any donations can be brought by the Logan County Sheriff's Department for distribution.

n Teresa Morrow of Adairville and others could be deployed as soon as tomorrow to go to the Gulf Coast Region as volunteers for the American Red Cross. She, Bob Gregory, and others traveled to Madisonville to receive their training, which is mandatory for volunteers for the Red Cross. Morrow's focus will be on helping the children of the area.

"I'm supposed to go for about ten days, but it is possible we'll stay for twenty," said Morrow. She said that the Red Cross needs about 300 volunteers in each area to relieve those who have been working.

n The United Methodist Temple Committee on Relief is collecting and sending to the Gulf area the following:

cash donations (100 percent to victims as administration is already paid); bottled water; blankets; health kits (hand towels, wash clothes, combs (large), nail files or nail clippers, soap, toothbrushes, large tubes of tooth paste, adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages; cloth diapers; five gallon buckets with resealable lid; scouring pads; sponges; scrub brushes; cleaning towels; liquid laundry detergent; household cleaners; disinfectant dish soap; clothes pins; clothes lines; dust masks; latex gloves; latex work gloves; heavy duty trash bags; air fresheners, 8 or 9 ounce (if aerosol, must have protective caps).

Those wishing to volunteer should contact the United Methodist Temple at 726-6302. Donations may be brought by the church at 395 South Main Street, Russellville.

n Some volunteers from Adairville wanted to do something to help, so Tim and Elnorene Grant, Carolyn Hughes, Ruth Ella Holman, and the Adairville City Hall coordinated with The Red Cross on Friday, Sept. 2 to raise money. They received immediate help from the Red Cross and had their fund raising going within 10 minutes from the original idea.

They set up a fire department vehicle and put on their safety vests, raising $2,052 from noon until 4:30 p.m.

n The Russellville Fire Department set up donation points at intersections last Friday and raised over $2000 for disaster relief.

n The Baptist Building in Russellville is taking monetary donations, 100 percent to go to disaster relief. Brother Joe Carrico is heading up the efforts with the help of Rob Johnson, Robyn Crider, Becky Barton and many others. Dripping Springs Baptist Church in Olmstead is helping organize truck drivers to take supplies and donations to a drop-off point in Mississippi.

Checks may be made out to the Logan/Todd Association and dropped by The Baptist Building. There is also a trailer set up in front of Wal-Mart to drop off boxed and sealed donations that might include basic essentials and personal items that will be driven to the affected region. They are asking for non-perishable foods, towels, washcloths, furniture, baby formula, insect repellent, sunscreen, beef jerky, socks and shoes, good baby, children, and adult clothes.

They are working on several housing possibilities for those displaced due to the hurricane. One such possibility is to use the former 606 restaurant building, owned by Sandi and Peter Nilsson, for temporary housing. Because many of the homes being offered do not have furnishings, they are looking for furniture donations.

They are working through the Kentucky Baptist Association, which is feeding thousands of people a day at shelters throughout the affected areas. The local group had raised $9700 as of Sept. 7.

The group will meet again on Wednesday, Sept. 14 at 9 a.m. at The Baptist Building.

n Cheryl Allen, who is assistant chief of the Logan Aluminum Fire Department and a captain of the Russellville Rural Fire Department, has assembled a group to go to Mississippi for a week. Departure is anticipated Saturday night.

The 15-member delegation includes firefighters from both departments, EMTs and search & rescue personnel.

They will be taking food, water and heavy equipment to a camp near Hattiesburg, Miss. plus providing manual labor and expertise in needed procedures.

"Most of the people going had to work out vacation time from their jobs to do this," says Allen. "And then we had to find a place to go. (Sheriff) Wallace Whittaker cut through the red tape for us, and they're glad we're coming."

n Olmstead School has had different themed days for each day of this week in order to encourage students to bring in donations. For instance, on "Crazy Hair" day, students were encouraged to bring in hair brushes, combs, shampoo, and other personal care items.

n Joann Shaffer of Coldwell Banker Country Wide Realty is helping organize possible homes and temporary housing for displaced persons from the Gulf Coast. Contact her at 726-1600 if you have housing available.

n First Southern National Bank is teaming up with the Kentucky Christian Foundation to provide relief for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. First Southern National Bank will be accepting and matching the donations of employees, customers and community members throughout Kentucky. First Southern hopes to send a total of $200,000 to help those in need.

"The effects of Hurricane Katrina have been devastating and we want to do all we can to help," said City Executive Steve Stuart.

Contributions are being accepted at any of First Southern's 22 Kentucky locations, including the three locations in Logan County.

"Not only are we encouraging our employees to give, we are also happy to be providing a way for members of our community to pitch in as well," continued Stuart. "We'll match donations from anyone, regardless of whether it comes from one of our customers or not." First Southern plans to match contributions up to $100,000.

n The Citizen's Union Bank is offering to match funds up to $50,000. Billie Wade, president and CEO of Citizen's Union Bank, announced on Sept. 6 that a Matching Fund has been established that will bring relief for victims of Hurricane Katrina. Checks must be payable to American Red Cross, and state "For National Disaster Relief."

You may drop off donations at any CUB location, including Adairville. For more information call Kim Davis at 502-633-4450.

n The BB&T Charitable Foundation has responded to the hurricane with a gift of $100,000 to the American Red Cross to assist victims of the tragedy. This is an effective way, they feel, to get help to those who are skilled and prepared to deliver critical services to the area. BB&T will also be providing a link on its corporate website later this week to remind the public, clients, and employees of the continuing need to assist disaster victims.

n John and Kim Morgan of the Town Motel and Morgan's Furniture are going to begin taking donations Sept. 9. John Morgan will be taking supplies himself to areas in Mississippi affected by the hurricane. He plans on calling the Governor's Office in Mississippi to find out where the greatest need is at the moment.

They are asking for bottled water, toiletries, non-perishable food, diapers and other staples of life. "We are going to take things people need to survive," said Morgan. He doesn't want used clothes or people to "clean out their attic" to donate, but rather wants to take things that people need right away first.

"I think people of Logan County want to share some of the pain that is going on down there," said Morgan. "We really feel people in this community want to do their part."

He will personally drive the collected items down to Mississippi and if donations continue, will make multiple trips to help.

n Russellville City Schools and Logan County schools are initiating a relief campaign called "Change for Change." Every student and staff member is being asked to bring in pocket change, to be deposited into a large container that will be located at each of the schools.

One hundred percent of the money collected in our schools will go towards relief efforts, in coordination with other community efforts.

The campaign will begin on Monday, Sept. 19 and end on Friday, Sept. 23.

n The American Red Cross, whose board chairperson is Cheryl Fynboe, had raised $6,700 as of Sept. 7. According to Fynboe, several "corporate citizens" have promised to match funds raised, so they are waiting on them to have a more accurate total.

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. Make gifts to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need. Call 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish).

Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to Logan County chapter of the American Red Cross, 804 Hicks St., Russellville or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org

There, of course, are efforts made by many private citizens that they prefer to remain quiet. Churches everywhere in the county are raising money. There are too many people to name that are giving and helping those in need.

The citizens of Logan County are pulling together for a common cause in unprecedented ways. As the story fades from the news, let us remember that there will continue to be a need for those in the gulf.