Tallahassee lends a hand

Hurricanes and other natural disasters can bring out the best and the worst in people. We've seen the reports of the worst: looting in New Orleans, scamming in Mississippi. Now let's hear about people rising to the occasion.

A group of folks from Mississippi and New Orleans who evacuated just before Hurricane Katrina struck were treated to four cart loads of free groceries after stopping by the Winn-Dixie in Crawfordville.

Since Sunday, Ray Pardue and Bill Evans of Crawfordville have been hosting eight of Pardue's family members, including his mother, sister, a niece, an aunt and cousin.

They found out Wednesday morning that they could return to Mississippi by traveling back roads, and they headed to the grocery store to stock up on canned goods, water, toilet paper and other necessities.

When store director Maurice Burgess learned where they were from, he told them the groceries were on the house. Pardue said the groceries were probably worth $1,000 or more.

"You've got to help out people in need," Burgess later said, "especially for that kind of stuff, when you think how close it came to us."

Others at the store were offering cash. While they didn't want to accept any, one woman handed them a $100 bill and drove away without leaving her name. Pardue, who recently moved with his partner from the Palm Beach area, called the outpouring an awesome bit of Southern hospitality.

"It was very touching," he said. "And it had to be from God - that's all I can say."

City of Tallahassee and Leon County workers, along with Market Square Shopping Center and numerous local businesses, are teaming up to offer a free dinner tonight for people displaced by Hurricane Katrina. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. at Market Square, 1415 Timberlane Road, near the Thomasville Road exit off Interstate 10.

Clerk of the Courts Bob Inzer said employees approached him Tuesday morning wanting to help people affected by Katrina. They kicked around some ideas, got in touch with Market Square, and the dinner event took off from there.

"We wanted to show a little Tallahassee love and caring," Inzer said, "and let them know that we are thinking of them."

Volunteers will be serving meals and collecting money and canned goods for the American Red Cross and Salvation Army. Florida State University athletes also will participate. People who want to eat dinner are asked to bring their IDs.

The United Way will do its part to help Hurricane Katrina victims at Friday night's Hancock Bank Downtown Getdown. All vendors at the pre-football game party will provide free food to anyone showing a driver's license from Louisiana, Mississippi or Alabama. And the United Way will take cash and check contributions for hurricane relief at the intersection of College Avenue and Adams Street. Officials will provide receipts; checks should be made out to "Katrina Disaster Relief" or "United Way of the Big Bend."

"I know some people may prefer to make a face-to-face transaction rather than giving their credit card over the telephone as they make a contribution," said Ken Armstrong, president of the United Way of the Big Bend. "While many folks from Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama make their way east to escape the danger and devastation left behind by Hurricane Katrina, we want them to know the people of Florida's Big Bend stand behind them and support them during their time of loss."

Florida State University President T.K. Wetherell issued a plea to all fans attending Monday's football game at Doak Campbell Stadium to reach deep into their pockets to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Students will be on hand with buckets to collect cash and checks made out to the Red Cross. "We are asking all Seminole fans to open their hearts to the victims of this tragedy," Wetherell said.

Fans who are not planning to attend the game between the Florida State Seminoles and the University of Miami Hurricanes also can help by calling 878-6080 or (800) HELP-NOW.

At Temple Israel, Rabbi Jack Romberg issued a special "emergency edition" of his weekly bulletin, urging members of the synagogue to open their homes to refugees.

"As you might have heard on television, or read in the paper, there are many evacuees from Hurricane Katrina living in hotels here in Tallahassee," he wrote. "They are going to be kicked out of them this weekend in order to accommodate out-of-town football fans (don't even get me started on the ethics of that)."

He asked congregates to contact the temple if they can take in anyone stranded in Tallahassee.

My girlfriend and her husband and daughter are taking in a woman with a daughter in Tallahassee. They don't have a lot of money, but they have an empty room (they just moved there a few weeks ago) and she was going out to buy an air mattress. She's been to the Red Cross and Lutheran Church where they have loads of evacuees and she is just hanging out with them. She said a lot of them just want someone to talk to, or sit with.

2 posted on 09/02/2005 4:51:21 PM PDT by eyespysomething (Quid quid latine dictum sit, altum videtur)

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