“Residents in central Illinois are helping the city of Biloxi, Mississippi rebuild after Hurricane Katrina. The first shipment of supplies was packed up Wednesday morning. Residents in Biloxi, Mississippi, are busy sorting through what little is left of their personal belongings. Hundreds of miles away, Peoria area residents gather cleanup supplies for hurricane survivors.
After the supplies were collected from Home Depot in Peoria, Super Wal-Mart in Pekin and Lowes in East Peoria, they’re taken to the loading docks of G and D Integrated in Bartonville. Employees are volunteering their time to pack the first load of supplies that will be sent to Biloxi. Inside, you can find everything from garbage cans to generators.
Gary Feger with G & D Integrated said, “We donated our people to unload all that. To get it all packed up on the Star trailer to go to Biloxi.” Craig Mason says adopting Biloxi as a sister city is simple and effective way for people to know exactly how their donations are helping. “You know where it’s going to be, what it’s going to and what it’s going to be used for. I think it is really great. It’s nice to be able to help people out who suffered the devastation they did.” Biloxi residents specifically requested cleanup items this time and will provide volunteers with new lists on a regular basis.”
(c) Copyright 2005 WEEK-TV, reprinted with permission.
