Numerous community volunteers were on hand Saturday at Alleghany CARES (Christians Associated for Relief and Emergency Services) to help load a 26-foot U-Haul truck with items bound for Mississippi victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Aid sent to Katrina victims

In light of the recent Hurricane Katrina disaster along the Gulf Coast states of Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi, local individuals and churches have reached out to lend a hand.

One effort began with Alleghany resident Roger Williams, whose son lives in Mississippi. Susan Reinhardt with the Sparta United Methodist Church mission committee explained that Williams contacted her father, D.W. Miles, to request a reduced rate on the renting of a U-Haul.

“He (Miles) worked out a reduced rate and through joint church efforts, there were funds collected totaling $4,250,” Reinhardt said. Donations made through churches include $300 donation from Christ Episcopal Church, $500 donations from New Covenant Church and Grace Community Church and $1,000 donations from Cornerstone Christian Fellowship and Sparta United Methodist Church.

“Local merchants, including Family Dollar, Dollar General, Lowes Food and Food Lion offered reduced prices on items,” she added. Dottie Dorsett, assistant front end manager at Lowes Foods, spoke of a $1,200 purchase made by Mary Beth Hayes with Cornerstone Christian Fellowship at the store last Saturday night.

“She has a neighbor who has a son who lives in Mississippi,” Dorsett explained. “The son’s barn was destroyed during the hurricane and part of his house was damaged during the storm.”

Williams and a family member departed from the county on Saturday night so they “could load up what personal belongings they could gather together for their son and his family. They were also bringing back two cows that had survived the storm. They didn’t want to go down there with an empty U-Haul truck.

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