Salem Katrina Team Report from Gautier - November 29 afternoon

Now the hard part - I have to get our accounting done in time to meet with Virginia at the church on Thursday. I feel like a little boy with his pockets full of paper scraps - hope I can find most of our receipts from the past three weeks.

A word to teams heading to the Gulfport, Mississippi area between December 9 and January 31. We have a 40' motor home (which can transport about 20 folks) positioned there as well as a seven-passenger van. We offer these vehicles to pick up volunteers arriving at the Gulfport airport, and we can take you to any of the volunteer locations near Gulfport, Biloxi or over to Pascagola. Drop me an email at rustysilverwings@aol.com if we can be of service in this way.

I recently phoned PDA headquarters in Kentucky and was lucky enough to speak with Ms. Paula Burdine. She explained that the PDA Gautier camp hasn't been closed, but instead has been relocated to another Gautier facility which will be up and running again around the end of this week. Be sure, if your teams are available to serve, to coordinate through the folks at PDA by submitting your application as soon as possible to allow them to plan work flow and support requirements. Running such a large operation is a new deal for them, and like most folks from FEMA on down, I've come to appreciate their hard work, dedication - and results. Suggestion: go where they send you, bring what they suggest, give funds to support their organization as best you can!

Here at Salem's First Pres, we continue to solicit donations to cover previous expenses as well as future work in the Gulf. Please send whatever you're led to offer to Salem First Presbyterian Church, 770 Chemeketa NE, Salem OR 93701, marked "Katrina Relief" or to Gautier Presbyterian Church, 1009 Hwy 90, Gautier MS 39553, marked "Salem Katrina Team". The funds will go 100% to relief in the Gulfport, Mississippi area. I want to raise funds so as to continue addressing individual needs while we do case work in Ocean Springs, and of course, we will continue to be held fully accountable by our church's financial secretary, Virginia aka "Attila the Accountant". We're blessed with her work supporting this project!!

I learned something last week about Mississippi which I found astounding. USA Today reported in several articles about the economic situation of that state, and their difficulty meeting even the pre-Katrina funding needs of schools, transportation - everything. Well, last week USA Today gave us the really important fact. Mississippi, as poor as the state and her residents certainly are, leads our entire nation in charitable giving as a percentage of income! It must be something in the grits. Or more likely, in the grit of the people!!
---for our Team,
Wes