Friday, September 28, 2001
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Friday, September 28, 2001 |
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Red Cross is looking for money By JOHN
THOMPSON
With visions of the terroristic attacks two weeks ago still fresh in residents' minds, the American Red Cross is making a simple plea this week: money. Sheila Davis, who works at the Newnan office of the nonprofit organization, said she's been overwhelmed by the response of residents who wanted to do anything to help. "We've had people get into their cars and spontaneously drive up there to help out or bring supplies," she said. People have driven trucks of water and Gatorade to the site in New York, but Davis said the response was so overwhelming that many of the items are waiting in warehouses until they can be used. Any other supplies that are needed are now being bough within 45 miles of the site, and that's where a money donation can be the best gift that people can do, she said. The Red Cross was also flooded with requests from residents who want to donate blood and two blood drives are set for Coweta in October. On Oct. 8, residents can head to the Coweta County Recreation Department on Hospital Drive in Newnan and donate from 2 p.m.-7 p.m. The following day, Newnan Hospital is holding a drive from 7 a.m.-noon. Davis has worked for the Red Cross for several years and has never seen anything like the response from the Sept. 11 tragedy. "On a local level, we're usually dealing with a single-family fire or helping to evacuate people fleeing a hurricane," she said. Volunteers have also flocked to New York to help with the rescue and recovery operation and Davis emphasized that this will be a long operation and the need for volunteers will pick up at a later date.
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