Friday, Sept. 23, 2005

 

Local builder lending a hand to Gulf Coast victims

Coweta County based builder David Lindsey and his son Jeff have made and sponsored trips to the hurricane ravaged Gulf Coast, trucking donated equipment and supplies.

As a result of what he has seen there, Lindsey has deposited $10,000 seed money in a "challenge fund" at The Bank of Georgia in Newnan and is spearheading a program to distribute food and clothing to victims of Katrina.

Lindsey is urging his friends and fellow members of the building, development and real estate industries in Coweta, Fayette and Troup, as well as other South Metro counties, to contribute to the challenge fund.

"Actually being on the devastated Gulf Coast is very different from seeing it on television," Lindsey said after returning from Biloxi, Miss., one of the cities in Katrina's direct path. "Those of us in the home building industry identify with the crisis on a very personal level. Hundreds of thousands of people have lost their homes or have seen them severely damaged. This is our industry and our product. We have a responsibility to help."

The challenge fund has been established at all branches of The Bank of Georgia under the name of "Coweta County and Fellow Georgians Relief Fund." (Checks can be made out to "Coweta County Relief Fund.") Donations are tax deductible and should be sent to any Bank of Georgia location or to 85 McIntosh Trail, Sharpsburg, GA 30277; attention: Mayor Wendell Staley.

Initially, all funds and supplies collected will be distributed through the First Pentecostal Church in Biloxi, Miss., where Rev. Paul Springer is the pastor. Eighth District Congressman Lynn Westmoreland' s office is working with the relief effort to expand the number of distribution points in the Gulf Coast region.

As part of a coordinated local effort, Sharpsburg Mayor Wendell Staley, with the assistance of the Boy Scouts, is organizing the collection of food and clothing for the hurricane relief. Boy Scouts will be on duty at two drop-off locations — Go Cart World and Turin United Methodist Church — from 5 p.m.-9 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, and from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday.

Go Cart World is one block north of the intersection of 34 Bypass and Highway. 27 on the right side of the road. Turin United Methodist Church is south of the intersection of Highway 16E and Highway 54. Proceeding south of the intersection on Highway 16 (towards Senoia), take the first left, first right and then first left.

"We have 18-wheelers available to transport donations," Staley said, "and we have commitments from other truck owners that they will provide transportation for whatever we collect."

"One of our goals is providing assistance to small communities that might be overlooked by the large relief agencies," Staley said.

For additional information on how to contribute to this effort, or to arrange for a pickup at your home or business, call 770-301-2473.