Emergency volunteers needed!

Columbia is hosting thousands of refugees from the areas that Hurricane Katrina has hit and volunteers are needed desperately! Please come and help at 513 Pickens Street (corner of Pickens and Blossom) 803-576-7201 www.Columbia sc.net/columbiacares.

Stuffed animals for the Children

of Hurricane Katrina

Forest Pines Retirement Community is accepting any kind of new stuffed animal to be given to the children that were victims of Hurricane Katrina. The goal is to fill the activity bus! The activity bus will be in front of the building, 1720 Devonshire Drive, on Friday, September 23, from 8 am–7 pm. Call 803-252-3444. Stuffed animals may be dropped off before September 23.

SC Bankers Association coordinates banks to assist evacuees

The SC Bankers Association has organized bankers to assist evacuees from the Gulf Coast states who will be arriving in the Midlands.

Volunteers from the following Midlands banks will be on– site to assist in financial services and accessing funds for the victims of Hurricane Katrina: BB&T ,Carolina First Bank, First Citizens Bank, and SC Bank and Trust.

More information of services and additional participating banks will be available as people arrive in SC. www.scbankers.org.

SC Methodist Conference

recruits clean up volunteers

The SC Conference of the United Methodist Church is recruiting volunteers to help with Hurricane Katrina clean up efforts.

Early response teams will be trained and deployed in October, November, and probably December. Each deployment will last for two weeks.

Anyone interested in volunteering must attend a mandatory training session September 17 from 10am to 4 pm at College Place United Methodist Church in Columbia.

Each team of volunteers will need to be self–sustaining. A complete list of all the items needed by the teams is posted at: http://umcsc.net/ disasterresponse/volunteer.php.

To volunteer or for more information go to the website to register, or call toll–free 888-678-6272 or locally 803-786-9486.

Collection sites for equipment, food and supplies have been established at the SC Conference of the United Methodist Church headquarters at 4908 Colonial Drive in Columbia. The sites will be open until September 19, 2005.

Piggly Wiggly Carolina donates

to the Red Cross

Piggly Wiggly Carolina Company, on behalf of its 5,000 employee owners, has made an immediate corporate gift of $25,000 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. Stores are currently accepting donations at the registers whereby customers have the option of making a contribution added to their purchase. Their donation to the American Red Cross will be recorded on their register receipt. All donations will be distributed to victims through the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

CPD offers assistance in Mississippi areas affected by Hurricane Katrina

As part of a multi–state, multi– agency task force, 22 officers from the Columbia Police Department have provided assistance in areas in proximity to Gulfport, MS since Saturday, September 3. Many of the local law enforcement officers in that region are trying to deal with enormous personal loss resulting from the impact of Katrina. The presence of the officers and the relief they have provided has resulted in a lifting of morale on local law enforcement personnel.

Columbia police officers have been deployed and are working multiple shifts in three different counties in an area approximately 70 miles from Gulf Port. Based from a command post in McComb City, officers are assisting in law enforcement duties in Walthall, Pike, and Amite Counties. Upon arrival, several officers were sworn in as deputies in Amite County to provide relief, and have assisted in making arrests and maintaining order.

South University offers

educational assistance

South University is offering educational assistance to displaced students who were enrolled at colleges and universities forced to close by Hurricane Katrina. Undergraduate and graduate students may seek enrollment at South University for the fall 2005 quarter that begins Oct. 3.

Students who were enrolled at a university forced to close by Hurricane Katrina may register at any of South University’s four campus locations or through South University Online for courses, on a space available basis, for fall quarter 2005. If students have already registered and paid tuition at their home institution for the fall quarter, South University will waive all tuition for the fall quarter 2005 and only mandatory student fees will be assessed.

Payment arrangements may be made through the Financial Aid office at each South University campus.

Visit www.southuniversity.edu or call 1-866-629-2901. Students interested in pursuing an online degree should consult South University Online at: www.southuniversity-online.com or call 1-888-444-3404.

DSS administers disaster

food assistance

As part of an effort to help recent evacuees of the Gulf, the SC Department of Social Services has issued temporary disaster relief cards. The cards look similar to the current Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards except they have the words “Disaster Benefits” printed on the card instead of a person's name.

Food retailers currently participating in the food stamp program should honor these cards as they would the regular EBT cards.

RCPL assists Katrina evacuees

The Richland County Public Library has compiled resources help Hurricane Katrina evacuees in the Midlands find the information they need.

Information is available from the General Reference department of the Main Library, located at 1431 Assembly St. in downtown Columbia, or online at www.richland.lib.sc.us/katrina/katrina_relief.htm. A computer in General Reference has also been made available for use by evacuees only.

The library has compiled available resources on: Employment Searching in the Midlands/Unemployment Insurance Links; Finding Lost People and Pets; Geographical Information; Health Agencies Other Than Hospitals; Higher Education; Hospitals in the Midlands; Housing in the Midlands; Public Schools; Red Cross; Religious Organizations (Head Offices); and Social Services in the Midlands.

Visit any RCPL location and ask for assistance on getting a library card.  Questions? Call RCPL’s General Reference Department at (803) 929-3400.

Bishop Williams of 7th District AME Church Responds to Katrina

Friday September 9, 2005 Bishop Preston Warren Williams II, the presiding prelate of the 7th District of the AME Church, which encompasses the entire state of SC, issued the following statement:

“Since day one of the aftermath of this horrific tragedy the AME Church has been actively involved in the process of procuring and dispersing food, water and supplies to our many brothers and sisters located in the affected areas. In addition, we are sending a substantial monetary donation to assist in the global aid effort.

To donate visit www.ame-church.com or send checks payable to GWM–AMEC, mark in the Memo section of your check Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund, and mail to The Department of Global Witness and Ministry at 1587 Savannah Hwy, Suite A, Charleston, SC 29407.

The AME Church is also assisting in the resettlement of displaced families into the households of families located here in SC. The host families will be able to assist the displaced families in their needs for shelter, jobs, clothing and food for a period of six months to one year. If you have room in your home and heart and would like to help please call our Episcopal Office at 803.935.0500.

Families helping families

hurricane relief fund

Family Connection of SC supports Family Voices’ recent initiative, the Families Helping Families Hurricane Relief Fund. One hundred percent of the donated funds will be funneled to volunteer family leaders “on the ground” in the affected states.

The Centers for Disease Control has estimated there are at least 99,000 children with special health care needs in MS, 193,000 in LA, 488,000 in FL, and 152,000 in AL.  Those children, now affected by the hurricane, continue to face unique and difficult challenges, often needing specialized assistance to keep them healthy and alive. One hundred percent of the donations to the Families Helping Families fund will pay for items and services our family leaders have learned are needed – things such as anti–bacterial wipes, diapers, phone cards, medical care, cash for medications, gas and food, rent, toys, and clothing.

 Donations are being taken via the Family Voices website (www.familyvoices.org) and via postal mail (2340 Alamo SE, Suite 102, Albuquerque, NM  87106).  For more information, contact Rachel Tallman, 1.888.835.5669.

Animal Mission helps animals left homeless by Katrina

To help with animals left homeless by Hurricane Katrina, call Marli or Kevin at The City of Columbia Animal Mission, 776-7387. Send donations to The Animal Mission, 127 Humane Lane, Columbia, SC 29209.