Date: September 15, 2005
Contact: Ann Morgan, 891-1615

"From Our Community To Yours" Details

Volunteers working for “From Our Community To Yours,” a disaster recovery program designed to connect individuals and organizations from one community to their counterparts in a disaster-affected community, made their way to Laurel, Mississippi last weekend with a truck full of supplies and offers of on-going support from organizations in Saranac Lake, NY. Ann Morgan, a parishioner at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and Janet Simkins, a teacher at Saranac Lake High School, drove the truck (donated by Rice Furniture with the cost of fuel donated by Mountain Communications, Hyde Fuel and a private citizen) to Laurel Mississippi and had an opportunity to see first hand what the Hurricane Katrina recovery needs are for that community.

“It seems that Laurel is through the acute (relief) phase and is now trying to focus on its future and how it will help those displaced by Katrina to establish a new life for themselves in Laurel,” reported Ann Morgan. While the local community was hard hit by the storm, it is considered by all to be among the lucky ones. Lucky or not, Morgan and Simkins were both surprised by the extent of damage sustained by Laurel, a community located 100 miles inland. “Few homes were missed by falling trees, and I’d say at least one home in each neighborhood was completely destroyed,” commented Morgan.

As for whether or not Saranac Lake’s efforts are going to the “right” community, Morgan feels that it is. “While Laurel suffered tremendous damage, its utility and social service infrastructure appear to be intact,” said Morgan. Coupled with the fact that Laurel is relatively close to the coast, this puts Laurel in a good position to be able to support the needs of coastal residents who did lose their homes and are now being sheltered in Laurel. “With the support of Saranac Lake and the numerous other aid agencies supporting Laurel, I think we can make a significant difference in the lives of those who have sought refuge there,” Morgan reflected.

During their visit to Laurel, Morgan and Simkins met with the Superintendent of Schools and the High School Principal. Schools were scheduled to open again Monday September 12th, and officials were expecting between 100 and 200 new students as a result of the storm. It will be these children and their families that “From Our Community to Yours” will work to support.

While in Laurel, Morgan and Simkins also learned that continuing a supply-drive in Saranac Lake may not be the most cost-effective way of helping new residents of Laurel get the supplies they need. Morgan and Simkins were told that stores in Laurel were no longer rationing, so residents and refugees alike had easy access to the supplies needed. “Because it cost nearly $1,000 in gas to bring a truck-load of supplies, I think we’ll do better to send cash donations directly to our contact at St. John’s so that agencies supporting Laurel’s new residents can give them cash to shop for their own groceries. For each truck-load of supplies we don’t transport, were putting $1,000 more in the pockets of families that need it to start their new household,” Morgan said. “However, we will have to make one more trip,” said Morgan, “because so much more has already been donated.” We have $800 toward our second trip, provided by three individuals and Tri-Lakes Federal Credit Union. Their president, Robert Cooper, speaking on behalf of the board of directors, said to the credit union executive director, Therese Martin, “Thank you, I think you have selected one great effort for Hurricane Katrina relief.”

St. Luke’s will end its supply drive on Saturday September 17th at 4:00 p.m. Saranac Lake residents wanting to make a supply donation are asked to give only non-perishable food items, bed sheets, pillow cases and/or bath towels. NO MORE CLOTHES and NO MORE WATER will be accepted.

St. Luke’s is still looking for a Box Truck to make its final trip to Laurel late in the week of September 18th.

Others who have contributed to the “Laurel Mission” are Tops, Kinneys, Coakleys, Coin Den, Best Western, Hotel Saranac, Adirondack Leadership Experience, Tupper Lake School District, Saranac Lake School District and over 150 individuals who donated supplies and money to this effort.