Date: May 21st, 2007 10:27:23 a.m.

While most of the country has forgotten about Hurricane Katrina, many people on the Gulf Coast are still struggling to recover. Charity In Action continues to work on Katrina relief in coastal Mississippi.

Our latest project is helping a fire and rescue company that was devastated by Katrina. West Hancock Fire Rescue (www.westhancockfirerescue.org) is based in Pearlington, MS where Katrina made landfall. Every building was damaged or destroyed. Some former residents are gone; the rest are struggling to rebuild. It will be two more years before the tax base is restored for this all-volunteer fire company.

WHFR is the first responder for a 75-square-mile area that includes a section of I-10 and a large industrial port facility. Residents depend on WHFR to protect their health and safety, and so do hundreds of volunteers who come to work in the area on the rebuilding effort. In addition, the gradual return of tourism will help in the recovery. If these people don’t feel protected, they may not come. The few remaining members of WHFR are valiantly keeping up this work while also holding paid jobs and rebuilding their homes.

The firehouse was completely destroyed. Several donated or loaned emergency vehicles are now housed in a temporary shelter funded by FEMA and constructed by the Seabees. The volunteers now operate out of a trailer. FEMA does not pay for operating costs, not even fuel. The needs are great.

Charity In Action sent $5,000 to WHFR in March 2007 to cover the most immediate needs: repairing the brakes on their main truck, and buying fuel. Now we are conducting a matching funds donation drive to raise more money for them. For more information about this fund drive please check our website (www.charityinaction.org) or email volunteers@charityinaction.org.

We are also working with the Bryn Athyn Fire Co. (www.bafc.net) in Pennsylvania. BAFC is attempting to collect donations of specific needed equipment and supplies for WHFR, and is helping us spread the word to other fire companies. President Cooper placed a notice about this effort in the Public Safety News, an electronic newsletter for fire and emergency personnel. Vice President Brown handed out flyers at a trade show. We really appreciate their help!

Thank you to all of you on this mailing list for your ongoing interest and support.