Local Relief Effort Shifts Into High Gear

Santa Barbara crews will soon begin loading up supplies in preparation for a week-long hurricane relief effort in northwest Louisiana. A team of about 17 local volunteers will be leaving from Westmont’s Murchison Gym early Saturday morning.

Volunteers are expected to arrive in Shreveport, La., Sunday, and will work in area shelters and a distribution center to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Westmont Head Baseball Coach Rob Crawford began preparing for the trip last week and has been overwhelmed by the community’s support. People continue to drop off donations at Cold Springs and Montecito Union Schools, Hope Community Church, as well as Village Property Realty sites in Santa Barbara. On Friday, Sept. 9, at 4:30 p.m., the Westmont baseball team and other volunteers will begin trucking donations to the gym. The volunteers plan on loading the donations onto the Santa Barbara Foresters bus at 6:30 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 10, at the gym. They will leave soon thereafter.

At least one American Red Cross volunteer will be traveling with the group to get to Louisiana. Two families displaced by the hurricane have been offered housing in the Santa Barbara area and may be travelling back with the group, Friday, Sept. 16. Relief workers in Louisiana say they are in need of underwear for men, women and children. They’re also requesting water, baby formula, diapers and baby wipes. Shelter officials say they could also use DVDs, music CDs and games to entertain children. Monetary donations may be made to either Santa Barbara Pony Baseball Relief Fund or to Hope Community Church. The relief effort is still in need of a bus driver.

There will be a final planning and training meeting for volunteers tonight, at 7 p.m., in front of Westmont’s Murchison Gym. Contact Coach Crawford by cell at (805)245-0538. For directions to campus, visit the college Web site at www.westmont.edu.