Champaign County, Illinois
RESPONDING TO HURRICANE KATRINA
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The Champaign County Chamber of Commerce has received many calls asking about ways to help our fellow displaced American citizens that have been affected by this natural disaster. In the wake of the unimaginable destruction, that is now estimated to cost five times the amount of September 11, thousands of people are waiting helplessly to return to their communities and assess what they will need to put their lives back together. Many fellow Chamber members (private business and social agencies) are leading fund raising efforts to help the survivors of Hurricane Katrina.

Today, WCIA 3, in partnership with Busey Bank, is collecting funds in the back parking lot of WCIA (Randolph Street side) until 7:00 p.m. tonight.

Also today, the Illini Radio Group is collecting funds for the American Red Cross in the K's Merchandise Parking lot in Champaign and the Day's Inn Parking lot in Danville. They will be out there until 6:00 p.m.

On Friday, the Community Foundation of East Central Illinois, United Way of Champaign County, the Salvation Army and the American Red Cross are coordinating the "Katrina Response Day." Drop Spots for donations are the United Way of Champaign County, BankChampaign, N.A. (all locations) and Main Street Bank And Trust (Champaign County locations).

According to the American Red Cross, a $75 donation will provide a doctor's office visit for injured individuals; $115 will buy a family of four groceries for one week; $250 will buy new bed linens, pillows and towels for a family; $350 will buy a day's worth of emergency food and shelter for 6 families; $500 will buy clothing for a family that has lost nearly everything and $1500 will deploy an Emergency Response Vehicle to a disaster area.

If you have the means to help the Hurricane Katrina survivors, your help is desperately needed. Event he smallest amount helps. If your business or organization is planning some sort of fund raising efforts for Hurricane Katrina Relief, please let the Chamber know and we will provide that information as people call in.

Thank you.