Clothing, stuffed animals and more being collected for the
victims of Hurricane Katrina
Gilroy – Whether it’s donating a pair of warm socks, a beloved stuffed animal or simply one’s time, local residents are rallying to support the victims in the Gulf Coast whose lives were shattered after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast Aug. 29.
Three area individuals – all with different reasons – are pitching in to do their part in a national effort to rebuild lives.
“When you have a chance and the opportunity – we should give back,” said Russell Hayden, a retired San Jose firefighter living in Gilroy.
While helping others has been his job for the past 34 years, Hayden has a personal attachment to the cause.
“My Godmother is down there and we haven’t heard from her yet,” he said.
He is collecting monetary donations as well as new undergarments. Hayden’s efforts are part of a fundraiser organized by the Santa Clara County Black Firefighters Association.
“These people have been through so much, we didn’t want to give them anything used,” he said.
The deadline for donations is Oct. 1. Afterwards, Hayden and his wife will drive a trailer filled with the items to the Gulf Coast region.
Seven-year-old Emily Wood, a second grader at St. Mary School, started a fundraiser after seeing images on the news from the disaster.
“When I am sad I like to hug my stuffed animals. I think having a stuffed animal will cheer up the boys and girls who are scared,” she wrote in a letter to her classmates. “Please help me and bring in a new or gently used stuffed animal by Sept. 23 to make the kids feel better.”
More than 300 stuffed animals have been brought in by the 308 students who attend the school – and they are coming in by the bagful every day. Dogs, cats, cows, dolls and bears of varying colors, sizes and conditions rest in boxes waiting to shipped to the Houston Astrodome so that children who have nothing can have something to hold onto at night.
“I didn’t do this to get in the newspaper,” the shy pixie-faced Wood told her mother.
“I’m doing it for the kids,” she said.
Several other St. Mary students have taken the concept of giving to the next level.
According to Principal Christa Hanson, two students went door-to-door with collection cans and raised more than $300 for the Red Cross. Another raised more than $100 at a lemonade stand over the weekend.
“It’s amazing how creative people are in the world,” Hanson said, “For a 7-year-old to come with an idea like that is pretty remarkable.”
In the aftermath of Katrina, thousands of individuals across the country have called organizations such as the Red Cross, offering themselves up to the recovery efforts. Putting their careers and own lives on hold, volunteers are giving their time simply to give hope to a region devastated with loss.
Willie Maquinalez of Gilroy and his fiancée Michelle Adams are such people. They are bypassing their honeymoon to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, in order to volunteer with the Red Cross.
The couple, marrying Saturday, expect to deploy sometime next week.
“Doing something like this is something I’ve always wanted to do,” Maquinalez said, a Red Cross volunteer for the past six years.
Instead of hitting the beach, the couple will likely live out of sleeping bags.
“Technically, there’s no guarantee that we get shipped together or stay together,” he said. “We’re not there for a honeymoon, we’re there to help.”
