Sep 7, 2005 3 min read

It never fails: When people are in need, residents of Fayette County respond with a verve and unselfishness worthy of mention, if not admiration. This is once again true in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which wrought unprecedented damage along the Gulf Coast and practically obliterated New Orleans. As a result of local relief efforts large and small, the lives of those afflicted by this overwhelming natural disaster will be somewhat eased. A sampling of the list includes:

Peg Redmond, 51, of Brownsville, a nurse’s aid who’s headed to Montgomery, Ala., for three weeks as a Red Cross national disaster team volunteer from southwestern Pennsylvania. She will work in shelters and aid victims via caring, feeding and distribution of bulk supplies.

Chuck Hoover, manager of Bartolotta’s Giant Eagle on Route 51, which is providing supplies and giving others the opportunity to do the same. Partners in his effort include Blaney Farms Inc. and the Herald-Standard. Cases of water, canned fruits and vegetables, baby food and items will be trucked South through this initiative.

Central Cab Co., which sent four drivers in two 55-passenger motor coaches filled with bottled water. They will then use the vehicles to transport New Orleans hurricane victims to shelters in Texas.

Noah’s Ark human society staff members, who headed to Mississippi and Louisiana on a mission to bring back displaced animals.

Firefighters from the Brownsville No. 1 and South Side fire departments, who worked the streets Sunday collecting money in boots. They hope to duplicate for hurricane victims the fundraising effort that netted $6,000 to aid New York City after Sept. 11, 2001.

Regular citizen Jamie Hoff of Hopwood, who can’t donate much money, but is willing to contribute items such as clothing, shoes and blankets; purchase things such as toothbrushes and deodorant; and is even willing to donate blood if that is needed. She’s looking for a clearinghouse to contact to offer such help.

Several church denominations, covering a wide spectrum of beliefs, which are committing relief funds, or are sending supplies and response teams.

And on a larger scale, the UMWA, which has strong ties to this area, contributed $10,000 to provide essential supplies and services in the hardest-hit areas, helping ease suffering in what President Cecil E. Roberts referred to as a “war zone.”

It’s also certain that innumerable local residents are helping in other ways, making financial contributions that no one will ever know about, or offering assistance through other means that likewise aren’t likely to become public knowledge. All of them deserve commendation for putting the needs of others ahead of their own.