This is very cool

[cheesymice]

California city adopts Pascagoula By Lance Davis The Mississippi Press Wed. Sept. 7, 2005
After watching coverage of Hurricane Katrina focus on the plight of New Orleans, Jim Aldinger decided to find other, smaller communities that needed help.

After searching the Internet, the Manhattan Beach, Calif., city councilman found a coastal city similar in size to his that was severely battered by the Category 4 storm that hit the Gulf Coast on Aug. 29 — Pascagoula.

“I was looking for somewhere off the beaten track, a coastal community like ours that we could help,” said Aldinger, who for the last four days has galvanized a relief effort in Manhattan Beach — “We Care: From the California Coast to the Gulf Coast” — that includes drop-off sites for supplies, a media campaign and a proclamation by the City Council officially adopting Pascagoula. The city plans to send at least one semi-truck loaded with supplies to the First Baptist Church of Pascagoula.

Since the hurricane, the church has become a focal point for out-of-state relief efforts, the American Red Cross and Baptist Disaster Relief teams. Trucks from across the nation have brought supplies, filling the church’s north parking lot.

Pastor Rex Yancey said the church’s central location in Pascagoula and its proximity to U.S. 90 has made it the center of relief efforts after many Coast hurricanes.

In the days following Hurricane Katrina, Yancey said the church has served meals to hundreds of Jackson County residents, and provided them with clothes and other supplies.

“We get between 500 and 1,000 people coming here every day. The Red Cross fed 11,000 yesterday using the church as a base to send meals into the community,” Yancey said.

Manhattan Beach is not the only city to inquire about adopting hurricane ravaged Pascagoula.

An e-mail forwarded to The Mississippi Press from West Linn, Ore., sought information about forming an “immediate sister city relationship” with Pascagoula.

“We can only guess at the supreme efforts that the community will be required to take to reconstruct its infrastructure after taking care of the immediate food and shelter needs of its citizens. Our intent would be to offer logisitical, financial and employee support for reconstruction,” wrote West Lynn City Councilman Mike Gates.

Pascagoula Mayor Matthew Avara said he is overwhelmed by the outpouring of support that is coming from all corners of the United States.

“I get chillbumps, my lip quivers because I’ve never seen such an outpouring of support,” Avara said of Manhattan Beach and other cities he’s not been able to contact and thank because of communications problems.

Clothes, baby formula and diapers are still needed, Avara said, and all the relief that has poured in has “been totally, utterly overwhelming.” He said at one point trucks had to be stopped to give volunteers and relief effort crews time to get it distributed.

“It’s unlike anything I’ve even experienced before,” Avara said. “I hope we as a community remember this when our fellow neighbors and Americans are in a tough predicament. We need to remember what was done for us.” Avara added. “We are forever grateful to all of our friends and fellow Americans who have offered help.”

In Manhattan Beach, a suburb of Los Angeles in south Los Angeles County, Aldinger said he has contacted Pascagoula City Manager Kay Kell and told her of the city’s plans.

“The first thing she said to me was, ‘We’re very adoptable.’” Aldinger said.

With the proclamation approved Tuesday by the Manhattan Beach City Council, Aldinger said the support sent to Pascagoula will be more than just a truck-load of supplies.

“I want this to be a long-term relationship with Pascagoula. I want us to be there for the recovery and rebuilding process,” said Aldinger.


As Manhattan Beach moves forward with its relief efforts for Pascagoula, Aldinger said he wants to talk with the city councils in neighboring Redondo Beach and Hermosa Beach about adopting Gautier and Ocean Springs.

Aldinger said the Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce is working with local companies such as Sketcher’s shoes, Target of Manhattan Beach, All American Movers and Manhattan Reprographics to donate food, clothing, banners and a semi-truck for the cross country journey.

The “We Care” team also plans a fundraiser dinner Saturday with the Manhattan Beach Fire Department. Funds from the dinner will go to a charity to be named at a later date. A media blitz is planned for the project Friday at Manhattan Beach’s Joselyn Center.

At First Baptist Church of Pascagoula, Yancey said the church’s north parking lot has become a well organized and efficient distribution center.

Families can drive in on west Live Oak Street, tell volunteers what they need, and it will be loaded into their car.

“This storm has given us the opportunity to display our faith,” Yancey said. “We’re a caring church. We’re just a group of believers who love each other and want to reach out to our community.” News Editor Lance Davis can be reached at ldavis@mspressonline.com or (251) 219- 5551. Reporter Brad Crocker contributed to this report.

Comments

[bandgeek.livejournal.com]

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