McCain, Delegates Help Pack 80,000 Comfort Packages for Hurricane Victims | Voice of America - English
Republican presidential candidate John McCain lent a hand Wednesday, as delegates to the Republican convention took time out to pack supplies for hurricane victims in the Gulf Coast. The looming storm led convention organizers to curtail opening day events Monday and appeal to delegates to focus on gathering aid for the thousands of people in the southern Gulf states who evacuated their homes as the storm approached.
Delegatesvolunteered their time Wednesday to pack toothbrushes, hand sanitizer,non-perishable food and other essential items for the thousands ofaffected residents of the Gulf Coast. Although HurricaneGustav was not as destructive as originally feared, delegates stillvolunteered their time Wednesday to help assemble care packages. TheRepublican Party is working with the American Red Cross andcorporations donating goods and services to assemble 80,000packages. Judy Zakibe, a delegate from St. Louis, Missouri,was among the volunteers. "I believe everybody should give back, andI've always done that for 50 years. I would do it anyway, but it'salways inspiring when someone says 'Let's everybody come together' andmany hands make light work," she said. The American Red Crosssays it is on "high alert" as other storms are heading toward theUnited States. Jan McDaniel, chief executive of the area American RedCross chapter, says the 80,000 bags are to be shipped to Louisiana andMississippi for distribution. "It's hot, they don't have power, so ourjob is really to make sure they are comforted, they're sheltered andthey have food," McDaniel said. Thousands of people wereevacuated from New Orleans as Hurricane Gustav made its way toLouisiana, bringing back painful memories of the Bush administration'sslow response to Hurricane Katrina, which devastated New Orleans threeyears ago.