Almost four months after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Port States, people are still suffering from its aftermath. In the small town of Gautier, people are still working on getting back into their homes, rebuilding their city, and recovering from the terrible trauma they suffered. Gautier took a direct hit from Katrina. Because so many businesses were affected by the storm, many residents are without jobs. One of its elementary schools was completely destroyed. All of the city government and most of its services operate out of trailers. Many homes were lost. Over 80% of their population was impacted by the storm.

We are proud to report that Lansdowne has already sent two volunteer work crews down to Gautier and its neighboring towns to help ordinary citizens clean out their homes and rebuild. Two more groups are going down in January; one on the 3rd and one on the 20th. These groups are from the local Presbyterian and Methodist churches, but have not restricted themselves to church members. The people in Gautier tell us that the only people helping them to clean out and rebuild homes right now are volunteer groups like ours, who sleep on basement floors in local churches and spend all their time working on rebuilding homes. Eighteen computers, monitors and printers and other supplies have been collected to send down with the group who will be leaving on the 3rd.

You can still contribute to the group going down on the 3rd. We are collecting small appliances for people going back into their homes: kitchen items, rocking chairs, folding tables and chairs for their Senior Center: basic sports items, football, soccer and baseball for their local schools and youth clubs: basic school items for their children, calculators, notebooks, pens and pencils, rulers, etc. Contributions can be dropped off at Borough Hall by January 2.

You can also help by buying gift cards at Lowes, Sears or Pennys to help the citizens of Gautier buy needed supplies to repair and refurnish their homes. You can be sure that they will get to the citizens themselves.

Gift cards can be dropped off at Borough Hall in an envelope addressed to Mayor Jayne Young. Please include your name with the card so that we can acknowledge your gift. We do not want cards sent through the mail since these cards can be used by anyone who might intercept them. If you prefer, someone will pick them up at your home. Please call Jayne Young at 610-623-7300 or Clare Touey at 610-622-3534 for a pick up. We would like to send the cards down with the groups leaving on the 3rd and the 20th. We will need them by the 2nd and the 19th in order to do that. The group leaving on the 20th will not be able to take supplies, only gift cards.

This is an on-going project so that we will be happy to see that any cards sent after those dates reach the people of Gautier.

We have contacted many organizations and schools in Gautier and are setting them up with sister groups in our town so that our library, schools, churches, etc. can explore ways of helping Gautier. We will keep you informed of news of Gautier in the future.

Remember, "Think Go-shay", your sister-city.