‘Relief packages’ being sent to hurricane victims

After Hurricane Katrina decimated the Gulf Coast regions of Mississippi and Louisiana, many North Idaho residents mobilized to help their fellow citizens.

Among the many local fund-raisers to help aid in the recovery is a “relief package” effort by the Community Presbyterian Church in Post Falls, which encouraged members to contribute fundamental items for the victims in the hardest-hit regions.

Each member received a list of “the simple, practical necessities of life,” said Pastor Doug Waltar. (The items were gathered during the second week of September, then packaged by church members Phil Rajkovich and John Mackesy. Mackesy had volunteered to mail the packages at his expense to the Houston Presbyterian relief center, where they have been distributed to Katrina refugees most in need.

“When something like this (hurricane) happens, contributing money is great, but I wanted to give the members of the church something substantial they could contribute,” Mackesy said. “I saw on the (Presbyterian) Web site that they had a hands-on type of offering which was these kits, so I talked to the men’s group at Bible study and they thought it would be a good thing to do. I announced it in church on a Sunday and it got a great response.”

“Members were asked to put all the toiletries in a Ziploc bag, and wrap them in a towel,” added Rajkovich. “With the response we got from members, we were able to fill one 2-foot-by-3-foot packing box completely with towels. We also sent some kits with crayons and such for kids.”

In addition to the refugee packages, the local Presbytery of the Inland Northwest contributed financial gifts totaling more than $25,000, Waltar said. The Presbytery encompasses 50 churches in the Spokane and Eastern Washington region as well as all of North Idaho.

Waltar said the “donations will be made available through either the American Red Cross or the Presbyterian relief organization.”