Lewiston Elks Lodge No. 371, along with Maine’s other 21 lodges and 2,200 lodges nationwide, are answering National President James Grillo’s plea to raise funds for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Cash or check donations may be made at any Elks lodge. All money will go directly to the victims.

Donations also are being sought: material goods such as wet naps, wiping cloths, diapers, soap, detergents, nonperishable foods, clothing (especially for school-age children), personal hygiene products, baby items, air mattresses, bedding, toiletries, towels and washcloths, cots and pillows, blankets and any other comfort items such as stuffed animals.

A 53-foot trailer and a driver have been donated by local businessmen Dell and David Gendron of Gendron and Gendron Construction. Once the trailer is filled, it will be delivered to Louisiana for distribution to the victims.

Donated items can be brought to the Lewiston Elks Lodge, 1675 Lisbon Road, Lewiston, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Sunday. You can contact the Elks at 784-4801, 786-3737, or 576-4305.

Kids’ church responds

The Jesus Party Pentecostal Kids’ Church will hold a generosity gathering aimed at helping Hurricane Katrina victims in New Orleans at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16, at Jesus Party Headquarters, 291 Bates St. The gathering is open to children ages 5 and up.

The ministry will use the devastating tragedy to teach life lessons such as love, mercy, compassion and generosity. The urban outreach has been collecting empty cans and bottles for months in hopes of responding charitably to a need when one occurs. The returnables will be cashed in and the amount, $100, will be donated to the American Red Cross for relief efforts.

All in attendance will also view a 20-minute video documentary on hurricanes.

If anyone is interested in donating returnables to the ministry in order to replenish its supply for future outreach opportunities, bottles can be dropped off or picked up by calling the Rev. Douglas Taylor at 786-5568.

Blood needed, drives scheduled

LEWISTON – K of C & Androscoggin Shrine Club host Lewiston-Auburn Blood Drives

The National American Red Cross Biomedical Services has called upon the Northeast Division to stand ready to support the blood needs of the southern states that are being affected by Hurricane Katrina.

The Northeast Division is currently 2,100 units behind in its blood collection efforts. In the past week, shipments of blood have been cut to area hospitals.

Donors will have two blood drives to choose from in the upcoming days.

On Saturday, Sept. 10, the Androscoggin Shriners will host a “full-breakfast” blood drive from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Kora Shrine Temple is located at 11 Sabattus St., Lewiston.

On Monday, Sept. 12, the Knights of Columbus will host a blood drive from 1 to 6 p.m., at the Knights of Columbus Hall on East Avenue, across from the American Red Cross Chapter.

Please call the American Red Cross at 1-800-482-0743 to sign up. Appointments are strongly encouraged.

Potential blood donors must be at least 17 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds. Most medications and medical conditions do not prohibit a person from being a blood donor.

Preschool helps out

LEWISTON – Tiny Toes Preschool is collecting backpacks for distribution to the youngest victims of Hurricane Katrina.

The preschool is asking that backpacks be filled with items such as cards or notes for the child, a change of clothes, books, crayons, markers, pencils, paper, coloring books, small toys, sports bottles, small games – anything that can entertain children (but no sharp objects).

Gently used items, or new, would be appreciated. Empty backpacks are also welcome.

The preschool is also collecting infant/toddler backpacks that could be filled with diapers, wipes, formula, bottles and liners, pacifiers, sippy cups, small toys, blankets and infant books. All backpacks should be labeled with gender (boy, girl or either) and an appropriate age level.

Available drop-off times are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The first shipment of backpacks will be leaving Sept. 16. Tiny Toes Preschool is at 36 Grove St. For more information, phone 784-5555.

Matching program announced

LEWISTON – Employees of Johns Manville are being encouraged to help with Katrina relief. The corporate headquarters announced a pledge to match employee contributions to any charitable organization that is conducting Hurricane Katrina relief by making an additional donation to the Red Cross. Johns Manville will not place a limit on its matching contribution, according to a release.

The company has already announced a $100,000 donation to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. Johns Manville has a roofing plant at 51 Lexington St.

Children displaced second time in 2 years

RUMFORD – Summer has not been kind to Adam and Jill Howitt in the two years they’ve lived in Slidell, La.

Slidell is 30 minutes from New Orleans, where their father David Howitt, a Rumford native, works at Lockheed Martin. He is a retired Air Force veteran of 22 years.

Last year, the trio fled before Hurricane Ivan, evacuating to Houston.

On Aug. 27, they fled Hurricane Katrina, driving to Demopolis, Ala., but were thrown out of a hotel there, and forced to go to Columbus, Ga., to stay, Jill Howitt said Thursday.

“We got kicked out, because my dad booked the room for two days, and it was all booked up after that,” she said at the Route 120 home of her grandparents, Rodney and Brenda Howitt, of Rumford. The children flew to Maine on Sept. 2 to stay until it was safe to return home.

Their father returned to Slidell to find their home had minor damage. Their mother’s home in Gulfport, Miss., was leveled.

“He needed to go back to find our cat, Rocky. He was left behind and we were heartbroken,” she said.

But Rocky, now known as “The miracle cat,” survived the hurricane.

“So, something good comes out of something bad,” said the children’s aunt, Angie Howitt, on Thursday.