Readers, you are the best. On Thursday, I posted a plea for help from Katrina victims in Pascagoula, Miss. Scores of you immediately sent aid and supplies to organizers at the New Town Baptist Church. One reader went above and beyond. Here’s his e-mail:

Hi Michelle,

Just a note to let you know that because of your published info I towed my old pickup truck from Ponchatoula, La. to Pascagoula, Ms. It is a 1992 Chevy S-10 extended cab with a 2.8L V-6 engine. It’s been sitting under a tree at the back of our property for a year since I purchased a full sized truck. I was going to sell it, but never got around to it. Thursday and Friday gave me a purpose – getting the truck running and getting it to Pascagoula. It made me feel as if I had a small part in a large recovery effort. I put in a new battery, changed the windshield wipers, cleaned it up, and cranked it up. It runs like a good clock. It is high milage (286,000 mi) but I’ve taken very good care of it. I rented a car transport trailer from U-Haul and delivered it to Terry Davis, Brenda’s ex-husband. I’ll take care of the paperwork in the following days.

Katrina was a very large storm. We live in Ponchatoula, La. and have lots of tree damage. None of the downed oaks and pine fell on the house, so we just have lots of cleanup. Most home damage in the area is due to trees on houses. We spent the day of the storm at a friend’s in St. Francesville after sleeping in a Natchez, Ms. truckstop with our 14 cats, 2 dogs and a 16″ telescope in 2 fullsized pickups. Even in St. Francisville, trees were going down all around us and the electrical grid was trashed. Here in Ponchatoula, we were without power for a week. That also meant we were without water as we have a well and pump. However, we consider ourselves very lucky.

A word about the Baptists. My dad and stepmom fled north from Covington, La. In Monroe, La., they saw a handwritten sign “Refugee Center”. They said they were treated like royalty the week they stayed there. They made friends for life and said they were made to feel like family. My dad even went to a church service, unprovoked. My folks gushed over the welcome they recieved.

When I delivered the truck to Pascagoula, I passed a large Baptist church. The parking lot was filled with supplies, 18 wheelers delivering supplies, volunteers, and victims seeking help. I stopped to see if this was where Terry Davis was. I was instructed to go up the road 4 miles to the First Baptist Church of Pascagoula. There the story was the same, supplies, trucks delilvering supplies, volunteers and people needing help. I spoke to some of the people involved in the relief effort and was really impressed. They have “Disaster Relief” units from states all around the country. They are all self contained and come with all equipment required to be self supporting. It was an inspirational scene. It’s a shame that religious organizations such as this get mocked, attacked and vilified. They are truly wonderful people and doing the work inspired by their religious beliefs.

You can print whatever you want here but don’t use my name. I’d rather my charitable contributions be private. My donation policy is to always outdo the Clintons and Gores. However, this morning I read that Gore paid for a couple to charter flights so I think he’s going to beat me this year. The only reason I told you about it was to point out that your posting got results. Terry Davis mentioned that donations have been pouring in.

Thanks to this reader and all of you for helping to Get Things Done.

More on helping out Mississippi Katrina victims here.

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