Relief projects span imagination

Maybe it's because local relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina victims have been decentralized, maybe it's because the Chapel Hill-Carrboro community is overflowing with creativity or maybe it's because the worst circumstances bring out the best in people.

Whatever the reason, Katrina relief efforts have been many and varied.

Beads have been hawked, bluegrass has been played, many a meal has been served and trucks have been filled as the community mobilizes to help the affected Gulf Coast residents.

The bottom line for all of these efforts, obviously, is to either collect things that will help out those in need, or to raise funds that can then be used to the same effect.

The real variety comes in the different ploys area organizations are using to convince people to donate.

Clothing, for example, has been a key need of the affected, many of whom had to leave with little more than whatever they were wearing.

The Daily Tar Heel started a new sock and underwear drive.

The Suitcase Brigade, which is being promoted in part by Missy Julian-Fox, of Julian's at 140 E. Franklin St., is a slightly more complex strategy.

Under the plan, the brainchild of Tom and Margie Haber, donors pack old suitcases or duffel bags as though they were going away for a week, substituting new underwear for their own, of course.

The supposed advantage, in addition to easy distribution, is that the program is an easy way for donors to do something tangible for the cause.

The packages, marked with the size and gender the clothes within are intended for, can be directly distributed by the Salvation Army, to whom they were donated, without the sorting that typically accompanies donations.

Julian-Fox said she felt the plan would meet need she had seen children in shelters express.

"They wanted their own suitcase, they wanted a pair of pajamas," she said. "It's those things that make you feel you have a place in the world."

There are three locations for the drop off of packed suitcases: Julian's, Home Team, 1721 E. Franklin St., and WCHL, 88 VilCom Circle Suite 100.

Julian's also donated cash and new clothing directly to relief efforts, but Julian-Fox noted that the suitcase brigade idea has spread to other reasons.

She attributed its success in part to the way the idea resonates with people.

"It seems to have really given people something concrete and doable and manageable and a way to help," she said.

Another strategy was employed by A Southern Season, located at the intersection of 15-501 and Estes Drive.

The company's employees wanted to give back to the community, so in addition to a collection jar in the store and an employee's collection jar - donations which will be matched by the corporation - the store opted to hold the CLASS-y (Culinary Lessons at A Southern Season) benefit.

The CLASS-y program is a higher-end fundraiser, aimed at bringing down $125 a pop, though limited seating limits the number of people the program can attract.

The benefit, set for Oct. 3, features locally popular chefs preparing demonstration dinners.

"I think everybody tried to give what they can, and using the means that they have," said Deborah Miller, the store's marketing and communications director. "And these are such popular restaurants and people think nothing of dropping this kind of money to go down in a restaurant."

"You're giving back to the community based on your own art," she added.

The chefs are not charging, so all of the proceeds can be donated to the American Red Cross.

Also popular was Maple View Farm's ice cream sale on Labor Day. All proceeds - approximately $30,000 between locations at Carr Mill, on Weaver Dairy Road and in Hillsborough - went to the Red Cross.

Muffin Brosig, the firm's office manager and an organizer of the event, attributed much of the success to the tangible nature of the donations.

"It's easy to give a 20 or 30 dollar donation and if they send a 20 or 30 dollar donation to an organization, they just don't have that good feeling," she said.

Brosig also attributed some of the approach's success to the activity's atmosphere, which included scads of people, a band and lots of sweet treats.

"I also feel that they feel it was the community coming together to make the donation rather than an individual donation," she said.

Like A Southern Season's pitch, there was an initial investment required for the program to work - in Maple View's case an eight to ten thousand dollar investment.

But that eight or ten grand was tripled, because Maple View took a unique approach.

A more conventional - and low cost - approach was taken by Cub Scout Pack 39, which held the American standard - a bake sale.

Gregg Gerdau, the troop's assistant scoutmaster, said the boys raised $188 from the sale, which was held at University United Methodist Church at 150 E. Franklin St.

He also said the event was a smashing success.

"They might have sold the table cloth, I don't know," he said.

While $188 may not be much compared to Maple View's take, some would argue it isn't bad for a bunch of second grade boys and some cookies.

And that's more or less what Katrina relief in the community has come down to.

There hasn't been a grand plan or a man of the hour marshalling troops hither and yon. Second graders have baked cookies, ice cream stores have given free dessert, chefs have cooked gratis and everyday Joes have given away a week's worth of clothes.

Katrina relief in the community hasn't been arranged in a grand scheme, but some might say the end result has been grand.

 

Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.