Upstate groups show they care

From Staff Reports,

Groups have organized in the Upstate to help with the hurricane relief efforts. Here are some of the heartwarming stories.

• A Spartanburg driver -- Barney Bradley -- was one of two to drive motor coaches from Laurens-based Henderson Charters to New Orleans on Wednesday. Boiling Springs resident Cecil E. Ringer, co-owner of the charter company, said the buses have made two trips from New Orleans to the Astrodome. They picked up a third group of people Friday en route to San Antonio -- a 10-hour trip.

• Tidewater Transit Co. organized a donation of about 5,500 gallons of water Friday from Spartanburg Water System to be delivered to the Louisiana-Mississippi area today. The water will benefit the N.C. Baptist Association's food kitchens, which are running out of potable water. Polar Tank Services in Spartanburg volunteered the tank, which Tidewater Transit's Cowpens terminal picked up so another Tidewater volunteer could deliver it.

The town of Cowpens also helped.

• The city of Spartanburg has begun coordinating "Spartanburg Bands Together" to raise money Sept. 10 to benefit the American Red Cross. Area bands and musical groups will perform from 3 to 10 p.m. at Barnet Park.

Gospel and contemporary Christian music will be performed from 3 to 5 p.m. Local bands to take the stage later will include Gypsy Souls, Bobby Gaines, Back 9, No Sweat, Saloonatics, Fayssoux McLean, Freddie Vanderford and Brandon Turner.

• The city of Greenville has offered the Palmetto Exposition Center in Greenville to serve victims of Hurricane Katrina. U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., said he has forwarded the information about availability to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

• The Fresh Market will implement a company-wide program to aid the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Customer donations to the American Red Cross will be matched, up to $50,000. Customers can ask cashiers to add donation amounts to their bill.

Also, several truckloads of bottled water and nonperishable food items will be sent to the Gulf Coast area through a partnership with America's Second Harvest.

• Advance America is both matching employee donations to the American Red Cross and letting employees, on-the-clock, assist the American Red Cross with data entry.

• Members of First Baptist North Spartanburg are sending 40,000 pounds of water to a Baptist feeding center in Hattiesburg, Miss.

Some water was bought by church members, while Cryovac Corp. of Duncan donated the rest.

The center feeds 2,000 people per day and is out of water, associate pastor Al Phillips said. Randolph Trucking of Gaffney has donated a tractor-trailer and driver to transport the water, which will be dispersed by eight church members, who also will assist in clean-up efforts.

• The Spartanburg Cultural Community is partnering with WORD-Radio and Con-voy of Hope to collect needed items to send to victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Donations may be dropped off at The Arts Partnership of Greater Spartanburg, 385 S. Spring St. from 9-6 p.m. today, 1-6 p.m. Sunday and from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday.

Items needed are: hand towels, washcloths, pocket-size combs, fingernail clippers, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste (4 or 5 oz. size), shampoo (travel size), bottled water (by the case), zip-lock bags (1 gallon size), diapers, baby wipes, formula.

• Child Care Resource & Referral of Upstate S.C. is trying to coordinate a list of childcare providers that will offer free childcare to victims of Hurricane Katrina.

If you are interested, please call (864) 467-4800 or toll free (877) 467-4800.