All across Mid-Michigan and the communities of Isabella and Clare
County, people have donated thousands of dollars to benefit the victims
of this year’s deadly hurricane season.

The Lansing State Journal reported more than $2 million has been
raised
by mid-Michigan charities so far and more is expected soon for the
victims of Hurricane Wilma.

Dave Weston, blood services coordinator for the American Red Cross
Central Michigan chapter, said residents of Isabella and Clare Counties
have donated more than $125,000 to the displaced victims of Hurricanes
Katrina and Rita.

“It just goes to show that in time with what’s going on, Central
really
comes together along with the communities of Isabella and Clare
Counties,” Weston said. “It’s just tremendous that whatever it is, the
entire community and CMU has always stepped forward.”

Weston said nationally, the American Red Cross has raised $1.3
billion
for hurricane relief, but it is still not enough for what they
estimated for their needs.

“What we needed was about $2 billion,” Weston said. “Especially with
Wilma now, we do need more.”

The Interfraternity Council opened a “Hurricane Relief Fund” at
Independent Bank in the Bovee University Center, where students,
faculty, staff and members of the community can make donations through
the account.

“When I checked last about two months ago there was close to $50 in
there,” said J.J. Lewis, Howell senior and vice president of external
affairs for the IFC. “It’s not a lot, but the point was the Greek
community was providing students an opportunity to help victims of
Hurricane Katrina, and in that aspect it was a success.”

Mount Pleasant Salvation Army captain Jenny Ortman said they have an
approximate total of $7,931 and an average donation size of $152 from
the Mount Pleasant area.

“An interesting story about one of the donations is from Rosebush
Elementary School,” Ortman said. “They gave us $2,005. The amazing part
about it though is that their school has less than 200 kids in grades
one through four. That’s an average of $10 donation per kid.”

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