In the wake of devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, the Town of Thurmont, Maryland and the citizens of Thurmont will lend a hand by adopting the rural communities of Olde Town, Kiln and others close to Waveland, Mississippi in Hancock County and collecting and distributing much needed supplies to the residents of this community.

A committee has been established to oversee the collection of donations which will be coordinated with Thurmont’s contacts in the Kiln area. Residents from the Thurmont area have just returned from a trip to this devastated area and are assisting the Thurmont Katrina Relief committee in compiling a list of items most needed at this time.

The Thurmont Katrina Relief Committee for Mississippi will be collecting hand tools (including much needed chainsaws), construction fasteners and materials, non-perishable food, household items, cleaning supplies, bug repellant, flashlights, batteries, paper products, baby food and formula, diapers and wipes, personal toiletries money and more.

The committee will also be collecting new children’s Christmas gifts through December 1 which will be wrapped and delivered by local residents in time for the holiday season. Holiday wrapping paper and ribbon is also needed. A complete list of requested donations can be found by clicking on Katrina Relief at www.thurmontfirst.com.

The Thurmont Katrina Relief for Mississippi committee solicited donations at the recent Colorfest arts and crafts festival weekend in Thurmont and raised over $900 in monetary donations. Volunteers walked the streets and set up a collection site near the American Legion in Thurmont. More donations will be accepted at the Halloween in the Park event on October 22, 2005.

Donations are accepted at various establishments around Thurmont and at the vacant Jubilee grocery store Sundays 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Wednesdays 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. and Saturdays 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Officials ask you to only drop off items at this site during open hours when there is a volunteer available to assist you.

For more information on Thurmont’s hurricane relief drive, please contact Chairperson Karen Kinnaird by calling 301-271-4811 or at katrinarelief@thurmontfirst.com or Commissioner Wayne Hooper at whooper@thurmont.com.

Katrina Yard Sale

November 5

The community gratefully donated their leftover yard sale goods on Sunday, October 9 after Colorfest weekend. According to Relief Committee chairperson Karen Kinnaird, many of the items will be usable for Katrina Relief donations, but some are not on the list of immediately necessary items. The items that are not needed will be sold at a yard sale outside the vacant Jubilee Foods store on Saturday, November 5, 2005 and the funds will be used toward the Relief effort.