On Saturday, Sept. 17, an 18-wheeler filled with food and supplies headed north, from Okeechobee, Florida, to Franklinton, La.
The Okeechobee community has “adopted” Franklinton, a rural community that was hit hard by Hurricane Katrina. Many Okeechobee News staffers were among the community volunteers who helped make the project a success.
Newspaper coverage of the project inspired a number of community members and organizations to participate.
Eric Kopp, Katrina Elsken, Lorna Jablonski, Dee Hamilton, Linda Cannon, Pete Gawda, Audrey Blackman, Karmen Brown and Angie Bridges donated their time before and after work, picking up boxes of donations from businesses, and sorting and packing canned goods and supplies during the week-long relief drive. Many other staffers donated food or supplies. Eric, Katrina, Lorna, Karmen and Angie also helped load the truck on Saturday, Sept. 17.
The hurricane relief effort was personal to Okeechobee News staffers who suffered their own hurricane losses last year. They know what the people in Franklinton are going through. The small town of Okeechobee made sure the residents of their adopted town knew that someone cared.
