Farmland to match donations to Red Cross

MOULTRIE -- Moultrie's newest industry pledged Wednesday to double your money to help out America.

Farmland National Beef has initiated a campaign to raise money for the American Red Cross disaster relief effort in New York and Washington, D.C., stating that it will match every donation for the cause.

Farmland's campaign will last through Sept. 28, said Farmland representative Kathy Spurlin. Checks can be made out to the national American Red Cross-Disaster Relief or Farmland National Beef-Disaster Relief.

It would be hard to miss the drop-off site. The processing plant is borrowing Edwards Motors huge flag to adorn the building, Spurlin said. Farmland will be accepting donations at the guard house at the gate.

Internally, Farmland is raffling off a day's paid vacation and prizes donated by local businesses. Farmland representatives also are asking local banks and companies to donate money to the relief effort.

"We're proud to be able to do this for the American Red Cross. We hope that the community will join with us in supporting this worthy cause," Plant Manager Steve Fleming said.

The Red Cross will help people hospitalized and physically injured, survivors of the attacks and their families, surviving families of the deceased, residences affected by damage, evacuated residents, stranded travelers, including foreign nationals, those unemployed due to businesses being damaged or closed, the emotionally affected and rescue and other emergency workers, according to Darren Irby, officer of disaster communication at Red Cross national headquarters.

"This is going to be extremely expensive," Helen Sewell, director of the Colquitt County Chapter of the American Red Cross. "This is going to take more than we're ever going to raise (nationally), I think. ... We really don't think we have any idea yet. It's an ongoing thing, and we just don't know what we're facing. ... I don't think the government even knows how much it's going to cost."

For more information, call Spurlin 985-1599 ext. 2306.

-- By Lori Glenn