Published: November 05, 2009 08:46 am      

Red Cross Heroes ramps up to raise funds

PICAYUNE — About eight people participating in the American Red Cross Heroes program will be working to raise money that will aid residents of this county.

The Red Cross Heroes program takes place every year and works to raise about $10,000 that will be used to help needy families in Pearl River County.

Red Cross representative Lorena Diaz held a Heroes campaign kick off at Picayune’s primary fire station Tuesday afternoon to meet with some of the eight heroes that have joined the program so far. She said she is still looking for two more heroes.

Several of the volunteers have already promised to use events or other fund raising activities to help reach the $10,000 goal. Brooke Rester with Coast Electric said the organization is holding a number of food-based fund raisers as well as raffling off gift baskets. So far the first of the events, a spaghetti dinner, raised about $160.

The Picayune Fire Department also will help the Red Cross raise money with a two-day of a boot drive — Friday, Nov. 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 14,, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the intersection of Canal Street and U.S. 11. Fire Chief Keith Brown said that the last time the department held a boot drive for the Heroes campaign firefighters were able to raise about $3,500.

Diaz said the local bowling alley, Pine Tree Lanes, also is participating in the effort. The business will hold a single-doubles tournament that will feature door prizes. Single teams will be charged $15 while double teams will be charged $30 to participate. The price will include three games and shoe rentals. There will be two separate times for the bowling event — Nov. 28, the first at 1 p.m. and the second at 4:30 p.m. Anyone interested in participating in the tournament is asked to pre-register by calling 601-799-2081.

Some of the other Heroes’ participants will be telephoning and asking people to donate online by visiting the Red Cross Heroes Web site at http://www.redcross-heroes.com/heroes/pearl. Prospective donors can choose a Hero by clicking on the that person’s picture and then clicking on the “donate” button.

Other participants include the Poplarville Fire Department which will hold boot drives the same days as the Picayune Fire Department, Poplarville High School Junior Red Cross Club, Poplarville AARP, Rita Diggs-Jones and Beth Pinson.

According to an e-mail sent out by Diaz, Pearl River County benefited from funds raised in last year’s campaign to the tune of about $24,000. About $22,000 of that was used to assist 31 families whose homes were affected by fires, while the balance helped 24 families with their electric bills.