Las Vegans pitching in with donations

Heather Rawlyk

Thursday, Oct. 30, 2003 | 9:42 a.m.

Locals are pitching in to help their neighbor state in a time of crisis.

The Southern Nevada chapter of the American Red Cross, Las Vegas firefighters and other volunteers clothing and food for those affected in the California fires.

The need for drinking water is great in California, as residents there have limited water resources. Several efforts were under way to collect bottles and gallons of drinking water for firefighters and others in need of a liquid that most take for granted.

Distribution problems in California caused a plea for bottled drinking water put out Tuesday by the Clark County Fire Department to be temporarily suspended late Wednesday.

The water donation station at the Palms had already collected enough to ship four tractor-trailers loaded with cases of water to California in the past 48 hours, Barbara Dapper, one of the coordinators, said.

Organizers expected the drive to resume once holding centers in Southern California had room to accept more, according to Michael Scarselli, another organizer.

Local companies are helping out, donating cases of water by the hundreds. The Palms kicked off the drive Monday, donating 1,000 cases of water. Sysco Foods contributed 1,500 cases, Nevada Water sent two trucks carrying 3,000 cases, and Gourmet Foods, shipped 400 cases of SoBe drinks to help firefighters replenish lost minerals in the body.

Las Vegas firefighters were helping Dapper by accepting water donations at any fire station in the valley. Daily rounds were being made to each fire station. The donations are then brought to the Palms for loading, Capt. Phil Wyatt the Clark County Fire Department said.

Checks can be made out to the firefighters of the Southern Nevada Burn Foundation. The checks can be dropped off at the Palms, any fire station and at Washington Mutual Bank. Checks should be designated as donation to the water efforts for California.

For information about the water drive, call 942-7777 and ask for Michael Scarselli.

The Southern Nevada chapter of the American Red Cross is encouraging valley residents who want to help to call 1-800-HELP-NOW to make a donation to its Disaster Relief Fund.

Individuals with family members in the affected areas can call 1-866-GET-INFO for information about displaced relatives and American Red Cross shelters.

In addition, KOOL 93.1 radio station is collecting clothes, water and food for victims who have been run out of house and home.

The drive will begin at 5 a.m. today at the Smith's supermarket on Tropicana Avenue and Jones Boulevard. The KOOL KOOLer will be filled with necessities to help those in need. Once it's full, the goods will be taken to Clear Channel's sister station, KOCL-KOOL 95.7, and delivered to the victims, station officials said. The drive will last until the cooler is full.

For more information on the KOOL 93.1 drive, call 892-0727.