Local businesses, congregations reaching out to the many victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Date published: 9/1/2005

By JESSICA ALLEN

When Mark Westall learned of the devastation Hurricane Katrina left in her wake, he knew he had to help out.

He had seen the images in the media--cars under water, individuals searching for loved ones, and people sleeping in shelters not knowing if they had a house to return to.

The 45-year-old owner of Autobility, a car dealership on U.S. 17 in Stafford County, decided to collect bottled water and canned foods and deliver the aid himself.

"I remember what my brother and sister went through with Hurricane Hugo in Miami," Westall said of the 1989 devastation. "I thought this was going to be bad, if not worse, and these people will need some help."

He spent yesterday talking to other car dealers in the Fredericksburg area, asking if they could serve as donation drop-off sites. They agreed, and he has 13 locations on board.

He also managed to get other businesses and churches to help out.

The local car dealers are among the many Fredericksburg-area businesses, churches and residents offering aid for victims in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.

Ten buses from Quicks Bus Co. in Falmouth left yesterday for Meridian, Miss., where they will shuttle power company crews from their lodgings to staging areas.

Breg International, a manufacturing company in the Bowman Center in Spotsylvania County, is donating items to the Homeland Assistance Response Team, a company based in Northern Virginia.

Breg is providing mats that absorb chemicals from water, and personal equipment such as goggles and protective suits. A group from the HART organization will go to the disaster sites within 48 hours to provide aid.

Richard Bryner, Breg's sales director, said donating is "the right thing to do when people are in need."

Ukrop's and First Market Bank will accept donations to support the American Red Cross' Katrina relief. The companies plan to match the first $25,000 donated by customers.

Donations may be made in increments of $5, $10 or $20 as customers check out at Ukrop's. Let the cashier know the amount donated to the relief and it will be added to the total.

Cash or checks also may be placed in the Hurricane Katrina relief collection canisters located at all First Market Bank locations; checks should be made payable to Hurricane Katrina Relief.

Helping hurricane victims The following car dealerships are drop-off centers for relief aid: Autobility, 355 Warrenton Road, 540/654-5400 Fredericksburg Budget Kia, 5204 Jefferson Davis Highway, 540/891-7400 Manhiem's Fredericksburg Auto Auction, 120 Auction Drive, 540/368-3400 Rosner Toyota of Fredericksburg, 3507 Jefferson Davis Highway, 540/898-7900 Rosner Toyota of Stafford, 95 Garrisonville Road, 540/720-4700 Bill Britt Mazda, 5208 Jefferson Davis Highway, 540/898-1600 Noble Mercedes-Benz, 76 Cambridge St., 540/373-5200 Platinum Auto, 4802 Jefferson Davis Highway, 540/898-8300 Pohanka Auto Group, 5200 Jefferson Davis Highway, 540/898-5200 Purvis Ford, 3660 Jefferson Davis Highway, 540/898-3000 Radley Chevrolet, 3670 Jefferson Davis Highway, 540/898-4000 Safford Dodge, 5202 Jefferson Davis Highway, 540/898-7200 Shirlie Slack, 3475 Jefferson Davis Highway, 540/898-0310

Date published: 9/1/2005