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Last Updated:
Sunday, November 20, 2005 8:51 PM
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News Release
| Stories of Coast Guard Auxiliary Volunteers Answering the Call |
Date:
Contact: Aux. Wayne Spivak |
Fairn Whatley is a Coast Guard Auxiliarist from Mobile, Alabama. A member of Flotilla 39 in the Coast Guard Auxiliary Eight District Coastal Region, Auxiliarist Whatley, felt she could best help those who needed help the most by assisting at a point-of-distribution center in Long Beach, Mississippi.
One of the reasons she is a Coast Guard Auxiliarist, is the same reason she decided to go to Long Beach, to assist. It is a principle that her mother ingrained into Ms. Whatley's spirit - "It is more blessed to give than it is to receive."
So on September 17th, Ms. Whatley, as a private citizen, went with some friends from the safety of their homes in Mobile to help with storm victims.
Long Beach, Mississippi, was one of the areas particularly devastated by the strong winds and storm surge of Hurricane Katrina.
The distribution center was a collection site for supplies received from all over the country. Every day, deliveries of non-perishable foods, toiletries, cleaning supplies, roofing supplies, diapers, ice and water, mosquito repellant, can openers, and trash bags, just to name a few came flowing into the center.
Those in need would drive their cars through the center, requesting and receiving items for their families and many times for others who had no transportation.
"The need of these families was tremendous," said Ms. Whatley, "the generosity of people all over the country sending much-needed supplies was heart warming."
"One gentleman that came through the line told me he had driven by three times before talking himself into pulling into the line to ask for the items he needed. A nurse that had been on duty for 7 days straight told me that she had never before had to ask for help in such a manner. It felt wonderful to tell her that people from all over the country sent these items for her needs." said Whatley.
Of her experience, Ms. Whatley said, "Being a part of the Katrina relief effort was a tremendously gratifying experience. In the big picture of life what we offered was a small thing, but it felt so good doing it."
Ms. Whatley, an Auxiliarist, a citizen, a caring sole. Just another example of the diversity of members in the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.
The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is composed of uniformed, non-military volunteer's who assist the Coast Guard in all of its varied missions, except for military and direct law enforcement. These men and women can be found on the nation's waterways, in the air, in classrooms and on the dock, performing Maritime Domain Awareness patrols, safety patrols, vessel safety checks and public education. The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary was founded in 1939 by an Act of Congress as the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve and re-designated as the Auxiliary in 1941. Its 30,000 members donate millions of hours annually in support of Coast Guard missions. For more information on the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, visit us at www.cgaux.org. ### |
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