Red Cross Officials Still Shocked At Fundraiser Outcome

Sonora, CA — Local Red Cross officials are still tallying up the results of yesterday´s fund raising effort “Rescue Relief 2005.”

Preliminary figures show that at least $120,000 was raised to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Local Red Cross Director Carole Mutzner says the shock still hasn´t worn off. She says her organization has yet to come up with a final tally but, she says she does know “it´s huge”

Mutzner says she´s never seen anything like Wednesday´s response to the relief efforts. She says her office has about a half dozen people who “are counting as fast as they can.”

Meanwhile, Mutzner says people are still coming to the office to make donations and several other fundraisers are underway.

She says numerous children are conducting fundraisers in their schools, and many businesses are making “matching” donations with their employees. She says “it´s just amazing” that communities such as Tuolumne and Calaveras Counties would show such a turnout.

The Red Cross office is located on Mono Way next to the Junction Shopping Center. Donations can also be submitted online at Sac Sierra Red Cross.