By By ERIN VER BERKMOES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - The community of Niles is reaching out a helping hand to those who have been displaced by Hurricane Katrina which hit Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.
Members of the city's housing commission met late last week to discuss what could be done to help those who need a place to live, as for many, everything they once had is now gone.
The housing commission is working with Life Action Ministries of Buchanan to help locate families in the affected who don't have anywhere to go and are looking for a home.
Currently the group is working on two major things. The first is that they are asking area landlords who may have spaces available to work with the group to get these families a place to live.
The second thing the group is also working to do is to have local churches sponsor families and individuals who are coming to the Niles area.
If a local church would like to sponsor a family they can contact Jo Flock of Niles at 683-4242 or e-mail her at busturtle@quixnet.net.
Community members can also make fund donations to help the group pay for things once the families get here by mailing their donation to Life Action Ministries P.O. Box 31 Buchanan, MI 49120. Please indicate Shepherds Heart in the memo line so funds are allocated to the correct fund.
If anyone would like to volunteer, has a home in which a family could live in, or can help in any other way, please e-mail Kathy Joyce at kathyjoyce@yahoo.com or call (269) 695-1654.