By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
McKinley Elementary School did its part for hurricane relief by collecting $821.55.
It fell to Cass County's John S. Gore, on behalf of the four-county Greater Kalamazoo Area American Red Cross, to inform students at an assembly Friday afternoon about how their donations would be spent.
Gore grabbed the end of his necktie, adorned with the Dr. Seuss elephant Horton, though some children guessed it was Dumbo.
Justus Gage Elementary School delivered $1,294.75 to the Red Cross from its water jug accumulation of pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters and dollars.
Nearly every child raised their hands.
Gore said volunteers from all 50 states are assisting more than 1 million displaced Gulf Coast residents with hot meals, snacks, drinks, cots and blankets and $1.4 billion to rebuild demolished homes.
He said 156,000 Red Cross volunteers had served 12 million meals.
Gore, recounting a conversation with an Indian Lake fireman, noted that the Red Cross also helps families burned out of their homes and sponsors blood drives.