[mediaman]

Last week the children of Hapgood Elementary School came together for a good cause: Hurricane Katrina relief.

The results of their effort filled five trucks with about 70 heavy boxes full of food, cloths, toys, and toiletries. Some donated money for the American Red Cross.

"They need to know that we're all Americans and we need to help each other," said Marcela Hubbard, a Hapgood volunteer.

The bounty of Hapgood donations were taken to Wal-mart Monday, where Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee, R-San Luis Obispo, and a semi-truck stopped by to collect donations from members of the community. The semi-truck was filled with much-needed food, clothes, toys and books, for the thousands of people expecting relief from homelessness.

"There are so many people who want to help and we're making it easy for folks to step up and we're letting the people who are overwhelmed know we care," Blakeslee said. "The outpouring of support from Lompoc is impressive."

Helping carry the Hapgood Elementary boxes to the Blakeslee semi-truck was Hapgood Outreach Coordinator Manuela Venegas, whose son, Air Force Airman Tito Venegas, was personally affected by Hurricane Katrina when his two-story apartment in Mississippi was destroyed.

"He is doing a good job handling the whole situation," Venegas said. "I don't even think I could do it."

Blakeslee has partnered with the Southern California Gas Company and eight Central Coast cities to organize a Relief Drive Tour to raise support for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Blakeslee kicked off the four-day, eight-city disaster relief campaign in Santa Maria on Monday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The tour will conclude on Friday in Atascadero. Assemblyman Blakeslee will hold his Santa Maria and San Luis Obispo tour stops at the Tri-Counties Blood Bank office to support the community's ongoing blood drives. The final event will be a check presentation ceremony to the Red Cross from noon to 1 p.m. Monday at Mission Plaza in San Luis Obispo.

The community is encouraged to come out to donate clothing and toiletries. Meathead Movers, sponsor of the Internet relief bulletin board, www.biz4relief.com, will provide a moving truck and boxes at each location to receive donations to be shipped directly to the victims.

"Katrina devastated cities, neighborhoods and families. This is an opportunity for the enrtire Central Coast to partner together to help the victims of this tragedy," Blakeslee said.

Check contributions should be made out to the American Red Cross and can be dropped off at any mobile relief drive locations, or sent c/o Assemblyman Blakeslee, 1104 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. Donations may also be made via credit card by calling the local Red Cross office at 543-0696.