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Furniture donations lessen a heavy load for Katrina victims
 The giving continues more than a month after Hurricane Katrina tore through the Gulf Coast. The most recent act of goodwill came in the form of furniture, clothing, stuffed animals, carpet, an array of household items, and even carpet and toilets delivered on Sept. 28 to the Student Center’s Multipurpose Room on the Perkinston Campus.
The furniture and house-ware items were delivered from Blockhouse Furniture Representatives from Cleveland, Ohio and Collierville, Tenn. Detergent, food and other supplies were donated by Caldwell and Gregory Inc. through company representatives in Brandon, Miss., and Manakin Sabot, Va.
Becky Layton, Student Life coordinator for the campus, says, “These items were donated to campus employees who lost their homes during Katrina. We had several employees who took items from pillows to computer desks to replace those items destroyed in the storm. They seemed so grateful.”
Michelle Sekul, whose Biloxi home was flooded with eight feet of water and received heavy roof damage, was on the receiving end of this gracious effort. “My husband, Jesse, and I salvaged very few pieces of furniture, and the thought of having to purchase new furniture is too much to consume when I think about all of our other rebuilding expenses. When I went to the Multi-Purpose room where the furniture was stored, I was overjoyed! All of the furniture was brand new – some still had the tags and plastic covering. I was able to get a desk and a drawer system, a king-size mattress, two very nice chairs, and a bolt of beautiful fabric that I hope to make shades and pillows out of for my bedroom. You know, these people from Blockhouse don’t know me, or any of the other people who were affected by the hurricane more than likely, but they went out of there way to help us. The kindness of others is remarkable.”
Housing Secretary Toni Naramore, who was on hand for the deliveries, recalls a story that hit home with her. “One of the men from Contract Source had a huge stuffed whale that belonged to his nephew. He said that his nephew decided to donate this whale (his favorite toy) so that a child who lost all of his toys could have it. That stuffed animal went to an employee’s son, who also happens to be my nephew. The whale had been patched and sewn from years of use, but Ryan loves it like it was brand new!”
Ryan’s mom, Laurie McIlrath, psychology instructor on the Perkinston Campus, says, “Ryan loves the whale! It really expresses the sweetness of children, the natural tendency to give to others when a child is willing to sacrifice his own favorite possession so that another child can have something.”
McIlrath’s Pascagoula home was flooded with four feet of water, and the roof on the back half of the house caved in. They lost all the contents, save a few things that could be cleaned up…and she saved photographs of Ryan, thanks to her storing them in a plastic tub. As for the content loss, the furniture donations have helped. “I, too, was able to replace a few items because of the furniture donation. To think that these vendors thought of us is a testament to good business that goes beyond the dollar — to the compassion of men and women who cannot even fathom what we are living with and without.”
Representatives from Blockhouse included Joe Meluskey of JM Sales in Tennessee, and John Semachko and Dave Szomorv, Contract Source, in Ohio. From Caldwell & Gregory Inc. were James Pullen, southern Mississippi representative, and Kristan Gregory, customer relations representative (Virginia).
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