Second printing OK'd for flood book, DVD

ST. GEORGE — The initial 10,000 copies of the documentary book and DVD "Portraits of Loss — Stories of Hope" have sold out, and a second printing has been ordered.

"We felt that if demand was still that great, this would still be an excellent way to continue to raise money for our local flood victims," Randy Wilkinson said in announcing the decision to order more copies of the glossy, full-color book and DVD.

All proceeds from the sale of 5,000 copies from this second press run will be donated to the nonprofit organization Virgin River/Santa Clara River Flood Relief fund. A board of trustees will determine how to release the funds to those who apply for relief.

"We continued to get such an overwhelming response from local people, as well as people from neighboring communities and states, asking where they could get a copy of the book," said Wilkinson, president of the Dixie College Foundation, which is managing the second press run.

Zions Bank will cover the printing costs for this second printing. The books should arrive around the second week of April.

The project was initiated and completed by volunteers, with local businesses picking up the costs of producing the two items that document the January floods.

To date, about $1.25 million has been raised and donated to the flood-relief fund. Another $1.8 million is needed to meet the identified needs of those who lost property or homes, according to the group's Web site, www.utahfloodrelief.com.