From Deseret News archives:
Give: Many forms of generosity
Thousands of people gathered Saturday in Draper to taste some Southern cooking, listen to gospel music and raise money for Utah's New Orleans evacuees.
Seven hours and over 3,000 full stomachs later, nearly $50,000 was raised for people displaced here by Hurricane Katrina.
Ken Garff Automotive Group, Skaggs Catholic Center, the LDS Church and other sponsors hosted a benefit gumbo dinner and community gathering for those temporarily relocated to Camp Williams. The event is part of the Home Away From Home Utah Katrina/Homeless Relief fund-raiser that will be followed by other food and donation drives.
About half of the initial 600 evacuees being housed at Camp Williams have left, most to join family members in other cities.
"This is great, it's very optimistic," said Joseph Stewart, one of 17 evacuees who attended the event. "Everybody's been great, and we couldn't ask for nothing more. I am enjoying everything — the food, entertainment and the people."
Molly Dumas, spokeswoman for Skaggs said the idea for the dinner came about after students at Juan Diego Catholic High School, part of the Catholic Center, wanted to hold a community event to raise money — not just for the relief effort in New Orleans but for the families coming here.
School leaders contacted other community leaders and gathered nearly 50 sponsors and a dozen performers for the daylong dining.
"I wish I could say this was the governor's effort, but this is your citizenry at work, this is your community at work and it is so great to be your governor during this time," Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. told the crowd.
Galey Colosimo, Juan Diego principal, said the first goal was to build unity in the community behind a good cause.
"We also wanted to raise awareness not just for victims of Hurricane Katrina, but Utah has its own refugee and homeless problem," Colosimo said. "Although we would initially be helping evacuees of Hurricane Katrina, long-term we want be able to shed some light on Utah refugees and homeless."
Entertainment included local R&B and hip-hop performers Alex Boye and Soulja, along with Jazz music and a gospel performance from the Calvary Baptist Church.
"What's really great is all of the diversity — it's the Catholic community, it's the LDS community, the Baptist community," said Kathie Roberts of Sandy. "I think it is just a great draw from everything, and we also just love gumbo."
At the University of Utah, numerous events and fund-raisers also were held to support the evacuees here in Utah and also to raise funds to help other victims of Katrina.
