Big Cat 1055 WLVK and KOOL 103.5 WASE Teamed Up with Maximum Transportation and You to make a difference in the lives of those taking refuge at the Houston Astrodome after the tragic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina... Thus "Operation Hurricane Helper"

was Born!

August 29, 2005, while the rest of the world held it's breath, New Orleans, Mississippi and other parts of the south were hit with the first catagory 5 hurricane of 2005 which packed winds of up to 160 miles per hour!  By the time it made land fall, it had been downgraded to a category 4 but the damage was already done!  We all watched as the events unfolded with disbelief!  Shocked at the tragedy, loss and despair countless people were suffering.  Then, we decided we could do something to help!  That's when Operation Hurricane Helper was born! Lo and behold, miles away from the frenzy in the small town of Elizabethtown, KY, with the help of our faithful listeners, over 20,000 pounds of goods and just shy of $10,000 was raised and sent via Maximum Transportation to the Houston Astrodome as refugees coped with their losses!  Here's a glimpse of the day's events as they unfolded beginning at dawn!

Kelly of Big Cat and the KOOL staff organize all the signs, boxes, tables and the people who were early, eager and ready to begin what turned out to be a long but fruitful day of blessing toward the Hurricane Katrina Relief Effort!
Young People show up on their way to school and donate their time before classes to encourage people to stop by and give!
Sunny Stephens, Mike Cummins and Officer Mark Johnson Posing by the Hurricane Helper Sign Officer Mark had made for the day's event letting people know where to go!
Early Bird Volunteers show up and begin the arduous task of assembling boxes, setting up wooden pallettes and assigning work stations for all the necessities that will come in.

To our pleasant surprise...schools, church groups, businesses and folks from all over began to come in and an assembly line was born in the parking lot at 519 North Miles!
We had no idea how this would impact the community so as the day began to unfold, we were just as amazed as you will be as you peruse these images from the days' events...
Whew...I don't about you, but I gotta take a break here! Can you believe the activity?  This is just a few short hours into the day.  Are you ready to continue on down the page?  It's quite a journey into generosity, goodness and the nature of mankind toward one another during hardship and tragedy.  I'll be honest here, YOU blew us all away!!  You are the Bomb Diggity as my 15 year old would say!!!!
Katrina inspires record charity and not just in the Heartland!
The public response to the hurricane devastation on the Gulf Coast is about to become the biggest charitable outpouring in U.S. history, surpassing the relief effort that followed the Sept. 11 attacks.

Private donations total nearly $2.7 billion just 11 weeks after Hurricane Katrina struck, according to the Red Cross and Indiana University's Center on Philanthropy, which tracks charitable giving. The total amount given to 9/11 charities was $2.8 billion. 

The Red Cross alone plans to raise $500 million more for hurricane relief. The largest expense: payments averaging $1,020 to more than 1 million families. Those payments will total $1.6 billion. 

Since Katrina hit on Aug. 29, Congress has designated more than $62 billion for hurricane relief.

Story By Thomas Frank, USA Today

Let's see what the Heartland brought in...

Cale and Staff work hard interviewing people from the Red Cross and other organizations, Country Singer Mickey Clark makes an appearance in the stifling heat and entertains all afternoon, Mike and the staff from Bunbakers feed hungry volunteers while "The Fishman"- Bob Merchant starts the loading process...
After 12 hours of heat and hard work...over 20,000 pounds of goods were packed into the truck donated by Maximum Transportation!  Now it was just a matter of Maximum pulling out for Houston's Astrodome and counting the monetary gifts and presenting a check to the American Red Cross Elizabethtown Chapter!  Let's see how that all went down...
What a moment in time!  Thanks to all those who gave and all those who prayed and all those who volunteered!  What an incredible team effort!  Oh...I almost forgot!  The Check Presentation to the American Red Cross!
Uhhh Cale...Let It GO!!!  Well folks...that's about all I have for you here!  I hope this page has blessed you as much as the event did me!  You were the bomb in helping out and making this a HUGE success!  We advertised this all of one whopping day and you came through like we know you would!  People are still giving and that's great!  Have an awesome day and we'll see you next posting!