(Editor's Note: The following letter is in regard to a community fundraiser for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, which was organized by Hicksville resident Donna Mutch. See photo on page 2.)

I wish to thank each and every one of you for all your generous donations. Your overwhelming response to my fire was amazing.

The people who we assisted included an extended family group who lived in the 9th Ward of New Orleans. As you know, the 9th Ward was battered by both Hurricane Katrina and again by Hurricane Rita. This extended family was evacuated into two groups. One group was relocated to Itica, Mississippi and the other to Austin, Texas.

Thank you to my husband, Ron, and brother-in-law, Danny Walsh, who drove 2,000 miles first to Utica and then to Austin, to personally deliver all of your donations. A very big thank you goes to Mr. Fred Masica of the New York Board of Trade and to the tree companies - Gelderman, Savant and FC Stone - he convinced to sponsor the trip.

The families were assisted and managed to bring some sort of relief to were at a loss for words at the sight of our efforts to help them. They are truly appreciative of our generosity and were very happy over the fact that people as far away as Hicksville were thinking about them.

This was a total group effort and I could not have done it without the support of every one of you.

Thank you.

Donna Mutch