Southern Illinoisans have opened their wallets and their pantries - even their homes - to help those most affected by Hurricane Katrina.

How much the region has given, exactly, is difficult to estimate.

Sandy Webster of the American Red Cross Little Egypt Network said the Herrin office alone has received $114,000 in donations since the disaster. That amount does not include money collected for the cause at local banks, schools or other sites.

"I suspect that amount will be much higher," Webster said. "For our area, a rather economically depressed region, this is sacrificial giving for many. These are individual gifts people are giving and that's incredible in itself."

Radio personality Pat Benton of Magic 95.1 has a long history of helping round up funds for charitable causes, and the generosity shown by Southern Illinoisans post-Katrina is no surprise to him. "The people of Southern Illinois - if you ask them for a nickel, they'll give you a dime," he said after a two-weekend fundraiser for hurricane relief

efforts. "This time, we asked for the dime and people really responded."

During the first weekend, Benton said he raised $31,000 cash and four truckloads of cleaning supplies and personal care items. The second weekend produced $11,000 cash and enough supplies to fill two tractor-trailers. Hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of supplies were sent south to the Convoy of Hope relief effort, thanks to the donations over the two weekends.

Local schools are also pitching in to help hurricane victims. Benton Consolidated High School students, faculty and staff have already raised more than $2,000 through various fundraisers and donations. Art students used their creativity to help raise money, said Jim Eldridge, BCHS art teacher.

The students designed and are selling 350 "Ranger Relief" t-shirts with all proceeds earmarked for relief efforts. Sponsors purchased space on the back of the shirts at a cost of $20 per space. Eldridge anticipates raising at least $3,000 from sponsorship and T-shirts and hopes to have a local business pledge matching funds.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale collected nearly $2,500 during the Saluki football game Saturday.

But it's not just money people are giving, Webster noted.

"One man took a week off work so his wife could help us in the office," she said. "Many local physicians have assisted evacuees with medicines and medical care. We've even had restaurants call us to donate meals to our local volunteers. It's just amazing."

Currently, the Red Cross is assisting 143 families, or 317 people, who came to Southern Illinois to escape the aftermath of Katrina. Some are staying with relatives, or friends or relatives, said Susan Rehwaldt of the local Red Cross, while others have no previous connection to the region.

As of noon Tuesday, Williamson County is now home, if only temporarily, to 88 of the evacuees, while Jackson County has 78. Union County has 28 new residents, Franklin County has 17, Gallatin County, 14, Alexander, 13, Johnson 12, Pulaski 12, Massac 11, Perry, 5 and Saline, 1. More people could come to the area in the future, Rehwaldt said.

The Southern Illinois Coalition for the Homeless has helped a number of families with housing and other needs. Sharon Hess, director of the coalition, said she has been amazed at the generosity of area residents.

"We had one man donate a three-bedroom home in Herrin for a displaced family and a Herrin campground donated four cabins for temporary housing," she said. "We've had people donate a refrigerator, an air conditioner, food, clothing, even Christmas trees."

The Southern Illinois Community Foundation set up donation sites at a number of participating banks soon after the hurricane hit. With just five of eight banks reporting, the foundation has collected more than $4,000 in a little over a week.

beckym@onecliq.net

ashley.wiehle@thesouthern.com