A Friend In Need Books, Cards & Toys
Residents
gather
toys,
books
for
young
victims
of
Katrina
Mohave Daily News
6 December 2005
By DAN KELLY
Tuesday, December 6, 2005 8:05 PM PST
BULLHEAD CITY - While Hurricane Katrina relief efforts continue in New Orleans through the holiday season, one Bullhead City resident has found a way to make Christmas better for boys affected by the disaster.
Aileen Mullaney is spearheading a Christmas toy and book drive here for boys affected by Hurricane Katrina in association with the Lucy Lawless (“Xena: Warrior Princess” actress) fundraiser “A Friend in Need.”
The collection point for books and boys' toys is at Scooter's Family Fun Center, 2750 S. Miracle Mile. The collection began Monday, and will stop Dec. 12.
“I found the project on the Internet,” Mullaney said. “I was looking through the Internet and I (went) to the Lucy Lawless Fan Club, and she was in New Orleans filming ‘Vampire Bats' when Hurricane Katrina hit. She managed to get out with the help of her crew, so that hit her pretty hard.
“She went back over the Thanksgiving holiday, and on Thanksgiving, her and a bunch of performers from around the country ... fed the workers,” Mullaney said. “A lot of the (workers) haven't seen their families since Katrina, so it was an effort to help them out, and show appreciation towards them.”
“In the midst of all this, one of the fans from the Lucy Lawless Fan Club found a woman named Lily Duke,” she said.
Lily Duke was evacuated from her home in New Orleans, and was told she could not come back unless she would volunteer to help with the relief effort, according to Mullaney.
“Next thing you know, she's serving out thousands of meals and water a day,” Mullaney said. “When trucks go in there, and they want to know who's in charge, the National Guard (soldiers) point to her and say, ‘She's in charge of everything that goes in and out.'”“I figured I wanted to get a hold of her, and I did,” Mullaney said. “It inspired me.”
Mullaney asked Duke if there was anything she could do to help.
“She said that she would love to have the help,” Mullaney said.Mullaney said Duke needs toys for boys for this Christmas.
“They (donors) sent a lot of girls toys for Christmas,” she said. “They have plenty of toys for girls. But somehow, people seemed to have forgotten the little gentlemen.”
The relief effort is also in need of children's books, according to Mullaney.
“New books will be delivered with the presents,” she said. “She (Duke) assured me that each present I bring in will be in the hands of a child Christmas morning.”
Some toys needed are sports items such as footballs, soccer balls and baseball gloves. They also need smaller toys like Tonka trucks for small boys.
“No weapon toys, please,” Mullaney said.
Other books will go toward schools that fall under Duke's relief effort.
Trucks are in need for transporting the toys to New Orleans Dec. 15. For more information on the collection, or to help volunteer, e-mail Aileen Mullaney at mullaney@npgcable.com*Article has been removed from the Mohave Daily News
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