AID FOR VICTIMS

Wesley United Methodist Church, 825 North Belair Road, Evans, has been opened as a shelter for Hurricane Rita evacuees.

Evacuees should call the United Way's 211 for assistance or go to the Augusta office of the American Red Cross, 1322 Ellis Street, (706) 724-8481. For information about housing, call (800) 621-FEMA.

REACHING OUT

PROJECT HOPE: The Broad Street Ministry is working to move evacuees out of the Ramada Inn and match them with host families, said Jennifer Hunter, the director of Broad Street Ministry's Project Hope, which is coordinating the resettling effort. Broad Street is a ministry of the Augusta Association of Baptist Churches.

Both evacuees and host families are being screened by the Richmond County Sheriff's Office before matching. About 51 families are waiting for homes. The final decision for housing a particular family will be with the homeowner, said the Rev. Don Wheless, the executive director of the Augusta Association.

More families and churches are needed to adopt a family and be responsible for day-to-day needs such as food, clothing and transportation. Baptist and Methodist congregations have volunteered, but others are welcomed to call.

Donors wishing to house an individual or a family, churches wishing to adopt a family, or anyone willing to contribute financially can call Project Hope, 825-4890.

THE AUGUSTA CHRONICLE AND AMERICAN RED CROSS: The Augusta Chronicle is working with the American Red Cross of Augusta to accept donations.

Make checks payable to American Red Cross of Augusta and mail them to Red Cross Hurricane Relief, c/o The Augusta Chronicle, P.O. Box 1428, Augusta, GA 30903-1428. To donate by credit card, call (706) 823-3211.

The Chronicle will print lists of donors each day. All donations go to the American Red Cross of Augusta.

Charles Goode $150

In memory of our Daughter Nancy Doolittle Eidson $25

Janie Lacy $100

Michelle Ewart $100

Bulbs and Borders Garden Club $100

Mary Singletary $25

James & Myrtle Carter $100

Jerry Jones $25

Anonymous $100

Michelle Woods $30

Willie Davis, Jr. - Former Commander of Pinkerton Williams Chapter #18, D.A.V $100

Mt. Olive Baptist Church $500

In Memory of Victor Gonzalez - Bassett Furniture Direct $270

Total: $1,625

Overall total: $36,016.08

AUGUSTA HUMANE SOCIETY: To help out with displaced pets from Hurricane Katrina, send donations to the Augusta Humane Society, P.O. Box 12035, Augusta, GA 30914-2035.

BANK OF AMERICA: The bank has joined with the American Red Cross to collect donations. Checks should be made payable to "American Red Cross - Hurricane Relief Fund." Donations are being accepted at the following banking centers:

GEORGIA:

- Center West, 2853 Washington Road

- Gordon Highway, 1749 Gordon Highway

- Medical Center, 1450 Walton Way

- Peach Orchard, 2820 Peach Orchard Road

- Walton's Corner, 3509 Wheeler Road

- Evans, 620 Ronald Reagan Drive

SOUTH CAROLINA:

- Aiken main, 167 Laurens St. SW

- Aiken Mall, 150 Aiken Mall Drive

- Belvedere, 315 Edgefield Road

- West Martintown, 441 W. Martintown Road

CSRA FEDERAL CREDIT UNION: The credit union is accepting cash donations at:

- Main office, 3749 Wheeler Road, Augusta

- Evans branch, 511 N. Belair Road, Evans

- South Augusta branch, 2574 Tobacco Road, Hephzibah

- Post office branch, 521 Eighth St., Room 101, Augusta

COLUMBIA COUNTY FARM BUREAU: The agency will accept monetary donations for the American Red Cross through Sept. 30 at its offices, 330 Milledgeville Road, Harlem. For information, call 556-6258.

MCDUFFIE COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM: The school system is sponsoring a Kids for Kids Campaign to collect items for children. It is asking for toys, books, school supplies, toiletries and other items. Drop-off sites include all McDuffie County schools, the McDuffie Mirror newspaper offices, Sears of Thomson, Regions Bank's Thomson branches and First Bank of McDuffie County. For more information, call Mike Love at (706) 986-4099, ext. 5015, or Robin Browning at (706) 986-4099, ext. 4032 .

NEW LIFE WORSHIP CENTER: The church is accepting donations of water, toiletries, nonperishable items and any other items that can be of assistance to evacuees. Donations can be dropped off at the church office, 3550 Morgan Road, Hephzibah, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 796-7880 for more information.

SUNSHINE HOUSE: The day-care center at 248 Furys Ferry Road is accepting donations of toys, clothing, nonperishable food, baby items and personal hygiene items through Monday. Its hours are 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

TABERNACLE BAPTIST CHURCH: The church's youth group, Protected by the Saviour, is collecting backpacks and other school supplies for children who are evacuating to Augusta and will attend school here. The church also is collecting packages of children's underwear and new school uniforms, including khaki pants, skirts or jumpers and navy-blue and white collared shirts. Items can be dropped off from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday at the church office, 1223 Laney-Walker Blvd. For more information, call Monica Moss or the Rev. Joan Harrell at (706) 724-1230.

EVENTS

HOOTERS OF AUGUSTA: Hooters will hold a charity swimsuit contest at 8 p.m. Oct. 4. All proceeds will benefit the American Red Cross. For more information, call 736-8454.

MUSTANG RAFFLE: Bruster's Real Ice Cream will conduct a raffle of a red 1965 Ford Mustang convertible to raise funds for the American Red Cross for Katrina Relief. The vehicle, valued at $25,000, is on display at Tommy Smith Chevron, Walton Way at Wheeler Road. Kendricks' Paint and Body has donated a new paint job and Redmond's Auto Upholstery has donated a new convertible top. Steve Foushee, a Bruster's franchisee, is donating the car.

Donations for the raffle are $5 a ticket, with the winning ticket being drawn Oct. 4. Tickets are available at the following locations: Bruster's, 1115 Agerton Lane and 516 N. Belair Road, Evans; Triangle Petroleum Food Mart, 3559 Wheeler Road; all First Bank locations; all Sprint Food Mart locations; French Market Grille in Surrey Center; Tako Sushi in Surrey Center; and The Jewelers Bench on Jackson Road.

For information, call Steve Foushee at 733-8135 or e-mail sfoushee@somco.com.

SECURITY POLICE FIRE PROFESSIONALS OF AMERICA, LOCAL 330: The organization will hold a charitable golf tournament for hurricane evacuees in the Augusta-Aiken area at Cedar Creek Golf Club in Aiken on Oct. 7. For more information, call (803) 827-9422 or (803) 640-4992, or e-mail pat815@bellsouth.net.

WHITE ELEPHANT CAFE: The cafe will hold a New Orleans-inspired benefit dinner from 5 to 8 p.m. today. The cost is $25 per person, and proceeds will go to the American Red Cross. Reservations are required. For more information or to make reservations, call Jai West at 722-8614 between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

GASOLINE PRICES

Here's a list of average prices for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline and the highs:

GEORGIA

Most Recent Highest

Albany $2.66 $3.19

Athens $2.71 $3.18

Atlanta $2.64 $3.12

Augusta $2.54 $3.17

Columbus $2.69 $3.07

Macon $2.62 $3.08

Savannah $2.67 $3.14

Valdosta $2.63 $3.07

SOUTH CAROLINA

Most Recent Highest

Charleston $2.78 $3.18

Columbia $2.74 $3.23

Greenville $2.73 $3.14

Myrtle Beach $2.78 $3.17

Source: AAA

SCHOOL CLOSINGS

The following area colleges and schools will be closed Monday and Tuesday per a request from officials to save fuel because of possible shortages caused by Hurricane Rita:

COLLEGES

- Augusta Technical College: New quarter will start Wednesday

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

- Burke County

- Columbia County

- Glascock County

- Jefferson County

- Jenkins County

- Lincoln County: Closed, except for the central office

- McDuffie County

- Richmond County

- Warren County

- Washington County: Closed, but staff will report to work Monday

- Wilkes County

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

- Terrell Academy

- Hope Christian

- Thomas Jefferson Academy

South Carolina public schools will be operating on a normal schedule.

To conserve gas, Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue is also eliminating all nonessential state travel and requiring alternative work schedules or telecommuting for all state employees where possible.

The governor is also asking:

- Local governments and businesses to adopt policies allowing employees to conserve fuel

- Private sector employees to carpool

- Residents to report price gouging on gas. Go to consumer.georgia.gov to fill out a form or call (404) 651-8600.