Mardi Gras fund-raiser in city will aid victims

City employees want to help civil servants who work in damaged areas.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- City employees and area business owners hope to bring a bit of New Orleans spirit to the city and help hurricane victims with a Mardi Gras-themed event Friday and Saturday.
Among the organizers is Kate Huff, a Youngstown Police Department dispatcher. She said dispatchers and police, members of the Ohio Police Benevolent Association and the Fraternal Order of Police, respectively, are particularly concerned about police and other safety forces in New Orleans and other areas that are working amid chaos in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
What's in store
The event, a fund-raiser for victims of Hurricane Katrina, is called "Bail Out the Bayou."
Huff said Friday's event, a street fair in downtown Youngstown, will be family oriented until 8 p.m., beginning with a Mardi Gras-style parade at 4 p.m. At the street fair, there will be face painting, coloring contests, games and many other activities for children.
On tap for Saturday are a classic car show, Cajun buffet and other events from 9 a.m. to midnight at the original Jolly Joe's Sports Bar & amp; Restaurant, 3718 Sheridan Road, in the city's Brownlee Woods section.
Want to help
City employees want to help fellow police, fire and other employees working in hurricane-ravaged areas.
"The emphasis is on the devastation and the relief efforts, the people who either fled or chose to remain," Huff said. "The police, firefighters, street department employees are called upon to help the victims and most of them are victims, too. About 80 percent of the New Orleans police force lost their homes."
Huff said many businesses and organizations are planning music and other entertainment, carnival games and other activities to raise money for Katrina relief efforts through the American Red Cross.
"We mobilized all the people we'd contact in an emergency here, and everyone is very excited about this unique way to help," Huff said. "We hope the community will be just as excited about it and come downtown for some fun and support the victims of hurricane Katrina."
Huff said local restaurants are planning Louisiana and Cajun influenced special menu items. Jazz groups, musicians and singers will perform.
Children can donate
Children who want to donate a teddy bear or other stuffed animal for children in relief shelters in Louisiana and elsewhere may bring them to the street fair, Huff said.
Ambulance crews and other medical professionals will be available to give the stuffed animals "physicals" to make sure they are "healthy" before they travel, she said.
Red Cross representatives and other counselors will be on hand to answer any questions or concerns children might voice about Hurricane Katrina or other disasters and the children who are victims, she said.
Challenges
Huff said there will be a fund-raising challenge between Browns and Steelers fans, and scheduled appearances by Youngstown State University mascots, Youngstown SteelHounds and Mahoning Valley Scrappers mascots and possibly the first public appearance by the new SteelHounds dancers.
tullis@vindy.com