Until recently, I’d bet most people in the Mid-Ohio Valley had never even heard of Parkersburg, Iowa .

But that hasn’t stopped local folks from giving money to help the people of that ravaged community, and others affected by a deadly tornado season, to get back on their feet.

For about 36 hours on May 27-28, at our invitation, the Mid-Ohio Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross set up camp here outside of WTAP, to collect money to help fund the Red Cross’s disaster relief efforts in Parkersburg, Iowa , and elsewhere.

And thanks to all of you giving people in the Mid-Ohio Valley , they were able to collect more than $10,000.

For that I am truly grateful.

Think of it.

Who around here actually KNOWS anyone who lives in Parkersburg, Iowa ? I’d bet almost no one.

What is gasoline costing people these days? Four dollars a gallon or more.

Are people hearing a lot about a mortgage crisis, even though the actual number of people affected in the Mid-Ohio Valley is small?  You bet.

But nonetheless, you took time out of your day and money out of your pockets to send to complete strangers, in a community whose only link to our area is its name.

I have spoken with people in various parts of the U-S this week about this local effort and they are in awe of what has been going on and the generous giving that has been happening.

I tell them while I am blown away by the actual amount that you have given I am NOT surprised by the fact that so many of you have opened your hearts and opened your wallets to help others.

And I tell them that is why I am proud to call the Mid-Ohio Valley my home.

Thanks to you for giving, thanks to the Red Cross staff and volunteers who have manned the booth, thanks to the folks in WTAP’s News and production Departments for using their skill to help us do this work, and thanks to Tim Horton’s for donating the coffee and donuts to keep the volunteers and donors warm on Wednesday morning, May 28.