Former Martin County resident Nancy Smith will return next week for a special video presentation showing the damage that Hurricane Katrina caused in her new home of Jackson County, Miss.

The event will begin at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25 at the Blake Library (John F. Armstrong Wing), 2351 SE Monterey Road, Stuart. The public and the media are invited to attend.

Greg Sowell, a videographer and producer for Martin County TV (MCTV-20), visited Jackson County earlier this month and toured some of the hardest-hit areas. The footage he recorded will be shown during the event, and Ms. Smith will share the stories behind the images, which depict gutted buildings, leveled homes, mountains of debris, and makeshift tent cities.

The event also will include special presentations to show appreciation to Martin County people, businesses and organizations who are helping Jackson County recover.

Martin County “adopted” Jackson County, a community similar in size to our own, following a column by Ms. Smith describing her feelings as Katrina threatened her new community. She retired there earlier this year after decades on the Treasure Coast.

“It is our hope that by concentrating relief efforts in Jackson County, Martin County residents will be able to see the difference we are making in the lives of hurricane victims there,” said Vicki Davis, the Martin County supervisor of elections and one of the leaders of the “adopt-a-community” effort.

Following are some of the efforts that will be recognized during the event.

• Martin Memorial Health Systems associates donated $9,000, which was matched by MMHS Foundation, for a total of $18,000 going to Jackson County.

• Martin County Sheriff’s Office provided the use of 10 patrol cars and one four-wheel drive vehicle.

• Riverside National Bank collected $1,500 in cash donations and nearly a full truckload of donated items.

• Armellini Express Lines has been trucking donated items to Jackson County.

• The United Way of Martin County has collected nearly $1,500 in cash donations from Martin County residents.

“So many random acts of kindness have come from this community that we may never even know about,” said Sue Hershey, another leader of the “adopt-a-community” effort and a member of the Martin County School Board.


Monetary donations are being distributed through the United Way of Martin County to the United Way for Jackson and George Counties in Mississippi. “United Way can direct contributions to where the community needs it most during the lengthy recovery from this disaster,” said Jim Vojcsik, executive director of United Way of Martin County. [CLICK HERE for ways to give.]

For more information, please visit www.unitedwaymartincounty.org.