As we get ready for another week of work and play, let’s take a look at the good news that made headlines last week.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, there’s plenty of work to be done &045; by evacuees, to get their lives and homes together, and by local residents, to help take care of evacuees needs and, in many cases, to help them set up homes here.

But much is already being done by Miss-Lou residents and even outside groups and agencies to address such needs &045; and that’s good news.

We cite the following as just a few examples:

Local residents organized a benefit concert that, in addition to raising money for hurricane victims, provided evacuees with a place to have fun and forget their troubles, at least for a little while.

The Storefront Mission, the First Baptist Church and the former seventh-grade school in Ferriday, as well as Vidalia’s Riverview RV Park, served as places where evacuees could go to get supplies.

The Town of Vidalia opened the former Lorraine’s restaurant on the riverfront as a center for anyone needing information about relief efforts in Concordia Parish. The town volunteered personnel to man the telephones.

The center also served as a meeting site for local government, businesses and the Red Cross to coordinate their efforts.

The United Way and other groups organized an &uot;outlet mall&uot; at Zion Chapel A.M.E. Church for evacuees to pick up clothing, toiletries and other supplies for free.

The Ministerial Alliance and its individual members and their churches have been proactive in organizing individual and collective ministries to help evacuees.

Those range from clothing drives to opening churches’ doors as shelters for evacuees.

These are just a few groups working to help meet evacuees’ needs. We hope they’ll continue to work together after the storm is long past.