NATCHEZ &045; Stories of kindness and hospitality dominated a called meeting of the Natchez Ministerial Alliance Wednesday at Natchez Church of God on McNeely Road.

Bishop Stanley Searcy reported that his congregation has hosted at least 400 people since evacuees from Hurricane Katrina began arriving in Natchez from New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region.

&uot;We’re now down to about 200 because of placements we’ve been able to make,&uot; Searcy said. Members of New Hope Baptist Church have helped storm victims to locate family members in other cities and states and to help them travel to those places.

&uot;Yesterday, we got three 14-year-old girls to their parents in Plaquemine (La.),&uot; he said.

The New Hope shelter is assisting guests with forms such as FEMA and HUD, making connections for them at banks and seeing that doctors and nurses are available to provide care.

&uot;We’re trying to totally rehabilitate, trying to get them back on their feet,&uot; Searcy said.

The Rev. Paul Hayes, in a prayer to open the meeting, asked that God &uot;let us be instruments of righteousness, comfort and healing.&uot;

Earlier Wednesday, Hayes had begun with other volunteers to unload a truck from Cleveland, Tenn., filled with supplies for storm victims.

&uot;It’s water, food, laundry supplies, juices, milk, fruit &045; items provided by Operation Compassion sponsored by Church of God,&uot; Hayes said. &uot;Another truck is coming Friday.&uot;

Martha Mitternight, director of Catholic Charities in Natchez, told ministers to brace for continued assistance to the displaced. &uot;We see the needs continuing long term,&uot; she said.

The Rev. David O’Connor, pastor of St. Mary Basilica, said Natchez is &uot;a community called to serve.&uot; He praised the six out-of-state Red Cross nurses serving the shelters and the public school system cooks providing the Red Cross meals.

The community responded generously to a request for clothes for evacuees. However, underwear was not included in those donations.

&uot;We have a drive going on at Cathedral School in which the children are told to bring underclothes the same size as theirs,&uot; O’Connor said.

In addition, St. Mary has provided $1,200 for purchases of adult underwear.

&uot;People in the shelters generally are saying they are very happy with what has been done for them,&uot; he said.

Evacuees who are in hotels or in private homes are eligible to eat meals at the Red Cross shelters, O’Connor said. &uot;They can come to any shelter to eat.&uot;

Kathy Stephens, executive director of United Way of the Miss-Lou, told ministers that $10,000 was released to the Adams County Red Cross and $5,000 to the Red Cross serving Concordia Parish &uot;to buy immediate needs, such as diapers, baby formula and toothpaste.&uot;

Stephens said United Way will continue to need volunteers. Anyone wanting to help should call the agency at 601-442-1081.

&uot;People are getting a lot of personal satisfaction from meeting those who have survived something we’ve never seen in our history,&uot; Stephens said.

&uot;It will be important for us to help preserve the dignity of these people who have survived.&uot;

The day will come when Red Cross assistance will diminish, O’Connor said. That is when &uot;the good will of the churches will pick up where the Red Cross left off,&uot; he said. &uot;Emotional, social and spiritual support will be needed.&uot;