NATCHEZ &045; The education annex of Zion Chapel A.M.E. Church was filled to the brim almost wall to wall with clothing, toiletries, paper products, diapers and baby formula Wednesday afternoon.

And it was equally filled with evacuees seeking the donated items, which were organized by volunteers into different classrooms &045; clothes in one room, diapers in the next &045; in what sponsor United Way called an &uot;outlet mall&uot; concept.

A stream of people arrived empty-handed and left with their arms full of necessities and, in some cases, were dragging waist-high cardboard boxes full of items out to their cars.

&uot;This is just a blessing,&uot; said Lisa Bernard of New Orleans, who is living in the living room of her stepfather’s house in Natchez with her two children. &uot;We were out of soap and towels, so this is needed.&uot;

&uot;A relative let me know about this,&uot; said Yolanda Stewart of New Orleans, the next to walk out of the church with a bag full of items. &uot;We were out of diapers and wipes. And every little bit you can get helps.&uot;

Andre Woods was one of the volunteers who led some evacuees through the annex, helping them find the items they needed. As a home-health worker, she said, she has a natural impulse to help people in need.

&uot;Getting these things is their first step toward getting a new start in life,&uot; Woods said. &uot;And it helps me to help them out.&uot;

Standing near the table where evacuees were asked to register, volunteer Tammy Raymond said she already knew the evacuees in this area were in great need.

After all, she was one of the volunteers from Ohio and Kentucky who recently delivered truckloads of donated items to the area.

&uot;But I didn’t know there would be this many (evacuees) here today,&uot; Raymond said.

Mary Elmore of New Orleans was taking care of immediate necessities at the church Wednesday. Next on her list &045; finding whether her brother, Charles Christmas, is still alive. Finding work and a place to live.

But just for a second, she stopped to give thanks for the donated clothes she held in her hands.

&uot;The people of Natchez,&uot; Elmore said, &uot;have just been great.&uot;