VIDALIA &045;&045; It only took four tanks of gas and 22 hours to get here, but for Glen Cook and John Bracero &045;&045; and the many citizens of Peekskill, N.Y. who helped them &045;&045; it was worth it.

The two men brought a truck full of supplies, including water, food, clothing and personal items, from New York to Concordia Parish in the first of many planned trips to areas affected by hurricanes.

&uot;We’re coordinating with local churches to deliver this stuff and get it out to people who need it,&uot; Cook said.

The group and members of Union Baptist Church, including pastor Carl Smith, will hand out supplies to evacuees at the church at 9:30 a.m. today. Union Baptist is located south of Vidalia on Louisiana 131 near Louisiana 15.

The shipment was put together by people from the Peekskill community, Cook said.

&uot;There area lot of people interested in sending items down,&uot; Cook said. &uot;Some people are worried about giving to the Salvation Army or the Red Cross because they can’t see where it’s going. We’re documenting this so we can show them where it’s going.&uot;

For local church officials, the supplies are a blessing, allowing them to help local evacuees.

&uot;It’s a blessing that they came down all the way from New York,&uot; Union Baptist Church Deacon Donnell Cupit said.

Bracero’s daughter is married to a soldier stationed in Louisiana, so he’s hoping to see her while on the trip down here, he said.