Family Counseling Center of Kennett staff members arrive at Camp McClanahan to volunteer their services. Tommy Allgood, right, is coordinating the project directed toward the mental health needs of Hurricane Katrina victims. [Click to enlarge]

Family Counseling Center Inc. recognized the importance of volunteer efforts for hurricane victims and organized a plan to assist in the mental health and general needs of evacuees at Camp McClanahan in Kennett.

Several staff members loaded into a company van and drove to Camp McClanahan to assist the people there in obtaining the services they need to overcome the obstacles they are facing mentally, emotionally, and physically in the aftermath of Katrina.

Coordinated by Tommy Allgood, clinical supervisor, the FCC staff met in the Tabernacle building and disbursed in groups of two visiting cabins occupied by refugees.

"We want these people to know we are here to help them get the services they need," said Allgood. "Our executive director, Myra Callahan, is completely behind this project and our staff in Poplar Bluff will be offering support here at Camp McClanahan as well."

This will be an ongoing process for several weeks to come as counselors are being assigned rotating shifts. The goal is to supply the evacuees with resources such as therapy, psychiatric services, scheduling doctor appointments, and assistance with getting medication.

"The Twin Rivers Regional Medical Center staff has been very helpful in this aspect," said Allgood.

Allgood has expressed FCC's promise to be available to Katrina's victims during working hours as well as contributing weekend support.

" We want to be available for them to talk to and help them begin to process what has happened to them," hesaid.

Barbara McGuire, a therapist for FCC has become a familiar face to the refugees, spending most of her time at Camp McClanahan. When asked about the volunteer efforts her company is making she smiled and humbly replied, "We're just trying to do our best."