thousands respond

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CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Dan Noonan-Day, 7, lives half a continent away from the destruction of Hurricane Katrina. But the Cedar Falls second-grader is doing his bit to help the hurricane victims.He set up a lemonade stand near his home. In the first hour alone, Dan sold $20 worth of lemonade.

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BDN Copy Editor

While the attention of the world is focused on Hurricane Katrina hitting New Orleans, La., one group from Branson is trying to help people in the nearby cities of Madisonville and Ponchatoula.

The Louisiana Relief Effort, sponsored by KLFC Christian Radio in Branson, has organized several drop-off points in the Tri-Lakes Area for residents and visitors to leave non-perishable food items, along with other needed items.

"This area was hit very hard by the hurricane," said Pam Eserman, of Ridgedale, who has relatives in the devastated area. "These people don't have anything and the closest place to buy food and water is in Baton Rouge - an hour away. There is also not enough gasoline to get people there and back."

She said people just south of Baton Rouge were using cattle stalls as shelter. A tent city is being built in Ponchatoula, which is 45 minutes north of New Orleans.

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...they hadn't counted on the kindness of strangers in Lebanon, Mo., who were holding a radio telethon to help hurricane victims.

Residents immediately gave the family a place to shower, food and clothes, diapers and a free motel room.

Missourians offered almost anything they could think of to assist refugees hard hit by the Gulf Coast hurricane on Monday, from offers of housing to Teddy bears and IV fluids delivery...