Suffolk residents have contributed more than $45,000 to the American Red Cross for victims of Hurricane Katrina since the storm ravaged the Gulf Coast about two weeks ago on Aug. 29, said Faye Byrum, executive director of the agency’s Suffolk office.

&uot;People are being very generous,&uot; said Byrum Tuesday. &uot;Devastation tugs at the heartstrings.

&uot;We have probably had another $5,000 come in today,&uot; Byrum said Tuesday afternoon.

&uot;Although some of it is coming from churches and organizations, most of it is from individual donations,&uot; she said.

Nationwide, the Red Cross has collected more than $600 million for Katrina’s disaster relief efforts.

Thus far, the local agency has helped 24 families who have relocated to Suffolk since the hurricane, she said.

&uot;They seem to be coming in here on a daily basis,&uot; Byrum said.

The Suffolk chapter has also sent three trained volunteers into the region to help with disaster relief efforts, she said.

Volunteer recruitment has been stopped until after Hurricane Ophelia passes through the area.

People can send contributions to the American Cross, P.O. Box 129, Suffolk, Va. 23439-0129 or drop them by the office at 109 Clay St.

Checks should be made payable to the American Red Cross, with a notation on the memo line indicating that the money should be used for Katrina relief.

allison.williams@suffolknewsherald.com