While countless area residents have been able to help thevictims of the recent terrorist attacks through monetary donations,a Lincoln County couple has been given a unique opportunity toassist in other ways.

JoAnn Mazer and her husband, Lewis, joined more than 4,000 RedCross volunteers in New York city recently when the Pine Belt RedCross Chapter they are members of was called into service.

“They asked us if we wanted to stay for about three weeks and wesaid ‘sure.’ We’ll stay for as long as we are needed,” Mazersaid.

She arrived at ground zero, the area surrounding the demolishedWorld Trade Center, Sept. 20 and was joined by her husband later inthe week.

Mazer has been a Red Cross volunteer for seven years, working atmany tornado and hurricane sites, but nothing prepared her for whatshe has experienced in New York.

“It’s the most horrid thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” shesaid, adding that news coverage shows only a glimpse of thedestruction and loss of life. “When you’re down there on groundzero, it’s like watching a big screen TV, and there’s no end to thescreen.”

During the last week, she has been involved in many types ofmass care help with the Red Cross.

“We are delivering food to the command post and emergencypersonnel,” Mazer said. “We are also working at a respite centerfor some of the people who have been misplaced from theirhomes.”

Every day she spends at least 12 hours, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.,caring for the distraught New Yorkers and victims’ families, alongwith the exhausted workers who eat and sleep at Red Crossstations.

“If they run out of food or coffee or anything like that, wetake it to them,” Mazer said about the food that has been donatedand prepared by the Southern Baptist Association.

The two things that are most crucial to the efforts of theemergency personnel are counseling to help cope with what they arewitnessing and energy to keep them going, she said.

“I definitely feel like we’re helping because without the RedCross, the Salvation Army and the Southern Baptist Associationthese people would not be able to work like they are,” Mazersaid.

Although the work has been both mentally and physicallyexhausting, Mazer said the comradeship with five otherMississippians and Red Cross volunteers from other states hashelped her cope.

“We’re all tired and stressed out, but it’s like we’re brothersand sisters, so there’s always a shoulder to cry on,” sheremarked.

She has been moved by the amount of support America has shown inthe way of donations and prayers.

One show of support Mazer was impressed by was the many New Yorkrestaurants offering free food to workers.

“Everybody in this city and the United States is really pullingtogether,” she remarked.