Basketry shoppers help Katrina victim

She was speechless when presented with gift

Pictured (l-r) Rhonda Perrin, her daughter in law and the person who wrote in about Mrs. Perrin, Stanley Perrin, her son, Mrs. Mildred Perrin, and Kristi Brocato, owner of The Basketry.

The Basketry of Luling held a cocktail party/fund raiser on Aug. 26 to raise money for a family affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Shoppers raised $1000 during the event. The Perrin family of New Orleans was chosen out of many entrees to receive the money.

Mildred Perrin, 82, lives in the 7th ward in New Orleans. She has never flooded, so she didn't have flood insurance. She is on social security and her only source of income is from her two daughters who live with her; although one daughter lost her job after the storm.

Perrin and her daughters live in FEMA trailers outside of their New Orleans home. The home was completely destroyed, but they are slowly rebuilding without the help of insurance.

On Sept. 2, Basketry owner, Kristi Brocato presented a check to Perrin for $1000. Perrin was speechless! She couldn’t believe what was happening and after a few minutes into picture-taking, Brocato heard her say, "yes indeed!"