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So many ways to do good in a time of need
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Maybe you know someone who worked at the Imperial Sugar refinery. Maybe you know someone who has a family member who worked there.

Maybe you don’t. And you don’t need to in order to be struck by the enormity of the tragedy resulting from the explosion of the refinery.

It is events such as the explosion and fire at the refinery that has killed at least six and hurt dozens more that brings people together who before had no connection. Churches in the Augusta area have opened their doors, hearts and wallets for the families waiting at the Joseph M. Still Burn Center as their loved ones fight to get better. Churches locally have reached out to the families of workers injured and released and the workers with no job to go to.

There is much to be done and much that can be done. Blood drives will be held over the next week. Giving blood at any time is a good thing to do and it is especially needed now. Burn victims require many extensive surgeries and that means they need a lot of blood.

Imperial Sugar has established a fund to help those affected by the explosion and their families and has teamed with the United Way. The company will match the donations.

Donors can send checks or money orders to the United Way of the Coastal Empire, ISC Savannah Associates Relief Fund, 428 Bull St., Savannah, GA 31401. Bank of America also is accepting donations at any of its branches nationwide.

There are blood drives scheduled across the metropolitan Savannah area, with the response so great for the Feb. 22 drive scheduled at the United Way Effingham Service Center that it was extended to 11 a.m.-7 p.m. The United Way and SunTrust banks are accepting donations to assist families suffering from the disaster at the refinery. Checks should be made payable to the United Way with a notation of Imperial Sugar victims. Effingham Hospital also will be holding a blood drive Friday from 1-6 p.m.

It is the response of family, friends, coworkers and most importantly complete strangers that re-affirms the innate behavior of people — that they are good and they want to do good.