While many organizations are holding clothing and food drives, raising funds and hosting showcases among other events to assist Hurricane Katrina victims, one local radio station is climbing ladders to take its hurricane relief effort to the next level.
100.7 WBWT-FM The Beat held Raise the Roof for Relief at the Albertson’s grocery store on Tennessee Street on Sept. 22 in an effort to collect donations and raise awareness for Hurricane Katrina victims in New Orleans and Biloxi, Miss.
The event, which started at 10 a.m., called for 100.7 DJ Coco Lopez to spend her day staging a sit-in on top of the supermarket roof.
The goal of The Beat’s Raise the Roof event was to fill a bus with goods for hurricane victims.
“I wanted to do something to show people the importance of the need,” she said “It will draw attention. I hope people will say ‘she’s doing something so I can go grab a couple of cans,'” Lopez said.
Lopez, a graduate of FSU, is originally from Trinidad and Tobago, but she later moved to Miami.
Clad in jeans, a red 100.7 T-shirt, Nike sneakers and sunglasses to block the occasional bright glare of the sun, Lopez climbed two worn and rusted ladders to reach the partially wet Albertson’s roof.
On top of the store under a red EZ-UP 100.7 tent, sat Lopez’s materials for the day: a Life and Style magazine, backpack, boom box, two folding chairs and a megaphone.
Outside Albertson’s was an open 100.7 The Beat van filled with bags of Pasta Roni, paper towels, cereal, water and other items.
According to Lopez, Albertson’s put certain items on sale such as canned foods for $0.69, children’s books for 75 percent discount and water.
Lopez paced back and forth on the roof, slapping her hands against her legs as she asked The Beat listeners to contribute to the effort.
“I need your help…I appreciate you stopping by,” she said.
According to Lopez, the idea stemmed from a group of The Beat staff members who went to Baton Rouge for a weekend.
During Lopez’s sit-in, passersby on their way to the different shops in the plaza stopped by to help fill the station van with non-perishable food, toiletries and other donated items.
Lamar Richardson of Xcel, an entertainment and promotions company, passed out CDs and posters to those who gave donations.
“We’re just trying to help out and give support,” said Richardson, a sophomore electrical engineering student from West Palm Beach.
“We’re trying to get her (Lopez) off the roof faster than she might have to be out here.”
Contact Diamond Washington at famuannews@hotmail.com