Chance Rummel of Slippery Rock, a disaster volunteer for the American Red Cross Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter, recently returned from an assignment in response to Hurricane Rita.

Rummel spent three weeks in Texas working first in Jackson County assessing damage and relaying the information to Red Cross officials working on financial assistance for the affected families.

He then worked on bulk distribution of supplies out of the Red Cross headquarters in Baytown. There he organized people and material resources to ensure fast allocation of necessities to the community.

Finally, Rummel was trained to operate a Red Cross emergency response vehicle to drive the food and supplies into areas and deliver door-to-door.

The American Red Cross needs volunteers to serve on at least a two-week assignment to help the individuals and families affected by hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma and other future disasters.

If interested, contact the Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter at 888-217-9599 or visit online at

www.swpa.redcross.org

for information.

Forty-five people riding 35 motorcycles met recently at the Moraine Point Plaza Toys for Tots Warehouse for a benefit ride.They collected $350 and about 180 toys from American Legion posts in Butler County. A motorcycle riding Santa Claus led the group to the posts in Zelienople, West Sunbury, Harrisville, Butler and Lyndora.These gifts will be given to children in need in the county.If you are a parent or guardian of dependants and are in need, call 724-865-9852 through Dec. 9. The Legion Posts will continue to collect more donations.To donate or to volunteer to this effort, call 724-865-9852.

The Rodfathers Car Club of Butler recently donated $3,450 to the Butler Health Systems Foundation to help support the Diabetes Management Center at Butler Memorial Hospital.The 15-year-old car enthusiasts' group picks a charity each year and makes a donation with money raised through various fundraisers.The more than 28-member Rodfathers had the annual Cruise-A-Paloosa in downtown Butler, drive-ins in Buffalo Township and a car cruise as part of the Lake Arthur Regatta.Theresa Garcia, a BMH registered nurse diabetes educator, said the donation would be used for educational services for patients who have no insurance or who are under insured.<B>Fran Rostas</B>, a member of the Slippery Rock Senior Center, recently took third place in a statewide senior citizen's poetry contest sponsored by the Pennsylvania Association of Senior Centers.Rostas' poem, "Feel Younger as you Grow Older," was displayed during the association's state conference held recently in State College.<B>The Lutheran Service Society's</B> 11 senior centers in Butler County recently donated 3,000 pounds of non-perishable food items to local food cupboards.In celebration of National Food Bank Week held Oct. 17 through 21, food was collected at each senior center for donation to food cupboards in their communities.The following are the winners in the Zelienople Lions Club's recent Halloween Parade.<B>Floats</B> — 1st Place, Zelienople Nursery School; 2nd Place, Strand Theatre<B>Groups</B> — 1st Place, Marcy Delaney, candy corn; 2nd Place, Kevin Kriess, crane machine; 3rd Place, Jennifer Lachendro, wizard<B>Most Original</B> — 1st Place, Emily Fitzgerald, princess and the castle; 2nd Place, Robbie, Emily and Mathew Gregor, Thomas the Train; 3rd Place, Madison Amrhein, Pumpkin Patch<B>Funniest</B> — 1st Place, Skyler Kanley; 2nd Place, Cody Sheets; 3rd Place, Megan Shaffer<B>Scariest</B> — 1st Place, Jason Frontino; 2nd Place, Jack Kooser; 3rd Place, Terry Jones<B>Most Beautiful</B> — 1st Place, Caitie Shaffer; 2nd Place, Molly Begeman; 3rd Place, Kassidy Danley<B>Honorable mention in various categories</B> — Laura Kilts, Jessica Young, Hannah Thompson, Cassie Perry, Charlie White, Robin Turici and Gracie White.