NATCHEZ &8212; The Adams County Chapter of the American Red Cross helps families touched by disaster, large or small.

Now the Red Cross needs help.

The chapter needs volunteers and monetary donations badly, Executive Director John Goodrich said.

&8220;The best Christmas present for the Red Cross would be for someone to walk in the door, donate $100 and say, &8216;I&8217;ll volunteer two hours each month in the coming year,&8217;&8221; Goodrich said.

Since area industries left, the chapter has had to tighten its collective belt, he said. Since the chapter is funded mostly by local donations, they need all the help they can get.

And since the local United Way did not fund the Adams County Red Cross chapter, Goodrich said his organization is trying to make up for lost funding.

The chapter serves the community that supports it, he said. That community has suffered &8220;a lot of house fires this year,&8221; among other things, to which the chapter

has given aid, Goodrich said.

&8220;We get 2 a.m. emergency calls and go to the scene,&8221; he said.

While spur-of-the-moment volunteers are appreciated, things run a lot more smoothly if volunteers take preparedness classes before a disaster strikes, Goodrich said.

Overall, the chapter needs active volunteers and donations, he said.

&8220;The Red Cross has made a commitment to the community,&8221; he said. &8220;We need the community to start making a commitment to us.&8221;