NATCHEZ &8212; Some sat comfortably on sofas thousands of miles away watching the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina on television.

These two decided now was the time to make a difference. They quit their jobs, joined the relief cause, gased up their truck and drove more than 32 hours across the country to deliver supplies to Mississippi and Louisiana.

A month ago, Jeff McCune and Matthew Conlon were average Los Angeles residents. McCune was working in the construction industry, and Conlon was making a living in real estate.

Then Hurricane Katrina struck. Seeing the images broadcast over the Los Angeles TV stations, Conlan was convinced this was the time to act to help the people suffering on the Gulf Coast.

&8220;The need was so great, so we quit our jobs,&8221; Conlan said standing outside the United Way relief assistance center in the old A&B Motor Company building on Seargent S. Prentiss Drive.

&8220;You can get a job any time,&8221; Conlan said, adding the time to make a difference was now.

A friend of actress Patricia Arquette, who recently won an Emmy for best actress in the drama series &8220;Medium,&8221; Conlon became involved with Arquette&8217;s Relief Spark hurricane relief effort.

&8220;Patricia wants to make sure (the relief items) go somewhere,&8221; Conlon said, &8220;instead of becoming part of the bureaucracy and end up sitting somewhere.&8221;

A new board member of Relief Spark, Arquette provided trucks, nonperishable food and plenty of gas money.

In one of these trucks, Conlan And McCune made their way across country &8212; first to Meridian, then to Natchez.

They will make their final trip to Lake Charles, La., before heading back to Los Angles.

&8220;When we stopped in Meridian, people were so blown away by us coming,&8221; Conlan said. &8220;People were crying. They obviously need help.&8221;

In fact, Conlan was so affected by one girl who gave him a hug to say thank you as other children clambered over a pile of toys that he has decided he is coming back to do more.

&8220;It was worth it seeing the smile on that girl&8217;s face,&8221; Conlon said. &8220;I want to bring our tools back to help rebuild houses.&8221;

After leaving most of their load of boxes filled with clothes, pet food, diapers and other relief items in Natchez, the two left for their final stop in Lake Charles.

&8220;All we keep hearing in L.A. is that everything is OK, then we get here and find out it&8217;s worse,&8221; McCune said Monday morning. &8220;There is a ton that needs to be done.&8221;