Today is the Labor Day holiday, but this is no time for rest. Our community has opened its doors to thousands of people from New Orleans and the gulf coast who need help in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

These new residents, our new neighbors, deserve our time and our compassion.

Ministers across the Miss-Lou on Sunday morning urged their congregations to give their time, talent and treasure, noting that we have been charged with what the Rev. David O’Connor of St. Mary Basilica called &uot;an awesome trust and responsibility.&uot;

&uot;God’s way of helping feed the poor is not to send 18-wheelers from his heavenly warehouse,&uot; O’Connor said, &uot;but to depend on us to be caring and generous.&uot;

Trucks were already rolling in over the past week and this weekend, donations both local and from far away.

A group of businessmen from Kentucky risked running out of gas to drive truckloads of supplies for the shelters here, while Catholic Charities has been so overwhelmed with clothing gifts it has asked that donations not be made again until Tuesday.

Here is where to take donations:

4Food: Take to the Salvation Army on Canal Street. Non-perishable and sealed items are best.

4Clothes: Take to Catholic Charities on Union Street, but hold off on donations until Tuesday.

4Incidentals &045; anything not edible or wearable: Take to Jefferson Street United Methodist Church.

4Volunteers: Call the United Way office at 601-442-1081 to be scheduled.

We are grateful for every volunteer, every donation, every hand that has reached out to serve in recent days.

But we must continue to serve, and all of us have been called upon to make sacrifices.

We do indeed have an awesome responsibility, one we will strive to meet every day for as long as we are needed.