With visions

of the terroristic attacks two weeks ago still fresh in residents' minds,

the American Red Cross is making a simple plea this week: money.

Sheila Davis,

who works at the Newnan office of the nonprofit organization, said she's

been overwhelmed by the response of residents who wanted to do anything

to help.

"We've

had people get into their cars and spontaneously drive up there to help

out or bring supplies," she said.

People have

driven trucks of water and Gatorade to the site in New York, but Davis

said the response was so overwhelming that many of the items are waiting

in warehouses until they can be used.

Any other supplies

that are needed are now being bough within 45 miles of the site, and that's

where a money donation can be the best gift that people can do, she said.

The Red Cross

was also flooded with requests from residents who want to donate blood

and two blood drives are set for Coweta in October.

On Oct. 8,

residents can head to the Coweta County Recreation Department on Hospital

Drive in Newnan and donate from 2 p.m.-7 p.m.

The following

day, Newnan Hospital is holding a drive from 7 a.m.-noon.

Davis has worked

for the Red Cross for several years and has never seen anything like the

response from the Sept. 11 tragedy.

"On a

local level, we're usually dealing with a single-family fire or helping

to evacuate people fleeing a hurricane," she said.

Volunteers

have also flocked to New York to help with the rescue and recovery operation

and Davis emphasized that this will be a long operation and the need for

volunteers will pick up at a later date.