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Cigars for Relief
Posted: Wednesday, September 07, 2005
By Michael Moretti
Only a little more than a month ago, the cigar industry held its annual Retail Tobacco Dealers of America convention in New Orleans. The relatively close proximity of the event to the time when Hurricane Katrina struck the city leaves many in the business a personal connection with the recent disaster.
The RTDA has begun their own relief effort to try to give workers and military and rescue personnel a couple minutes of consolation with cigars as they battle to save lives and resurrect the city from the floodwaters.
Working with the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office, located southwest of New Orleans, the RTDA is putting out the call to all associate members to donate cigars, chewing tobacco, snuff and other tobacco products for work crews who are unable to obtain tobacco products in the devastated areas.
These sorts of efforts, while small in comparison to the overall enterprise, go a long way to providing some creature comforts and hopefully make the overall task a bit more bearable for the workers. It calls to mind the "Cigar Guys" who brought smokes and a moment of relaxation to those toiling at Ground Zero in New York City after the September 11 terrorist attacks, a small gesture but one that went a long way.
"These donations will provide a tremendous relief and temporary solace from their rescue efforts," said Chris McCalla of the RTDA. "We also ask all retail members of the RTDA to provide a small donation as well."
Other donations are being gathered and contributed to the cause by other members of the industry.
To join in the RTDA's efforts, send donations of cigars and tobacco to:
Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office
805 Crescent Avenue
Lockport, LA 70374
All tobacco products will be distributed for all work, rescue and relief crews through the State Sheriffs Association's participation at Louisiana's state relief and coordination staging area about 30 miles from Lafourche Parish.
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