BLOOMINGTON - More help from the heartland is arriving in Hurricane Gustav-torn gulf states.

The Bloomington-based American Red Cross of the Heartland on Tuesday deployed its 11th person to provide hurricane relief. Karen Rhodes of Ottawa is on her way to Hattiesburg, Miss., where she will work as a sheltering volunteer who also will be available to provide mobile feeding from a Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicle.

Phyllis Bardonski of Hudson, who was deployed late last week to provide shelter to people who left their homes in Florida as a result of Hurricane Fay, will be transferred to Hurricane Gustav relief, said Scott Vogel of the Red Cross' Heartland chapter. Where Bardonski will be redeployed wasn't known on Tuesday.

Janice Miller of Clinton and Sondra Hayes of Danvers, who drove the Heartland chapter's ERV to Baton Rouge, La., are expected to drive the vehicle to areas affected by the hurricane, providing mobile meals, Vogel said. Hayes, director of emergency preparedness, is the sole Heartland chapter staff member on Gustav duty; the other 10 people are volunteers.

Other chapter volunteers helping with Gustav relief are Ken and Ruth Broquard of Fairbury, client case work in San Antonio, Texas; Adam Bryant of Normal, distributing supplies and materials in Alexandria, La.; Jim Kaiser of Bloomington, sheltering survivors in Shreveport, La.; Parker Lawlis of Normal, sheltering survivors in San Antonio; Donna Tambling of Bloomington, transportation worker in Alexandria, La.; and Lyn Willard of Roanoke, mental health volunteer in San Antonio.

Meanwhile, the Salvation Army of McLean County has not yet been asked to provide volunteers to help with Gustav relief, said corps officer Capt. Scott Shelbourn.

"We're waiting to see if they need more help," Shelbourn said Tuesday. The Salvation Army has served more than 110,000 meals throughout the gulf coast and is operating about 15 shelters, he said.

The Red Cross has mobilized more than 4,000 disaster relief volunteers and workers who are providing meals, support and overnight accommodations. About 45,000 people have stayed in 334 Red Cross shelters in eight states.

How to help

Anyone wishing to donate money to assist with Hurricane Gustav relief efforts may:

- Make a donation to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund at (800) RED CROSS or at www.redcross.org. You may designate that your donation is in response to a specific disaster.

- Make a donation to The Salvation Army at (800) SAL-ARMY or at www.salvationarmyusa.org.

SOURCES: Scott Vogel, Capt. Scott Shelbourn