The devastating hurricane that crippled parts of Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi has brought out an overwhelming amount of relief efforts, from not only the private sector and corporations but also celebrities and foreign nations.

The home furnishings industry is among those offering support, either with product, money or time.

Federated Department Stores is asking shoppers to help it raise $3 million for the cause; it will match funds up to $1 million. The money will be split evenly between the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. Internally, the company has set up an online system by which employees can make personal donations directly to the American Red Cross and/or Salvation Army. All employee contributions will be matched on a dollar-for-dollar basis, up to $500,000, by a company contribution to The David May Employees Trust Fund. This fund was set up for employee assistance by The May Department Stores Company, which merged with Federated on Aug. 30. The David May Trust then will disburse funds directly to Federated/May employees and their families impacted by Katrina and subsequent flooding.

Wild Apple Graphic's newly signed artist, Jennifer Garant, is donating all her artist print royalties for the next 12 months to Hurricane 2005 Relief Fund of the American Red Cross. Garant said she feels passionate about the strong artist community in New Orleans and has traveled there on vacations for the last 20 years.

Retail automation vendor Profitsystems bought a trailer load of water, batteries and cleaning supplies and sent it to the New Orleans area Sept. 1. The company also has contacted retail clients to offer support dealing with insurance companies and getting operations back up and running.

Grand Furniture, Virginia Beach, Va., is sending two trailers with bedding, clothing, food, water and other supplies. Helping in the effort are Ashley Furniture, which is providing a trailer, and bedding manufacturers King Koil of Norfolk, Va., Symbol of Richmond, Va., and Spring Air of Greensboro, N.C.

W.S. Badcock Corp., Mulberry, Fla., will donate $50,000 to the Red Cross and Salvation Army. In addition, the company will match contributions from its employees. Members of the management team will contribute a percentage of their annual salaries. Badcock also will work with national relief organizations to help provide jobs and housing for displaced families.

Wicker and rattan furniture importer Padma's Plantation plans to donate 1% of the proceeds from sales at the upcoming High Point market to a charity helping hurricane victims. Then it will help furnish a home built as part of the rebuilding blitz planned by Habitat for Humanity.

Home Accent Today's parent company, Reed Elsevier, has donated $150,000 for hurricane relief to the American Red Cross and is organizing employee fund and supply drives across the country.

Wal-Mart has contributed about $17 million so far and will establish mini-stores in areas impacted by the hurricane where it will give away clothing, diapers, food, toiletries, bedding and water to victims.

Ikea, which has no stores in the affected area, is selling a specially designed cushion in the shape of a heart for $9.99. The cushions will be available at all 24 Ikea stores through Sept. 30 and all money raised will be donated to the disaster relief fund. The retailer also is matching the personal donations of its employees up to $250,000, and is working on a long-term plan to donate $1 million worth of home furnishings as victims work to rebuild their homes.

Importer Powell Co. has donated the entire contents of its Tupelo market showroom to a group of firefighters there who are preparing housing for those displaced by Gulf Coast flooding. Marty Libowsky, a sales representative for Powell, purchased 150 pairs of shoes, carts of non-perishable food and gasoline for the Katrina relief effort on behalf of 100 Angels, a charitable industry foundation he created. Retailers or manufacturers who want to help with the housing project in Tupelo and/or the 100 Angels Foundation can contact Libowsky at 205-368-4815.

Mario & Marielena is pledging 10% of all its fabric by the yard sales in September and October to help the American Red Cross.

The Tupelo Furniture Market is allowing its large parking lots to be used as staging areas to park recreational vehicles that are being donated to the relief effort. The effort, coordinated by the Tupelo-based American Family Assn., will provide the RV's to families whose homes were destroyed by the storm.

Jean Mollard of Artifacts, in Palestine, Texas (three hours from Houston), said Palestine has several facilities with warehouse space available for leasing for businesses unable to find space for their container shipments in the Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama regions. Artifacts' warehouse has 20,000 extra square feet, plus office space, and it has the capacity to process shipments. Contact Mollard at 800-678-4178 or 903-729-4178; or e-mail artifacts_inc@yahoo.com.

The National Furniture Bank Assn. is rallying retailers, manufacturers and transportation companies to help with the relief. Retailers can help by downloading a point of sale display from www.Help1Up.org/katrina and posting it in their stores. The sign reads: "The furniture industry is providing emergency assistance to victims of Hurricane Katrina. You can help the victims of this disaster and others across the country in need each year by making a tax-deductible financial gift to the Home Furnishings Relief Fund. Your assistance enables us to provide mattresses, cribs and linens to thousands of families who have lost everything. Your home furnishing retailer is collecting donations for this emergency response. You can also make a donation by sending a check to: National Furniture Bank Assn., P.O. Box 2902, Decatur, Ga. 30031.

Manufacturers can help by donating any scratched, dented, unsold, returned or brand new merchandise. Through an NFBA affiliate, a 170,000-sq.-ft. warehouse in Houston has been secured to collect home furnishings. The furniture industry, through the NFBA, is working with federal, state and local authorities to determine how to best serve those in need. Transportation and logistics companies are needed to ship furniture to the emergency warehouse in Houston.

The Home Depot and The Home Depot Foundation is donating $1.5 million to support the relief and rebuilding efforts of areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Over the coming months, The Home Depot will transport and house thousands of associates to the Gulf states region to provide additional support to stores and communities affected by the hurricane.

California-based Ross Stores is donating $100,000 to the American Red Cross and all Ross Dress for Less stores in those areas impacted will offer an additional 10% discount on any purchase made with a Red Cross Client Assistance Card.

Kohl's stores nationwide dedicated Sept. 11–14 to collecting clothes and shoes for Kids in Distressed Situations, a national charity that delivers apparel to disadvantaged children. All of the clothing contributions will be used to assist in hurricane relief efforts.