El Paso Woman Opens Home To Many Displaced Relatives

EL PASO, TX — Monique Cook knows what it’s like to entertain family. She just doesn’t remember having so many relatives staying over at her house at once.

The El Paso woman has opened her home to at least a dozen members of her extended family, all evacuees from New Orleans, where thevast majorityof houses were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Katrina a week ago.

“I just never thought I would be in a situation where my family who has so much had nothing,” Cook said.

“We were so glad she’s out here in El Paso. We didn’t know what to do with ourselves,” onerelative said.

“I’ve been trying to get them here for a very long time. I never thought I would get them here at one time,” Cook said.

Fortunately, several of Cook’s friends have provided supplies for her burgeoning brood. Items such as canned foods, cereals and soap are proving to be invaluable.

“I have a three-bedroom house,” Cook said. “The couches are full. Thankfully, my neighbors have been opening their doors.”

“They see the Louisiana license plates on the vehicles outside and they just stop and give us things,” she said.