Farm Aid to help those devastated by Ike

SOMERVILLE, Mass., Sept. 20 (UPI) -- Farm Aid President Willie Nelson said his organization is set to donate more than $30,000 to families in Texas and Louisiana hit hard by Hurricane Ike.

The country music singer said Thursday that the immediate emergency assistance funds will be used to help those individuals whose lives were devastated by Ike and Hurricane Gustav, a Farm Aid news release said.

"We might not know the full extent of the damage yet, but we do know that family farmers will need our help to rebuild and to get back on the land quickly, growing good food for all of us," Nelson said. "Because we've been working with folks for 23 years in these rural and agricultural towns, we're able to deliver immediate support to farmers who have been devastated by Ike and Gustav."

The funds will be given to the Lutheran Social Services of the South, Southern Mutual Help Association, Louisiana Interchurch Conference and the Federation of Southern Cooperatives in $7,500 donations.

Contactmusic.com said since the organization's first benefit concert in 1985, Farm Aid has raised more than $30 million in emergency aid for those struggling nationwide.