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ST. GEORGE, Utah (AP) -- A best seller in southern Utah is helping some families put their lives back in order after January flooding cased more than $200 million damage.
A second printing has been ordered for the documentary book and DVD "Portraits of Loss Stories of Hope" after the initial run of 10,000 sold out.
"We felt that if demand was still that great, this would still be an excellent way to continue to raise money for our local flood victims," Randy Wilkinson said.
All proceeds from the sale of 5,000 copies from this second press run will be donated to the nonprofit organization Virgin River/Santa Clara River Flood Relief fund. A board of trustees will determine how to release the funds to those who apply for relief.
"We continued to get such an overwhelming response from local people, as well as people from neighboring communities and states, asking where they could get a copy of the book," said Wilkinson, president of the Dixie College Foundation, which is managing the second press run.
Zions Bank is paying to print the books, which should arrive around mid-April.
The project was initiated and completed by volunteers, with local businesses picking up the costs of producing the two items that document the January floods.
To date, about $1.25 million has been raised and donated to the flood-relief fund. Another $1.8 million is needed to meet the identified needs of those who lost property or homes.
So far, the nonprofit group has released $100,000 to help shore up six homes that were undercut by the rolling floodwaters in early January.
(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
