Three days notice. 587 volunteers. An additional 400 in attendance. Well done, Shelby County.

This county has been noted many time as being one of the most affluent in the state; the fastest growing county in the state and one of the fastest growing counties in the nation; having the lowest unemployment rate in the state; being the best place to raise children; and numerous other things to be proud of.

Perhaps the asset we should be most proud of – having the biggest heart.

With the intention of opening a shelter to provide transitional housing for a number of those displaced by Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath, Shelby County and the American Red Cross hosted a training session last Friday night.

About 1,000 people turned out for the training, 587 of them to commit to volunteer for the Red Cross.

That is absolutely amazing, but not surprising.

This is a county that cares. We have been richly blessed and therefore, realize our obligation to give aid when there are people in need.

Never in the history of our country has a natural disaster created so great a need, and Shelby Countians should take pride in the way we have turned out.

Whether it was to donate money or much-needed supplies or to donate time just as those 587 committed to last Friday, we have risen to the occasion.

Well done, Shelby County. You never fail to make us proud.