Inside a Madisonville warehouse Tuesday, Jim Baldus leaned over a large cardboard box and reached for a pair of men's pants. After a close look he tossed them into one of myriad boxes lining the floor of the large facility.

        “Everything has to be inspected to make sure it's usable,” Mr. Baldus said.

Matthew 25: Ministries volunteers Bob (left) and Don Marcello pack relief items for El Salvador. (Tony Jones photo) | ZOOM |

        A volunteer for Loveland-based Matthew 25: Ministries for five years, the West Chester resident has helped sort thousands of items earmarked for needy countries.

        The group plans to ship at least eight tractor-trailer loads of clothes, medical supplies and other necessities to El Salvador.

        The agency specializes in supplying humanitarian aid to countries in dire need.

        Since 1992, the group has stockpiled donations at its warehouses in Loveland and Madisonville, and sent more than 10 million pounds of supplies to more than 10 countries, including Kosovo, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Peru and the Republic of Georgia.

        On Tuesday, the death toll from Saturday's earthquake reached 672 and was expected to rise. Officials said more than 2,500 people were injured and nearly 45,000 had to be evacuated.

        The Cincinnati Chapter of the American Red Cross is monitoring the situation in El Salvador, said Linda Fink, director of social services.

        Families and friends who want to check the condition of anyone who may have been in El Salvador during the earthquake should call 579-3955, officials said.

       To donate money or supplies, call 774-9444.

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