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CROFTON - Peggy and Mike Elliott, members of Community UMC, loaded up a rental with a grand piano and organ, pipes and all, and took them to some churches in Katrina-ravished Mississippi.

The instruments came from Canton UMC in Baltimore, which closed in 2000 and was discontinued in 2006, said Peggy Elliott, who is on the Conference Board of Trustees, which is responsible for the property.

When there were no buyers for the organ and piano, the Elliotts said they?d transport it as a donation to the Mississippi churches.

From the time Katrina struck in August, 2005, until January this year, the Elliotts volunteered to help with the clean up and rebuilding. Their base was First UMC in Gautier, Mississippi, where they and hundreds of volunteers from all over the country, were housed and fed. While Mike did repairs on countless houses, often supervising unskilled volunteers, Peggy aligned the homes to be repaired with the volunteers at hand.

The piano went to that church, and 'they were so happy to have it,' Peggy said.

The organ was delivered to Mississippi City UMC.