Katrina Links Hearts With Wallets

From little kids and their lemonade stands to corporate America's deep pockets. We just can't seem to give enough, CBS News Correspondent Jim Axelrod reports.

"Helping Americans, helping out people, that's what we're doing," says a bus driver.

So far Americans have given $587 million to victims of Katrina. In the 10 days after 9/11, Americans donated $239 million. In the nine days following the tsunami, $163 million. The response to Katrina dwarfs it all.

In the link between heart and wallet seems to be some vital connection Americans must make right now.

"I just keep looking at my kids. I just keep looking at my kids," a tearful Stephon Marbury tells reporters at a press conference.

It was all over Marbury's face. The pro basketball star is giving half a million dollars to relief efforts. That well-deserved image of the self-absorbed athlete living on "planet me?" Katrina blew that away as well.

Everyone wants to do something. It's why buses rolled from New York. Back hoes from South Carolina.

It's why New Yorker Hector Hoyos dropped $10,000 on supplies he's driving south himself. When word got out, people just started bringing stuff. Forty tons worth. One truck turned into 17.

Asked if he was surprised at the support he's received, Hoyos replied that he was, "shocked."

Wal-Mart's made the largest relief donation so far: $17 million.

Well that depends how you measure. A ball Hoyos has came from a woman who's little boy died a few months ago.

"She went into her son's bedroom. She packed everything up. She came over here and donated it and she gave me this ball and she said, 'this is a very special ball. Make sure it gets to a special kid in Louisiana,'" Hoyos recalls.

The convoy left this morning. As soon as this weekend some special kid should be bouncing one very special ball.