Hurricane Katrina Victims

After Hurricane Katrina hit, Dr. Phil visited New Orleans. He met with the police chief, Eddie Compass, and agreed to work with him to put a program together to help his men get through this difficult time, including raising money for them. Dr. Phil revealed that Sam Pack of Dallas Five Star Ford offered to donate $50,000 to the New Orleans Police Foundation, which will go directly to help Chief Compass' officers, and LowerMyBills.com agreed to donate $50,000 as well.

Chief Compass becomes emotional as he tells Dr. Phil about his fellow officers and the current state of his city.

Dr. Phil talked to evacuees who survived enormous hardship, and were starting over at the Dream Center in Los Angeles. Elaine, 52 and disabled, faced enormous hardship leaving New Orleans. Pastor Matthew Barnett shared good news with Elaine: "We just got a call from a Pastor Willie at Celebration City Church in San Bernardino, California. He's made a two-bedroom, two-bathroom house available today, right now, for you to relocate.” The Dream Center, along with DiTech.com, gave Elaine $10,000 to help with her move.

Elaine describes what it feels like to be displaced in a new city.

The Blackwell family also evacuated from New Orleans to the Dream Center. They told Dr. Phil that they weren't able to evacuate initially because they didn't have transportation. They had to walk three miles to get to the Convention Center, wading through chest-high water in some areas. Dr. Phil assures the women that they've found community in Los Angeles. Pastor Barnett tells the family that Pastor Willie from Covenant Celebration Church in San Bernardino, California offered a 2,000 square foot house free of charge. The Dream Center, DiTech.com and Pastor Willie are partnering together to give the family $20,000 in cash to start their lives over. The women were speechless. Tearfully, one said, "We started out with nothing, and Dr. Phil gave us something. So we must proceed on and make better of it."

The women respond to the generous donation.

Darrin and Tea are a young couple that narrowly escaped Hurricane Katrina with their lives, and with the lives of their children, ages 6 and 1. Pastor Barnett tells the couple that they will be given a two-bedroom, two-bathroom house in San Bernadino, California, and the Dream Center, along with DiTech.com will give them $10,000 to help with expenses. "There is a string,” Dr. Phil tells them. "This is going to be a wedding present. You two tie the knot, and you'll have a wonderful home to start your life with and $10,000 to get rolling.”

Levitz and Furniture.com furnished the homes for the families.

Terry and Nikell have five children, including 6-month-old twins. They also evacuated to Los Angeles and found themselves at the Dream Center. Dr. Phil surprises Terry and Nikell with a gift of $10,000 from DiTech.com.

Dwight, 22, lost his home and business, and had to leave his studies at Xavier University in New Orleans because of Hurricane Katrina. During the evacuation, he got 17 members of my family out safely. He transfered to Cal State University in Long Beach, but only had $150 to his name. Scholarship America provided $5,000 toward Dwight's education.

Dwight receives a surprise phone call that changes his future.

The Command Center in New Orleans was providing food for 6,000 military police officers. When Dr. Phil visited their headquarters, they were in desperate need of hamburger patties and buns. The Dr. Phil show partnered with Omaha Steaks, Welch's and Sara Lee to donate food and drinks to the military police in New Orleans. They received 3,200 hamburgers, a truckload of drinks and hamburger buns.

The McGraws threw a giant holiday party and brought the magic of the season to families who lost everything because of Hurricane Katrina, host families who've opened their hearts and homes, and some wonderful children who raised money for the relief efforts. With Santa, celebrity surprises, their favorite childhood toys and the hottest gifts of the season, it's was a dream come true for the families.

The kids enjoy Santa, celebrity guests and holiday surprises.