With the work of the Republican National Convention scaled back on Monday, much of the focus shifted toward helping those affected by Hurricane Gustav. Both First Lady Laura Bush and prospective First Lady Cindy McCain spoke with delegates throughout the day, urging them to join the campaign’s Cause Greater project created to raise funds to send to the affected areas.

McCain campaign manager Rick Davis said the atmosphere of the convention’s first session will be “austere.”

“We’re not going to do any politicking today,” Davis told a group of RNC Pages.

Plans for relief efforts include setting up a phone bank at the Minneapolis Hilton to solicit donations, and putting together 80,000 comfort packages to send to the Gulf.

“The whole idea is to get people to do this on their own,” Davis said. “We’re not forcing anybody, we’re not keeping track; we’re not going to put a tally up at the end of the week of how much we raised.”

The call for help was heard throughout the state delegations. Arizona representatives turned their Sunday night delegate welcoming party into a fundraising event, taking money at the door for donation to the Red Cross. Randy Pullen, chairman of the Arizona Republican Party, said that the group is also planning to hold a blood drive within the next two days. The Texas delegation will hold a prayer service at the Central Presbyterian Church in St. Paul, Minn.

RNC organizers are also working to ensure that delegates from the affected areas are informed on the latest news from their states — a text message system will alert delegates of developments both at the convention and on the Gulf, and an information station inside the Xcel Energy Center will provide real-time news and weather reports. The party also arranged for anyone who wanted to go home to fly on private planes, Pullen said.

Volunteers, delegates and press are watching Gustav to determine how great the need will be and how the storm will further impact the convention. Most organizers said they will be assessing the situation day-by-day.