Hurricane Refugee Help

[Denise Hall]

Kim,

It is so wonderful what you are doing - and the link we have now that you are keeping us posted. You will be so rewarded from doing this - and you already are - you met Vida. I was a new Red Cross caseworker during Hurricane Floyd - which hit my neighborhood (eastern NC) a few years ago. For weeks we were unable to go to work, have electricity, etc. and people were airlifted in helicopters all around us from their flooded homes. I heard heart wrenching stories of survival as a caseworker. Anything you can do to directly comfort these people will never be forgotten by them. You are fortunate to be able to help.


Our area will definitely be sending aide - probably a lot. Everyone here knows how much it means. Thank you for posting and offering direct help and even though I will work through people here to send things and the Red Cross for money donations - we just might send a box of stuff your way - teen stuff abounds at my house!!

Again - thank you for keeping us posted. I will be checking back soon.

Denise

[Michele Rushworth]

Kim, thank you for all you're doing.

[Kimberly Dow]

That's sweet and all, but it's not much - believe me. Im just one of thousands doing a tiny tiny bit. And, the tiny bit I do to help doesnt compare to how rewarding it is personally.

I just though these forums would be a good way to get the word out to people of what the real actual needs are (at least for our one group of evacutees) - and a more expediant way to get items into their hands directly. In Houston they wont let people drop off items at the Astrodome....they have to get to a Red Cross and donate - then the RC sorts and sends out.....and its just a lot of red tape. Here, I can walk right up to the donation area(the victims are calling it the Shopping area) and hand the stuff over, put it in the right piles immediatly....and the folks come right out and look for what they need.

[Joan Breckwoldt]

Kim, what a fantastic idea. It just didn't occur to me that people would want to get their stuff to Houston, or anywhere else in Texas where the refugees are. How generous of people to go through the trouble and expense to ship their stuff to the refugees. And how great of you to take that on.

I just wanted to let people know though, that you can drop stuff off at the Astrodome directly, I did it on Thursday. There are drop off points in the parking lot, off the west bound feeder. There were conflicting reports, first they said don't drop off, then do, so I just went down there. I just didn't want anyone in the Houston area to be discouraged from dropping off directly if that's what they want to do. There's also a place across the highway from the Astrodome that was taking donations, in the parking lot.

It has been heartwarming to see the outpouring of donations and effort for the refugees here in Houston, as I know is happening in many other towns in the region. My son's cub scout troop collected clothing, etc. over the weekend. My daughters youth group collected and sorted clothing, toys, etc. over the weekend. Both their lower school and upper school had drives last week and will continue to collect donations. Our garbage collectors are going to pick up donations with their regular trash pick up this week - for those who can't get their items to a church or Salvation Army location. Our church is collecting items to take. My neighbor just stopped by (she locked herself out and needed her house key!) and the back of her car was full of things to take tomorrow to donate. A friend of mine spotted a displaced family in the cafe area in a neighborhood grocery store and started a conversation with them, she ended up letting them borrow an extra car that her family wasn't using for as long as they need it.

I guess this is all to say that although there may be some reports on the news about disorganization at the Astrodome and Reliant Center, and the Convention Center, if what I have seen in the last week is any indication, rest assured that the people in the Astrodome are getting large quantities of donations. What they don't have are the medical personnel. They need our continued support and our prayers.

Joan

[Kimberly Dow]

Joan, Im so glad to hear that folks can still drop off right by the Astrodome - that is great!

Im going to stop posting my updates here - as I am taking up space on what is an art forum, (Cynthia - thank you for letting me post these here) but I wanted to let you all know I have a page on my website with information and photos of victims looking for their families. (at least a few in the rows that I have kind of personally been helping).

Oh! Plus - in case anyone is wondering....I found Vida's family today using the internet and some phone calls. They cried and carried on - so relieved. Then I raced down to the Colliseum to get the numbers and info. to Vida. She cried, carried on....and gave me a crook in my neck from all that hugging. She did not know if any of them were alive or not and the relief was awesome. I have to say - that is most rewarding thing I can ever remember doing. I also found a husband, a daughter and several cousins for some other folks in my little adopted area. Tomorrow I am going to bring my laptop down and see if the wireless city internet service works there and see who else I can help. Im not sure why there arent computers there - I guess the city just doesnt have them.

[Kimberly Dow]

This is Vada everyone. I've been spelling her name wrong.

[Patricia Joyce]

God bless her and God bless you, Kim, too!!