Hello everyone,
First off, most of the lists this is being sent to our under my supervision.
If there is one that does not want relief effort ideas sent to them please
advise me directly at _kingsley(a)aol.com_ (mailto:kingsley@aol.com) . There
won't be many but I am going to use a couple for updates of people in this five
county area of Michigan genealogists. If you wish to keep abreast of what
is happening here let me know.
Now, this letter came to me from the Quebec mailing list. I feel Betty has
the right idea and I had already written to the local television station to
see what efforts might be going on.
As for clothing, How many have boxes with garage sale clothing that is in
fine shape? Clothing you have grown out of or tired of? As genealogists we
value families so let's try to do what we can whether it is a $1 donation or a
box of clothes or ? Betty suggests perhaps the post office or ? could offer
some free shipping. IF you wish to send a package check with local shippers
and see if they are doing anything of this nature.
It is hot down there if they get sun they will need sunscreens how many have
an extra bottle they can spare to add to the cause? Bottles of perioxde,
alcohol, cotton balls, insulin anything like this could be sent directly to a
hospital address it seems like.
I have just heard from TV 7-4: So far at 10 to 9 this a.m. this is what
they know of for relief efforts.
***
Glens Stores are doing things
TJ trucking has a truck starting today at the Cadillac Walmart
NBC has a Telethon tonight that supports the Red Cross
At a Walmart in Petoskey today: Trucks for Support.
The MDA telethon on Monday will have 800 numbers to help.
Suttons Bay Grocery Store Hansons Market.
****
I am sure there will be more but this is a good start. They you Betty for
giving me more thoughts to work with.
----------------------- Help where you can!----------------------------------
Brenda K. Wolfgram Moore
_kingsley(a)aol.com_ (mailto:kingsley@aol.com)
From Betty:
Hello,
I must be one of only of tens of millions of people SOOO Frustrated at
watching all the News programs of people .. dying in front of our eyes .. while
waiting for "drinking water" or any kind of liquid which is drinkable to arrive
at the Louisiana Superdome ! And, as of last night, two "infants" have
died of dehydration there !
This week I've already posted on the MA List that I would really like to go
by a 20-pack of ..Toilet Paper.. and ship it down there ! The more I watch
the News, though, I see where "basic human needs" go way beyond toilet
paper. They need FOOD and medicine. They need .. diapers and baby food
and formula .. and senior citizens need diapers, also ! They need ..DRY..
clothes ... including undergarments !
How many of us have food, medicine, and "sanitary products" in our homes -
which we don't really need ? How many of us have clothes in our home which
we really don't need ! Do you have summer clothes you bought this year
which you might not wear next summer ? Those people in Louisiana
and Mississippi have probably been "living in" the same pair of shorts and
t-shirt and underwear .. for a week ! And, they probably arrived at
wherever they are being "sheltered" -- soaking wet !
My suggestion is to go to the supermarkets and/or stores and pick up their
unwanted cardboard boxes .. and start .. filling them up ! Or, I've found
out that "banker's boxes" at the office-supply stores are good for sending
packages.
I went to
www.switchboard.com and found out the address:
"Katrina Survivors"
c/o Louisiana Superdome
1500 Poydras St
New Orleans, LA 70112
OR, we could just send our "we care" packages to the following address:
"Katrina Survivors"
c/o, the Postmaster
New Orleans, LA 70112
Even if the New Orleans Post Office has been destroyed, the packages should
go to their "regional Post Office" - and they can decide what to do with
them !
And, ... wouldn't it be nice .. if the United States Postal Service .. would
allow us to mail our "we care" packages ... for free !
And, the same goes for .. UPS .. and FED EX ... I had occasion to want
to use UPS to mail 2 packages at different times to Europe ... and I was
"SHOCKED" at how much they wanted to charge me ! $50 for a very small,
lightweight package, and $350 for a medium-heavy "banker's box."
....
I know very well that the "American Red Cross" NEEDS money, and they
"always" say ... DO NOT ..send "care packages." BUT ..... this
is different !
In our adult lifetime, we have not seen and heard about .. such wide-spread
DESTRUCTION .. and -- human need !
If you cannot send "we care" packages, then I have found that even
_www.ebay.com_ (
http://www.ebay.com) is offering a way to "contribute" to
the
American Red Cross - whether you are a Seller or a Buyer.
I will be sending this message to other "State" Lists which I belong to !
Please feel free to pass my "request / suggestion" along to whichever Lists
you belong to !
A SEPARATE SUGGESTION? Sit down and write a letter to these families -
tell them we DO care ! Offer them as much sympathy as you can !
I'll bet that right now those 10,000 - Plus - people .. feel "totally
isolated" from the rest of their State - and definitely isolated from the
rest of the U.S. !
And, please say a sincere prayer to "your Higher Being" .. that food and
drinking water .. get to "Katrina survivors" -- YESTERDAY ! And, not
arriving for the first time - this coming weekend !
Betty (near Lowell, MA)