Harvey disaster relief meeting

8 years ago

Some of our local churches held a meeting this morning to organize relief measures for Texas. I came home feeling wonderful and some of my anxiety was alleviated. Now I just feel emotionally exhausted, so I would just like to say to check with your local churches. You might be surprised how much your community is getting involved and how easy it is for you to help in even a small way.

There have been back and forth efforts for years between these churches here and the churches in Texas... mostly hurricane relief. We have a tractor trailer leaving here on Thursday evening and it will be full! There are already plans in place for another load to be going out over the weekend.

Some people do not like to give monetary donations to organizations such as the Red Cross. Other people only want to give money. Some find comfort in buying for children or animals while others would rather send food. It's a lot easier for churches to distribute rather than sending material items to the Red Cross. Whatever you feel good about, do it.

I was given a great gift this month. The nursing home my mother is in agreed to lower her room and board! This lower "rent" has lifted a huge financial burden. I used that money to help "fill the truck"!

As I said, I felt really good when I got home but now I'm feeling all emotional again. DH has been watching news coverage 24/7. Sorry to make it sound like it's all about me, but I'm a softie. It hurts to see people and animals suffering! Losing everything!

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PKponder TX Z7B

8 years ago

Thanks for sharing your meeting experience, Moonie. I am an emotional mess too, the situation is horrifying and it's difficult not to be empathetic.

We too didn't want to donate to Red Cross because we aren't sure how much money actually gets to the people that need it. Our plan is to spend what we can afford on diapers and baby wipes for the mega-shelter here in Dallas. We are expecting something like 2,000 babies under 2 in the shelter, with their families of course. The first group arrived last night and more today. Our city managers have coordinated with local animal shelters to board the evacuees' pets. Not ideal but the shelter is wall to wall cots with little space for pets to run about.

Our schools will be participating in getting the kids into classrooms for as long as they need to be here and no one will be asked about their immigration status (Immigration status is a big sticking point here in Texas). Hospitals will be donating staff to care for those that need it. I imagine there could be some complications from being in that dirty water prior to their rescue.

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Comments (10)

litasart
8 years ago
First, Thank You moonie_57 for your giving to the recovering efforts in Texas! It is a Great Start with Caring! We do not live if Texas but are the people who you cared for and helped after Katrina ,oddly enough and "wow" 12 years ago today. Harvey has been a little difficult to watch for me because of what we went through. Only this storm we can see on TV and it is heartbreaking all over again. :( The people on this form that I don't really know other than reading about them here like Raven, marilyn and lucille are waking up to today and I pray they receive a blessing from the Caring that continues throughout our Country. Hugs to your mom, she's raised a beautiful person!

PS Raven I am so with you on never wanting to relive the events of a storm, but don't give up hope!
moonie_57 (8 NC) thanked litasart
mamapinky0
8 years ago
Aww Moonie...yes it is sorta about you...more your HUGE CARING HEART. You are one heck of a good lady Moonie. If everyone in the world had a fraction of your kindness mountains could be moved. What you have done will ease the struggle for others. Moonie you are a HERO!!!
moonie_57 (8 NC) thanked mamapinky0
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ravencajun Zone 8b TX
8 years ago
Thank you thank you thank you. Everything helps in some way for someone or some animals. That was a very giving thing you did.

Yesterday they were showing these 2 precious Rottweiler puppies and their mother. They were found with a woman who was under a tarp in the woods she was apparently living there. The puppies had been laying in water for so long the hair was gone from the rear quarters and the tails. They were in bad shape. The mother dog was trying to follow the police officer and kept licking her babies. It was heart wrenching. The lady was refusing to go get medical attention with out the dogs. They had to promise her they would reunite them. She was in bad shape herself and had a mental illness. They got her off to a hospital and were putting out an emergency call for a vet to come get the dogs immediately. I hope they make it. So many stories.
moonie_57 (8 NC) thanked ravencajun Zone 8b TX
User
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
PKPonder, please don't be afraid to donate to the Red Cross. I can tell you from my own experience that when we were flooded if it wasn't for them, we wouldn't have been able to move on. We had no money, no work and no financial means to replace anything, but once our property dried up, they showed up with antifungal cleaners and supplies, new mattresses and bedding, a new refridgerator, you name it. If we really needed it, they found a way to supply it. 30+ years later and I still tear up when I remember how they helped us.
moonie_57 (8 NC) thanked User
User
8 years ago
Sometimes you have to practice good self-care.

I have donated (and will do so again) but, for me, I need to limit my exposure to the news otherwise I'm good for, literally, no-one and nothing.

Please take care all...
moonie_57 (8 NC) thanked User
moonie_57 (8 NC)
Original Author
8 years ago
I completely agree with lukki about the Red Cross. After Isabel, they were the first ones here. There was a road crew clearing downed trees so they could get in. The first day they were only able to hand out sandwiches and water but by the next day they were into full operations, even giving out chainsaws and generators. It was amazing what they wete able to do and so quickly. The National Guard came in right behind them.
PKponder TX Z7B
8 years ago
We ended up donating to the Dallas area food bank and dropping off diapers and formula to a local church that was trucking in supplies to Houston. We have too little disposable income to do much.

My husband is on a tear about the amount of money that the Red Cross executives are paid in relation to the help that is provided. He will not be swayed, we gave what we could.
moonie_57 (8 NC) thanked PKponder TX Z7B
moonie_57 (8 NC)
Original Author
8 years ago
Yes, PK, a half a million I've heard??? I've never verified the salaries but DH feels the same as yours. Still, I felt such gratitude for what they did for our community.
User
8 years ago
If someone wants to donate, but doesn't want to give to the Red Cross, you might check out the Facebook page of various school districts in the area. I clicked through my local one and saw teachers and schools asking for school supplies to replace what was lost. They also had other other needs listed. Some things you could buy through Amazon for them. Here is a list of Houston Area Schools LINK.

Harvey disaster relief meeting

PKponder TX Z7B

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