a rant about the red cross

8 years ago

No, not from me... I saw it on facebook.

Jamie Mitchell Matuska

My
sister says I can use her FB page to get something off my chest if I
identify myself lol. This is Lindsey Scott, and I'm astonished at the
behavior of the Red Cross husband/wife
team at the mid-county Jack Brooks airport yesterday. Who together
accosted me and took turns berating me because I was trying to bring 400
warm hamburgers to our hungry evacuees, who according to them did not
need the food because they had "already had a sandwhich." Yes, they had 1
sandwhich in 24 hours. They were desperate for a hot meal! The Red
Cross proceeded to try and load the warm, ready to eat burgers into an
ice chest. The pilot, who had donated his time, fuel, money, plane and
arranged the delivery of the burgers was horrified at not being able to
serve them (he actually came to volunteer as well). I confess I just
stood there with my mouth gaping open, fighting back tears while they
told me that I did not know what I was doing and they had not even seen
me volunteering. This is not a normal reaction for me but either
exhaustion or pregnancy hormones got the best of me because I simply
couldn't find the words to fight back...

The Red Cross was not there at 6:30 am when we got there to find we had
no food to serve the 100s of evacuees who had sat on a bus all night
and some who had not eaten in 24 hours. They were not there when the sun
came up and they woke up hungry, angry, tired, scared, and frustrated.
They did not see them fighting over donuts that OUR friends and family
answered the call to bring at 7:00 am. They did not see the tears over
dehydrated babies while we worked to arrange the delivery of pedialite
and formula. They showed up HOURS later....when we had already
coordinated the delivery of food and supplies with our LOCAL community
members (who came out in droves) and The Sky Hope Network through our
wonderful State Representative Dade Phelan after just a single phone
call. And the reason they didn't see me (sweating and sunburned) is
because I spent most of the day on the aviation side of the airport on
the tarmac coordinating the landing, unloading, and transport of
supplies the Sky Hope Network was flying in all day. (which was no easy
feat considering the insane, chaotic state of the Jerry Ware terminal). I
do not care they weren't there (I understand the vast, severe, damage
that ranges from Corpus, Rockport, Houston all the way to Louisiana). I
do, however, care how they treated the people of our community when they
arrived!

These supplies/donations were made by OUR LOCAL
community members and the Sky Hope Network (not the Red Cross) and the
Red Cross wanted them all shipped to their warehouse for processing and
distribution. Apparently they don't do "local distribution." Say what?!
We need these things here, locally, NOW. And while we refused to turn
away anyone who came on foot or by other means (evacuee or not) or any
other church, group, or organization asking for supplies...the Red Cross
tried to prevent us from sharing OUR donations (contributed by our
community for our community and surrounding areas). The kids that are
barefoot need shoes NOW, not two weeks from now...and we had more than
enough to share.

And the way, these two representatives of Red
Cross treated local people who were donating their time (many in the
wake of having lost everything of their own) and spending countless
hours away from their kids and families in the wake of such tragedy
hurts my heart. I pray this is not representative of the Red Cross
organization as a whole. People who donate their money would be
horrified. I'm thankful for our local volunteers who continued to fight
with them (when I could not) and saw that the burgers and supplies were
distributed to ALL those that needed them. As, OUR motto was, we turn no
one away.

One thing I learned from this is THANK GOD I'm from
TEXAS. Our men may spit, smoke, dip, cuss, and drink from time to
time...but when the shit hits the fan, our husbands, brothers, dads,
uncles, cousins, sons, and all the other men we know put on their boots,
waders and get their boats and trucks and go to work! They aren't
afraid to get dirty or work long hours in the dark. They aren't afraid
of a little water, or snakes, or dogs that aren't kenneled. They are
strong enough to carry you out of your home and they can deal with being
hungry, wet, cold, and tired (they deal with this sitting in deer and
duck blinds half the year). They have the know how to save your animals
(horses, cows, etc) and they WON'T QUIT until the work is done. And our
community will answer the call to donate, collect and distribute
supplies and food wherever it's needed. I won't be waiting on the Red
Cross.

Rant over.

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a rant about the red cross

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