Sent this (minus a few deletions) to family and friends last Mon night. The $10,000 plus was donated overnight that night.
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Karen and I met our first evacuees in Tyler TX two nights ago. We had pulled into a state campground to spend the night. The next three campsites in our row were families from NO who had lost it all. We were able to give them clothing and school supplies for the 5 kids. Also gave them $20 per family for gas. They were expecting to get assistance from the Red Cross the next day.
We had left Idaho three days before. with a truck and camper full of school supplies, infant and children clothing, pots and pans for several households, blankets, other donations and some cash donated by Lake City Church, Coeur d'Alene; The Presbytarian Church in Spirit Lake, and Hayden Lake Country Club, Karen's hiking group, The library group, The Audobon folks, and some other close friends. Prior to departing, Karen had painted a message on the side of our truck describing what we were doing.
Karen and I were drawn here. This is the largest natural disaster America has suffered. We came here to become part of the solution.
Our first night was at a campground in Bozeman, MT. Two couples watched me park the camper, came over and asked what the message meant. After a brief explanation, they invited us to join them for a wonderful dinner they had just prepared. They wanted to assist us along the way. The following day while gasing up in Cheyene, WY a trucker came over and asked if we were really going to Louisiana. I said yes and showed him the supplies. He handed me a $20 and asked that I give it to a family. That night, the campground we stayed at gave us two plate dinners at no charge and a couple who read the truck message gave Karen $10 at check in. At a truckstop in Salina, KS another trucker spoke with Karen for a few minutes, then handed her $10 for gas to get our load to Louisiana. Along the way, My neighbor, Steve, called from Hayden, Idaho and informed us we had received another $600 in checks in Friday's mail. He will deposit them Monday (today) and we will withdraw the money here using ATMs. T--- (SFA) called yesterday morning to inform that he had sent $450 from some Chapter ---- members. Steve will deposit that too when he receives it. As in the past, we are paying all of our own expenses. The bottom line is we arrived in Lousiana yesterday with a huge pile of goodies, $3,000 in cash donations to give away, and an absolutely 110% positive attitude about America and Americans.
Yesterday morning, my friend (Also a retired Green Beret Officer), Bob --- (SFA) met us on the highway and took us directly to the central Red Cross distribution Warehouse in Alexandria. This facility is servicing 8 counties and dozens of shelters. I got a briefing and a tour...To make a very long story very short (and not wanting to critique), I was not impressed. We decided not to leave any of our load with them. Instead we took it directly to the shelters and gave it directly to the kids who needed it.
My recurring thought last night was how well John --- and the other members of Special Forces Assn. Chapter --- had run the Green Beret warehouse for the Montagnard resettlement and how badly the Red Cross needs their expertise.
We found one SFer in a shelter. SSG Michael A H---, formerly of 7th SFG. He is a civilian now and lost it all in New Orleans. We spoke with him for a while as he helped us off load some goodies. Bob asked Mike why he got discharged. He replied, "Two Purple Hearts." I asked him what he needed. He told me nothing. I asked him if he had any money. He said no. I told him I have some SF donated money and can help him. He looked me right in the eye and said, "Spend it on the kids here, I'll be ok." Then he introduced me to an 11 year old boy who was separated from his father and did not know where his dad is. Mike has "adopted" the kid in the shelter and is looking out for him. I gave Mike $200 and asked him to use it to to help this kid...and others in his shelter. I explained to him he would be assisting us by doing that. I was very comfortable giving money to an SFer to help homeless kids, especially since he had refused money for himself.
I thought about all the kids we all have helped at "A" Team sites all over the world, over the many years.
Next we made the rounds of several shelters. Gave away 1/2 our load and 1/2 the cash. I looked specifically for mothers with little kids and no money and gave every one I found $20 to get supplies for their kid. At least 10 of them gave me a hug and a kiss, most were crying as they said thank you.
Last night we helped load a bus with evacuees going to Colorado Springs. There was no Red Cross or govt involvement in this. A Todd Clevinger from Centennial, CO got together with some Colorado business owners. They have set up a life line from here to Colorado and are paying to ship busloads of families out of this mess. They sent a group of volunteers here. They have been connecting evacuees to job offers and donated housing and other offers in CO. Next load leaves Tuesday night. Bob and Kathy Noe will be touring the shelters today recruiting volunteers who wish to accept this offer. This guy Todd is one helluva man. When the bus arrived it first had to be off-loaded. The storage compartments were filled with cases of baby formula, diapers, H2O and other supplies. We made sure every family getting on that bus had $20 in their pocket for food enroute.
The N--- also work with two other similar civilian orgs and have been assisting in identifying refugees to acept offers elsewhere in the country. They arrange transport with many corporate jet owners who have volunteered to provide free transport.
Today Karen will be working with Kathy in the shelters. Bob will be finishing repairs on a car to donate to a CCN member in Biloxi. Tomorrow, I plan to deliver the rest if our load to Johnny (SFA) in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana.
Bob and Kathy --- have been in the middle of this evacuation since day one. There are 49 Katrina homeless shelters in and around their small town. Bob and Kathy know everyone. They have all the contacts. They are constantly assisting people in and out of shelters. They have beds set up in their living room and bring folks home and feed them when necessary. At 10 pm last night, Kathy was taking 8 folks, who just arrived, to Wal-Mart to get some clean clothes and tooth brushes.
This rescue operation is far from over. Thousands and thousands of evacuees are here. More evacuees are due to arrive today. On top of the 49 shelters already operating a new 750 person shelter is being set up about 30 miles away.
Late last night Bob told me he is considering getting a loan on his house so he can continue to support his rescue activities. I am at his computer now. I can tell you this couple lives modestly. Bob drives a 1995 Plymouth.
Like ya'll I've heard about the $450 million donated to the Red Cross. I have seen they are providing food and shelter to those who find them.
Bob and Kathy are finding and assisting the lost souls. For example, Kathy gave $100 to a New Orleans family stuck after running out of gas while trying to get to relatives. There are hundreds of examples. This SF couple is in the right spot, at the right time, with the right connections, and the proper motivation to assist total strangers.
We are giving Bob $250 for the SOG CCN member in Biloxi and will continue to assist here.
Based on my 20 years of experience resettling Montagnard refugees, I believe a minimum $10,000 donation right now would enable the N--- to continue to do wonders. They have received some donations, but the money goes fast when helping this number of folks.
Mike |
