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Post by rockyraccoon on Sept 1, 2005 16:08:23 GMT -5
ok for those of you who were wondering what you can do to help and don't want to send money as you wonder what it will go for, here is an alternative. we have 1500 refugees in cleveland, ms and the number is rising steadily. they have housed them at our local university and set up the bolivar county expo building as the headquarters.
Bolivar County Expo Building
601 1st St.
Cleveland, MS 38732
662-846-8867
here are the items they just e-mailed me that they need:
Items for Hurricane relief victims
Drinking Water
Pillows
Sheets
Blankets
Air Mattress
Toiletries
Children Clothes
Baby Clothes
Toothbrush
Shampoo
Tooth paste
Bath towels/clothes
Bath Soap
Lotion
Feminine Hygiene items
Large Men’s clothing
Non-perishable food
Razors
Diapers
Diaper Wipes
Enfamil
Lipil
Diapers
and if there is something you want to send that is not on the list, send it. these people have nothing. they left with the clothes on their backs.
i will be making a trip to walmart this evening to get them some things and deliver them.
kim
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Pdwight
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2003
Posts: 619
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Post by Pdwight on Sept 1, 2005 17:52:39 GMT -5
Hey Kim , can I PayPal you a little money to help ??
Dwight P
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Debs
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2005
Posts: 1,252
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Post by Debs on Sept 1, 2005 18:09:34 GMT -5
Great idea Kim! I have a big box of hotel toiletries that I have collected and have wanted to give away to a good cause. I will try to get them together and send them to the address you posted.
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Post by rockyraccoon on Sept 1, 2005 21:17:35 GMT -5
yes dwight you can do that. debs they need toiletries. send them!
i just got back and am so touched by the goodness of people. we will have another 1500 people coming this weekend so 3000 in all. i got some of almost everything on that list and ran into so many people there that were doing the same thing. when i went to drop it off at the expo they took me around to show me what is coming in and it would touch your heart to see. they said a lady came in with 5 stair-step aged children and started crying when she saw what had come in and they only started this today. walmart had been to the expo today offering jobs. but i don't think we have 3000 jobs available in our little town. people are helping them find permanent housing. many are going tomorrow to get their children signed up in the schools. a man that went earlier today said there were babies there with napkins for diapers so i bought 3 different sizes in diapers. i was worried if items were coming in for the men and they took me and showed me a huge stack of pressed khakis that they said some lady brought. i left there and just cried - cried at the goodness of people and cried at how awful it would be to have your whole life snatched out from under you in the blink of an eye. to want to brush your teeth and not be able to, to want to change clothes but you have none.......to want to go home but you can't because you have no home.
kim
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Debs
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2005
Posts: 1,252
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Post by Debs on Sept 1, 2005 22:48:49 GMT -5
I agree with you Kim. The simple everyday things we all tend to take for granted until we have to endure something as terrible as this. I couldn't imagine it. I thought about it today while taking a bath, a simple bath with hot, clean running water. We are all so blessed! I think we all need to pitch in and do whatever we can do. As I am sure they would do the same for us. We are all one. United We Stand!
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Post by cookie3rocks on Sept 1, 2005 23:00:25 GMT -5
Incredible, unbelievable. Awe inspiring what people are willing to do. (i.e., what people like YOU are willing to do)
Will they take used clothing? I have some descent things (because I work retail , I am subject to "dress codes" that expire each season) That are in good shape. Even stuff that might be good for interviews and jobs. Would that be accepted? I can't really give money right now but would love to give what I can. I just told my husband that they are getting down on people looting clothing and Damn, if I'd been wearing the same underwear for 5 days, I'd go for it myself!
As much as I want to, I won't get all political, but...
Let's make a difference in whatever way we can.
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Post by rockyraccoon on Sept 2, 2005 1:31:53 GMT -5
yes cookie i saw used clothes there tonight.
cookie i needed that laugh about the underwear and i had to think hard on that cause i think i'd be looting too for some clean drawers.
kim
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phoenix1647
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2013
Posts: 186
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Post by phoenix1647 on Sept 2, 2005 7:31:23 GMT -5
We are getting some of those poor folks in our area too. Our local postmaster has a box in the lobby to put things in for them...I am a little surprised at how much people are willing to do. Around here they are burned out over the Red Cross because the Red Cross will not do much for our county...stating that our county does not support the Red Cross that much so we get nothing in return...I refuse to give to the Red Cross anymore.....so much of the cash they get does not ever reach the people who need it...
When something like this happens, I go directly to the shelter and give items they need,,not cash.
Pho
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zentz
starting to shine!
Member since August 2005
Posts: 31
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Post by zentz on Sept 2, 2005 10:37:49 GMT -5
I have a trunk load full of good used girl clothes that I was going to take to the Goodwill store. Do you think that they would take those? Come to think of it, I have girls shoes too and baby blankets. I will box it all up today and take it to the post office. I have been glued to the television. I just can't take it...it's so sad. The mothers and the babies and the blank shell-shocked look on their faces. It makes me just sit and sob.
Andrea
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Post by rockyraccoon on Sept 2, 2005 19:24:17 GMT -5
yes andrea send it they need it! they are trying to make room for 30 nursing home patients also here. the churches and others are taking turns cooking meals. so many people turned out today to help that they had to start turning volunteers away. several jobs were offered to refugees. so much unpacking, sorting of supplies to do. some people are having a very hard time accepting help as they have never had to before. it is very chaotic right now but will get sorted out. the refugees are scattered about and some organization is needed as to where they all are, what they need, etc. but so many good people helping that it will all come together.
would you believe we have locals trying to slip in and act like they are refugees? and going to restaurants and asking for free food saying they are refugees. just shameful!
kim
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Post by krazydiamond on Sept 2, 2005 20:03:20 GMT -5
some people have no shame, the scammers, the thief, the liar, the trickster. humankind is an odd mix. i want to believe we are mainly good so it's only the small percentage that gets news reports.
Kim, you sem to be the closest member we have "on the scene" and i'm glad to hear "news" from a reliable source. please continue to let us know the real scoop.
KD
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Post by Cher on Sept 3, 2005 8:28:31 GMT -5
I heard on the news that there are several on-line scams going. They are asking for donations then getting credit card info and really ripping the people off. I just don't understand how some people can live with themselves.
Thanks Kim for keeping us up on this. It's good to know that some areas are getting good help.
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Post by rockyraccoon on Sept 3, 2005 11:19:27 GMT -5
cher i would stick with people and agency's that you know. what you can be sure of right now is that you can look at a map of ms and probably pick any sizeable town from jackson north and they have refugees. i know we have refugees in greenville, cleveland, & clarksdale. they are not all from mississippi as we have louisiana refugees too. one of my friends is a 911 administrator in alabama and i've been trying to reach her to find out if she is ok. she emailed me yesterday that she and her family are fine but they have refugees coming in and are scrambling trying to find places to house them. if anyone is interested in helping in alabama i can put you in touch with her and she can give you info. houston will obviously need tons of things. i notice the red cross actually showed up in houston. a person with a red cross badge was walking around at our expo yesterday. did they help - no. i am so admiring the young man who stole a bus and got 70 refugees from new orleans to houston.
we are going to sort clothes and offer any other assistance they need from volunteers now. i will share more when i get back.
kim
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Post by rockyraccoon on Sept 3, 2005 16:08:48 GMT -5
whew i've taken a break from the heat and i need a cold drink. plus i needed to come get my credit card so i can go buy underwear and panties for all sizes. and socks. i didn't even get in the door before i met a wonderful woman that has been a school teacher in new orleans and lost everything. her neighbor was killed and she said she didn't know if "doogie" survived. i thought doogie was her spouse but turns out it is her dog and that brought on all new tears. i don't know how we missed getting underwear and socks but we have. a woman was brought to me to tell me she needed underwear for her husband and when i asked what kind he preferred she said she didn't want to be picky. i told her go ahead, be picky. i will be delivering those to them personally at the hotel they are staying at. i have pictures to share later of the 18 wheeler of supplies that will be heading out to the coast later today. gunmen are having to go as people on the way down are trying to hijack the supplies. i had to put my sunglasses on as they loaded up the 18 wheeler because i couldn't stop crying. an 18 wheeler of supplies is coming from st. louis today as well as another from texas. it's very heartwrenching and heartwarming.
kim
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Post by xenaswolf on Sept 3, 2005 16:37:18 GMT -5
Kim, if you have a pay pal account I would like to send you some cash. It will be Tues before I can and probably won't be alot but you can do with it as you see fit. Pm me if you don't want that made public.
Thank you for all you are doing!
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Post by rockyraccoon on Sept 3, 2005 16:47:30 GMT -5
xena you can send it to me at kim@deltarockgallery.com - put that it's for the hurricane relief. i forgot to tell y'all that the boyscouts went door to door today gathering donations and supplies. they were sooooooo proud of themselves and will be on the local news tonight.
kim
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Post by parfive on Sept 3, 2005 21:48:56 GMT -5
Kim, can clothes etc be mailed to that Bolivar County Expo Bldg? Or is there a better place to mail them? My daughter's asking before she gives them to the Red Cross or Salvation Army up here.
Rich
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Post by rockyraccoon on Sept 3, 2005 22:13:43 GMT -5
rich yes she can mail them directly to the expo building. here is the 18 wheeler backed up to the expo building and getting fully loaded to head down to the coast. i don't think anyone donated bud light lol. i think those are boxes of food items. the people on the coast are more in need of food and water at this point so that is primarily what was loaded up.     i have $250 in underwear, panties, and socks to deliver in the morning. i delivered some underwear to a man who was in need this evening. i still don't know how this got overlooked and i don't think it is enough but it is certainly a start. i got some stares with my buggy full of drawers. kim |
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Post by parfive on Sept 4, 2005 23:59:03 GMT -5
Bump to top of page where it belongs
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Post by rockyraccoon on Sept 5, 2005 3:30:45 GMT -5
a rental truck of supplies came in today from atlanta. such good people out there.
i met a family of 33 that made it here in 7 vehicles. i think they are in 3 hotel rooms but they aren't complaining. also a super couple with a toddler and a baby coming in 2 wks. she has gestational diabetes and they were working on her medical needs. one woman wanted to tell me something but kept shaking her head that she thought it was stupid. finally she sobbed that she had lost all her jewelry, that her husband had bought her a new piece every anniversary. she felt so ashamed for telling this. the sentimental things can never be replaced.
i'm very worried about brett and his family. he was an hour inland and in direct line of the storm. i want someone to go look for his family and reassure me he's ok, see if he needs anything. and believe me i'm working on that.
they gave the food stamp recipients an extra $250. this went to all recipients not just ones in dire need. they (not the ones in need) went in and cleared the shelves yesterday and last night. from what i understand they were actually fighting in the meat department. they are going to create a shortage that effects the rest of us if they keep that up. unleaded gas here is nil. i think there is some premium left. i heard greenville is out of gas completely.
kim
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