Our first victims arrived yesterday. They were thrilled to get here! The town is really pitching in. Restaurants are feeding them, people are donating bedding, the homeless shelter (which is really nice) took some of them, etc. So far we have 100 people.

I went to the Dollar Tree and bought two sacks full of toys to take to the children. The Dollar Tree employees gave me $113.00 for them. I'm absolutely thrilled.

We have a military plane landing right around now full of displaced hospital patients. They'll be another one coming at midnight and two more tomorrow. There's a triage set up at Tampa International Airport where they will be treated right away if neccessary before being moved to the local hospitals.

Petunia

[Monty_girl]

We are expecting 200 families to arrive in town this week-end from the gulf. Besides collecting money and clothes. We are also collecting school supplies for the children. And trying to get them enrolled in school as soon as possible. I myself don't have room for a family, but a co-work has taken in a family of 8 in his home. Wish everyone good luck and my blessings are going out to everyone.

[SweetSunshine]

How do you ask to be a foster family to these people? I dont know if I could talk my husband into doing it, but I would love to. I've been giving money at different places ( Walmart and other stores) as i see contiainers to help as much as I can that way. My heart really goes out to these people .

Hugz~
Beth

[eskielover]

How wonderful to hear that there is this positive action being taken....the gulf is quite far from California, so glad to hear that the surrounding states are being such wonderful help.

Makes me feel so warm & fuzzy.
Debbie

call your local Red Cross.....i bet they know.

[Parker10]

Thats great P. !!!! If we could all take a couple of 100 people, it would help so much !

Loudoun Co. VA - (I think that is Co. JMO lived in) had a caravan of trucks going down to the devastated area filled with water, bedding, food, over the counter medicines, and other necessities, and they were turned around and sent home by the "military" stating it was too dangerous for them to do this !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! These people wanted to help - and had supplies to help, and were turned away ! I am still reeling from that , and last the news reported, they have arrived back in VA. The "military" didnt even say "Hey - we can take that stuff to a center, or fire dept" - they sent the supplies BACK TO VA !!!!! What in the world were they thinking ?????? I am so upset .

One of my sisters belongs to a church that has a world wide relief effort, for all emergencies. They sent 30 vans, full of supplies and they sat there for one day and then were turned back. The military told them that it was too dangerous for them to pass out the water and food and diapers and formula!!!!!!!!!

[January]

Different families have been taking people in for about three days as of yesterday and today, people are to arrive here to live at Camp Dawson, a small army base. They will arrive here in Charleston first, and all the hospitals have volunteered their services to the survivors.

Jan

Great! I'm going down today to volunteer and help do blood pressures and minor medical things. Most likely, listening and giving gentle feedback.......p