My wife is crying. . .

[ezstep]

. . . as I type this. A couple of days ago, I posted a few things about Katrina and, though it missed us, how it has affected our small town. In a parish of 32k people, we have inherited some 500+ evacuees who have no place to go for the next few months. A local state park with family cabins has been declared a "free" park by the governor, all the motels are full, just 25 miles south there ore 3000+ evacuees, low gas supply, no credit card transactions, etc. Our school has begun a foodand water and clothing drive for these displaced families.

 

The response from HCBF and ebassist has been overwhelming. Amy is shipping the school a few dozen "Clatter" shirts. Bill h is shipping something as well. I am sure that others are doing the same but have not notified me - I like surprises! However, Thunderbroom has taken the cake. He and his wife have somehow ramrodded an 18-wheeler of clothes and supplies and it will leave Illinois tomorrow heading for Bastrop, LA, for the evacuees. We got the two town mayors together by phone and I am sure that they will be there to pose for the photo ops later. The last thing T-broom said to me was that "we can go back behind the scenes" again, which is where I do my best work!

 

BTW, Jeff, when the mayor called, he told me that we were just notified that we are receiving another "shipment" of 150-200 evacuees in the parish. They are opening a church camp (very rural, but with running water, kitchen, etc.) to make room for the new ones.

 

Thanks to all you guys. I know that some of you donated to the Red Cross, and I know that some of you have done other things to help, such as Burdizzos' wife going to the Gulf for medical help. I truly appreciate everything that you are doing, and I can only convey the thanks of the evacuees in advance.

 

What a group of guys!!!!

 

Bless you all.

 

Mike

 

ezstep/slimwhitmanfan

[bassman1956]

ezstep, that's great news!

 

And way to go T-Broom!

 

BTW, where'd you score a whole semi full of clothes?

[Thunderbroom]

 

Originally posted by bassman1956 BTW, where'd you score a whole semi full of clothes?

 

 

I didn't. My wife and I just put some water on the seed that Mike planted on the forum.

 

Our mayor has secured the trailer and is in the process of getting a cab, a driver (likely a laid-off Teamster) and gas (hopefully donated from the Mayor's former employer...ExxonMobil). The trailer will be parked in front of our village hall soon (maybe now for all I know).

 

My town is planning to fill the semi this week with donations. I'm not sure of the details, but my guess is that the truck will leave later this week.

 

I'm certain that the Mayors of Bastrop, LA and Shorewood, IL have this thing all figured out.

 

What Mike and his town is doing to help upwards of 700 homeless people is truly amazing! It's touched my town in a profound way.

[superiorparts]

this is what america is supposed to be about. people helping people. i am so glad to see all the support from all over the country with people helping out. it is real moving. i can't think of a person that i know that has not been affected by this. i live in central mississippi and the small town that i live in the only two hotels are booked solid, both our schools are getting refugee children and each church has taken different paths of donations to meet all the needs of these people. there is an outpouring of love and compassion for the people that have lost everything that they have in this world. we will get through this because this is america, the greatest nation on earth.

 

the band that i play in had a gig this weekend and i called to see if the guy wanted us to cancel. he said no and so we made the trip to the gig. at the end of home sweet home, our singer had broke down and left the stage because he was overwhelmed with emotion because all his family is from south ms, and a lot of his friends and former band mates are from the coast, some of which he has not been able to get in touch with. our sound man is out of work because of power situations.

 

everybody help somebody. we can all look and find someone that has it worse than we do. God bless all the people who are helping my state and fellow states out in this time of crisis. Your prayers are heart felt.

 

kevin james

 

www.monkeyboneband.com

[Cortfan]

I live near I-55, in the northwest corner of Mississippi. I have seen long convoys of supplies, utility trucks, guard units, police and sheriff deputies, headed south. More help should be there soon. Here in the Southaven, MS, and Memphis area, we have set up decent shelters, with almost everything needed for a few months. Most everything is free to evacuees. The City of Southaven has a shelter for 500 that is virtually empty. The people here are giving lots of cash to the Red Cross, and the Salvation Army. We will overcome this massive mess, eventually. We got some of our family members out of Petal, MS, and they already want to go back and start rebuilding.

[bnyswonger]

We're trying to help here too - I took a load of water, shampoo & tampons to the Matthew 25 center here & was amazed and very pleased at the line of traffic coming in to drop off supplies. On the news tonight they reported this one agency has already put 3/4 of a million pounds of supplies on the road to Mississippi & Louisiana.

 

People really do care & want to help. Hang in there Mike & all our southern family.

[bassman1956]

 

Originally posted by Thunderbroom I didn't. My wife and I just put some water on the seed that Mike planted on the forum. Our mayor has secured the trailer and is in the process of getting a cab, a driver (likely a laid-off Teamster) and gas (hopefully donated from the Mayor's former employer...ExxonMobil). The trailer will be parked in front of our village hall soon (maybe now for all I know). My town is planning to fill the semi this week with donations. I'm not sure of the details, but my guess is that the truck will leave later this week. I'm certain that the Mayors of Bastrop, LA and Shorewood, IL have this thing all figured out. What Mike and his town is doing to help upwards of 700 homeless people is truly amazing! It's touched my town in a profound way.

 

 

 

 

So, are you guys accepting donations during this week? I could pick up some things and bring them down your way one evening.

[Thunderbroom]

 

Originally posted by bassman1956 So, are you guys accepting donations during this week? I could pick up some things and bring them down your way one evening.

 

 

I still don't have the details, but I do believe that they will try to get the truck out of here either Thursday or Friday. Donations are being accepted at the Village Hall (903 W. Jefferson) in Shorewood.

 

My wife says they should have someone there to intake the donations during the day and into the evening. I can update you once I find out the details. I'm going to stop by the Village Hall tomorrow on my way home from work and check the status.

 

Of course, you might want to check around to see if Aurora is coordinating something. Traffic can be brutal in the afternoon heading this way.

[philthygeezer]

You guys are wonderful!

[takeout]

Props, Jeff. Way to walk the walk.

[bassman1956]

 

Originally posted by Thunderbroom Of course, you might want to check around to see if Aurora is coordinating something. Traffic can be brutal in the afternoon heading this way.

 

 

 

Man, if that isn't ever the truth!

[bassman1956]

I checked with the Kane County gov't offices for anything in the Aurora - Batavia area, they led me to:

 

Aurora Interface Pantry (a food bank)

659 S River St

630-897-2127

 

and

 

United Way

40 W Downer ST

630-896-4636

 

Also found this link on the Aurora site:

http://www.aurora-il.org/pressReleases/090205_pressrelease.htm

But, it's been updated. The first time, it spoke more of the 2 places above helping the Hesed House deal with victims it was taking in, about 100 in all. More details are here:

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/top/AU07_HESED_S1.htm

 

I'm old enough to have a memory, and am not inclined to trust donations to the United Way. Wasn't planning on giving food. So, may be loading boxes for Shorewood after all.