Hurricane Refugee Help

[Joan Breckwoldt]

Kim, what a fantastic idea. It just didn't occur to me that people would want to get their stuff to Houston, or anywhere else in Texas where the refugees are. How generous of people to go through the trouble and expense to ship their stuff to the refugees. And how great of you to take that on.

I just wanted to let people know though, that you can drop stuff off at the Astrodome directly, I did it on Thursday. There are drop off points in the parking lot, off the west bound feeder. There were conflicting reports, first they said don't drop off, then do, so I just went down there. I just didn't want anyone in the Houston area to be discouraged from dropping off directly if that's what they want to do. There's also a place across the highway from the Astrodome that was taking donations, in the parking lot.

It has been heartwarming to see the outpouring of donations and effort for the refugees here in Houston, as I know is happening in many other towns in the region. My son's cub scout troop collected clothing, etc. over the weekend. My daughters youth group collected and sorted clothing, toys, etc. over the weekend. Both their lower school and upper school had drives last week and will continue to collect donations. Our garbage collectors are going to pick up donations with their regular trash pick up this week - for those who can't get their items to a church or Salvation Army location. Our church is collecting items to take. My neighbor just stopped by (she locked herself out and needed her house key!) and the back of her car was full of things to take tomorrow to donate. A friend of mine spotted a displaced family in the cafe area in a neighborhood grocery store and started a conversation with them, she ended up letting them borrow an extra car that her family wasn't using for as long as they need it.

I guess this is all to say that although there may be some reports on the news about disorganization at the Astrodome and Reliant Center, and the Convention Center, if what I have seen in the last week is any indication, rest assured that the people in the Astrodome are getting large quantities of donations. What they don't have are the medical personnel. They need our continued support and our prayers.

Joan

[Kimberly Dow]

Joan, Im so glad to hear that folks can still drop off right by the Astrodome - that is great!

Im going to stop posting my updates here - as I am taking up space on what is an art forum, (Cynthia - thank you for letting me post these here) but I wanted to let you all know I have a page on my website with information and photos of victims looking for their families. (at least a few in the rows that I have kind of personally been helping).

Oh! Plus - in case anyone is wondering....I found Vida's family today using the internet and some phone calls. They cried and carried on - so relieved. Then I raced down to the Colliseum to get the numbers and info. to Vida. She cried, carried on....and gave me a crook in my neck from all that hugging. She did not know if any of them were alive or not and the relief was awesome. I have to say - that is most rewarding thing I can ever remember doing. I also found a husband, a daughter and several cousins for some other folks in my little adopted area. Tomorrow I am going to bring my laptop down and see if the wireless city internet service works there and see who else I can help. Im not sure why there arent computers there - I guess the city just doesnt have them.

[Kimberly Dow]

This is Vada everyone. I've been spelling her name wrong.

[Patricia Joyce]

God bless her and God bless you, Kim, too!!

[Kimberly Dow]

I had to post one more update...

today the folks over at the Nell arte forum got online and searched while I typed in names of missing folks while the survivors were right in front of me. I think we located 30 families or so. Unfortunatly we crashed the site, but it should be back up soon. It was a good day.

[Linda Brandon]

Kim, you are doing a terrific job down there! This is wonderful to hear.( I will email you.)

Phoenix is turning volunteers away from our refugee site and has set up dropoff centers. Access to computers would be a great thing for displaced people to have.

[Kimberly Dow]

Linda,

Let me tell you a secret -

they were telling volunteeers not to go down to ours as well - but see - I grabbed a tag and pretended like I knew what I was doing and just marched in. A lot of these folks wont ASK, but if you ask them what they need - they will tell you. Thats how I realized that so many still didnt know where family was. There is no organized thing of folks with computers, but I havent been the only one so far - just brilliant people who thought of it and just go down I guess. They did nab me today for having a Red Cross sticker on and made me take it off. What? am I making the Red Cross look bad or something?

Edit - I should say - Ive been there since saturday and I wasnt trying to buck authority (well, maybe a little) see - the situation is this - plenty of volunteers to serve, do medical stuff, organize the donations, etc. But hardly ANY were interacting with the survivors one on one. The survivors are still in the dark and are not getting direction. They have out-going phones to use - but there is not one data base to call or search for loved ones - there are hundreds! So, its very confusing and there are many sitting in their cots needing things, but not knowing who to ask.

I have to say - they are moving though - many were taken out today to look at apartments and such - so they are getting placed. It's just the one-on-one that seems to be missing. Especially for the ones who are illiterate. I had many today who didnt know the spelling of their own relatives names and we had to guess. We found a lot of them though.