Week 2-

[Guest guest]

Hey All,

 

Sorry, if you get this more than once, or are not interested but...Im sending an

update on the status, from the point of a volunteer helping the Katrina-effected

Americans in Houston.

 

The past 7 days, has been very challenging for me. When the Katrina-effected

Americans started arriving in Houston, it was totally Chaotic, mis-managed,

mis-informed, and caused alot of additional stress on folks. Thats when I

decided to help out and volunteer. My mission was to make sure, everyone was

handled with dignity, respect and compassionate comfort. I went down to the

Reliant Astrodome, took a 5 minute training and they started putting me to

work. After a couple of days, I saw case after case after case, after case of

folks that were simply falling through the cracks, and were being forgotten

because of all the chaos. So I then started to shift my time, un-officially, to

simply " being of service to anyway...in any way...that they needed. "

 

Well after the 4th day, I was pleased to see, that plenty of volunteers showed

up to help the Reliant Shelters get organized. But folks basic needs were still

not being met. Very few clothes, etc...were being distributed out and those that

were was restricted. Every day, I go up and down the aisles of the Astrdome,

asking folks, if they need anything. Because of my efforts and to some

donations that have trickled in and with the help of Unity Church Donation

Drives, I have been able to really help at least 800-1000 folks directly. I

have given away Lots of towels, dress and tennis shoes, flip flops, mens and

womens clothing, underwear, bras, shower shoes, toys, soap, toothbrushes,

brushes, hair pins, hats, and a whole host of basic personal items that folks

told me, they needed.

 

Here is one example of the type of needless stress and suffering that folks are

going through, because of proper management and organization on many levels. For

instance, There is one family of a Grandmother in a wheelchair, a Mother and 3

" special needs " kids that I've been looking out for. I first met them last

week, as they were abandoned by a nurse in the medical clinic. They asked for

my help to find the nurse. When I did, she said, she didn't know where to send

them to next. " So I asked her, If I could take over and help them. She said

yes. I didn't know where to go at first but I took the whole family, and

simply asked a bunch of people. " Where can this family get registered so they

can get cots? " By 2:30am...I helped them get registered and with cots all

next to each other.

 

2 Days ago, I go to visit them in the morning. I find their stuff is on their

cots, but they are no where. That afternoon, as I was helping out, an

announcement was made that all 1,000 folks had to pack up all their stuff again,

because they needed to relocate them to a bigger and better building, just a

couple of blocks away. No reason was given why. Which upset Alot of folks! I

asked a Red Cross official, what was going to happen to the personal items, of

folks that haven't came back or moved yet. She said, " we are not touching

anything. it will stay here, until they come back and move. " I never saw the

'special needs " family anywhere yet, even up until 10:30pm when everyone else

had vacated the building. I had left to go to a meeting, but I was still

un-easy about things. When I returned to the building, I saw janitors,

beginning to clean the whole place, including taking down cots, and storing all

personal items, in one un-organized box in the corner.

 

To make a Very Long Story..short...I spent from 10:30 to 3:30, packing this one

family's belongings, into my car, to protect it and then I had to find out

which hospital they went to. Trying to cut through a bunch of medical redtape

wasn't easy But I wasn't going to give up on them...and I finally found them in

a small remote area of the medical clinic reserved for those with weak

stomaches, vomiting and diaahhrea. (There was a stomach virus floating around)

and let their stuff, at their bed, while they slept. I also helped assist and

connect them with getting an apartment by hooking them with a private citizen

with the funds to be able to pay for 10 families in apartments for the next 6

months...which as of Friday, they moved into a nice comfortable apartment. But

thats not it.

 

Because they were restricted in the medical clinic, they couldn't get housing,

FEMA, or Red Cross Assistance..at all. The Social Workers and Hospital Staff

told them, that Everyone in his restricted living area, had to stay there for 48

hours. and that repeated requests to bring in financial assistance fell on deaf

ears of Fema and Red Cross. So the hospital staff, asked me to help. I went

to the top of the chain of command and started sharing my thoughts. Within 30

minutes, I was walking back to the clinic with a FEMA rep and 2 Housing

Assistance personal..which helped I insisted help not only my family, but

everyone else there, who was forgotten by them. The patients there finally got

the much needed First Step..to getting the process started.

 

I have volunteered every day so far and have really helped alot of folks...and

there are still people Im helping, who fell between the cracks, in different

shelters.

 

Needless to say, I respect Red Cross, they have done a great job, on a mass

scale....but from what I've seen, When it takes 1 to 2 weeks to distribute the

basic essentials,(the things folks needed and I have given out. in less than 24

hours) to folks that have been wearing the same dirty, smelly clothes in muddy

flood waters, some didn't even have shoes(they do now ) and coming to shelter

and having to wait A long time to get a towel and a fresh set of

clothes....There is no excuse. Turning away donations at the Astrodome, from

day 1 and Turning away Volunteers, at times too, when so much still needs to be

done..to inform, organize and distribute..is a sheer injustice that I doubt will

ever make it into the public's awareness.

 

I am so very Thankful to my friends across the nation, Unity Church of Houston,

and folks I have never met before, sending in your donations to me..as ..I

passing them out, as soon as I got them....

 

Getting Clothes to folks is a nightmare for Shelters and the Folks. Instead of

choosing what clothes fit you, folks wait in line, and place an order for 1

maximum of 1 outfit. Then a runner, goes to the various boxes, picks an item,

and takes an assembled outfit...often it doesnt fit.

 

When I asked a clothing administrator, they said, there has been a shortage of

XX and XXX Large Sizes...and when I mentioned that I was handing out clothes,

underwear and shoes to folks..her comment was: " Thats Dangerous. You Could

start a Frenzy that way! " I smiled and walked away.

 

I've delivered over 20 garbage cans full of clothes, shoes, etc...Not once has

there ever been a frenzy. something about compassionate giving and having the

intentions to Believe and Achieve, and Listening to Your Intuition as well as to

others

 

So what's next?

 

If you are local to Houston, I need a handful of volunteers to help me. I want

to make sure that No one is falling through the cracks. But I can't do this

alone. Basically, we will be going up and down the aisles of the Astrodome and

the

Reliant Center, simply asking folks " Do you need anything? " and then " informing

them " and finding out if they know how and where to apply for temporary to

permanent housing assistance, FEMA Debit Cards of $2,000, Red Cross Debit Cards

of $350, and of possible employment options they could pursue. One Key skill

needed: Must be a good listener!

 

Want to Donate Something?

Here are a small list of items of items I need to me, as soon as you can send

them.

 

1) -50 Large Carrying Bags from the Dollar Store (.95 cents/ea. ( folks have

nothing to put their new clothes, and stuff in)

 

2) Wal-Mart Gift Cards of whatever you would like to give a family (that way,

they can get whatever makes em happy)

 

The bags are only needed if you can get them to me, within a week!

 

I have targeted three groups, which I have a High Priority to help

-The Handicapped

-Kids

-The Sick

 

I could share alot more...but I got plenty of rest today and more toiletries I

need to get to folks tonight.

 

If you have any questions, you can reach me at 281-546-8470.

 

Thanks

 

Love, Light and Compassion,

 

Richard

 

p.s. Oh..One more thing. I was helping a handicap woman help find her kids,

because she needed help in the restroom. I had a big garbage can full of stuff,

including my backpack with an expensive digital camcorder, which I left in her

care and I made the mistake of not explaining there was stuff in the can...so

when she wasn't looking, my stuff got stolen. At first I was really sad at my

loss...and really didn't feel like volunteering as much anymore. But when I went

to meditate with a Tibetan Monk today, he really helped me see my compassionate

side. He asked me this: " Before you bought your camera, were you happy? "

" yes " ...Then why can't you be happy now? " You have the same opportunity to

work hard, save up the money again and get another camera again. Just like

before. (They way he said it, made me think he took some great Future-pacing

of Timelines and NLP training..hehe)