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| New Orlean's Clarence and Family in a Dallas Shelter |
| 2005-09-05 |
| Went to the Dallas Convention Center and the place is swarming. I asked some Guardsmen about Bob who is in the guard and posts comments here and one said he would try to find out if he was not on post. If he was on post he would not be able to come by or he may be asleep. I told him that if he was alseep, don't bother him, I would check in later. The guardsman or Bob never did come back and I am sure they were busy. The Convention Center is swarming with refugees from Katrina. I spoke with Clarence, a New Orleans native who was with his wife and 5 kids. I gave them a laugh they said they needed when I warned them about wearing Saints t-shirts in Dallas. I asked Clarence what happened during Katrina and he said he and his family just came from "that hell hole", which he clarified as the Super Dome. He said tiredly and slowly, "Man there was a lot of drama there, a lot of drama." This family were more like middle class people, the exhausted mom had her head resting against the palm of her hand the whole time I was talking to them. They had their own place, kids were in school, mom and dad had a job and they were living the life normal families live two weeks ago and now they are in a building with thousands of other poeple, hundreds of miles away from home as a family and knowing they will not be going back home for a long time. A lot of people were going into the Convention Center while I was talking to them. These people were very weary, very tired. A lot of these are now New Orleans people who have a car but are now out of money, and their place of work is gone, and they are wandering around the South trying to find a place to unload the car and get something to eat. The Red Cross was right there in the middle of the Convention Center, they had a place to volunteer but the volunteer list is full to over flowing. Poeple like Clarence and his family need to find a way to get back to a normal life. Kids in school, Clarence back at work, and mom needs to have her own space again for her family. Police, state troopers, and the guard are everywhere helping these people. One guardsman told me, this is going to be a long process. |
| Posted by:RG |
| #2 Here's a tip that came out of care packages for the troops in the early days of the Iraq war: Buy gallon-sized ziplock plastic bags (freezer weight, they're stronger). In each one put a toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, tissues, deodorant, powder, disposable razors, nail clippers, hair gel. In some of them put smaller baggies with shaving cream for men or basic cosmetics for women. Consider children's vitamins and a soft hair brush. Baby wipes for everyone. Living in a camp sucks. But if we can maintain our own grooming, it has a big effect on our morale and dignity. The senders got the most amazing thank-yous from troops for these. Another possibility is snacks. Just be sure there's enough to go around. |
| Posted by: rkb 2005-09-05 16:27 |
| #1 RG, thanks for this update....I live outside Dallas,to the west, been doing what I can for the people they are bringing here to stay in churches. The people out there can help in little ways....think of what you need on a daily basis, go buy 20 of those things and take them to a collection center. People can use everything...yesterday we bought 40 pair of sandals....all sizes....someone can use them..someone, they need everything. Imagine yourself in that situation...what would help? Anything.....do what you can. These are people, it could have been you...dont say it wont be...springtime around here packs a nasty punch...what goes around, comes around. |
| Posted by: Live to Ride 2005-09-05 15:44 |