pags September 2nd, 2005, 09:36 AM My daughter-in-law asked me to write -- they're in southern mississippi and in trouble. they can't get out.. there's rotting garbage, sewers are backed up, the contamination is horrid and the news media is saying to send money to red cross -- they can't use money now, they need baby formula, food, clothes, gas.. their neighborhood has been flooded -- they haven't seen anybody around, no national guard .. the one red cross operation is across town, and even if they could get there, which they can't because of no gas for the car, the 3 entry ways are lined with cars -- so much so, that the trucks bringing in supplies have turned around and left to go other places. pags wants to get the word out that there hasn't been any relief in her area. there are many small towns, like hers, where there's been no help.. if you want to talk to her, please POST THE INFORMATION HERE ON THIS THREAD. TWO BANK ACCOUNTS HAVE BEEN SET UP NOW FOR CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES.
WE ALL THANK YOU DEARLY FOR YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT
CANADIAN DONATIONS
TD Canada Trust
Branch # 253 & Account # 6293328
3115 Kingston Road
Scarborough, ON
M1M1P3
Make cheques out to :
Account # 6293328
Do not put anything else in the 'to' column or the bank can't process
You can also walk into any TD branch to make a cash deposit into that account!
AMERICAN DONATIONS
The Thomer Family Fund
Commerce Bank
3051 Walton Road
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
BoxerRescueMTL September 2nd, 2005, 09:40 AM Oh my God, how can we help if we can't get anything to her?
Schwinn September 2nd, 2005, 09:44 AM Please, I don't know what I can do, but let us know.
BMDLuver September 2nd, 2005, 09:54 AM Please let us know how we can get much needed supplies to Pags and those she wishes to help out as well. We have all been waiting to help her in some way. I appreciate your posting for her to keep us updated.
happycats September 2nd, 2005, 09:54 AM Please let us know how we can help!!
badger September 2nd, 2005, 09:56 AM The New York Times raised two issues this morning, which I thought were long overdue - the issue of race (most of the affected people are poor and in the majority, black, already marginalized and with few resources) and the fact that the military has been mining the National Guard for Iraq, so they are no longer around to help out in local areas. Apparently volunteers are streaming into the New Orleans area and nobody knows what to do with them. At this point, Pags is beyond our help. She and her family simply have to get out of there. With all the bashing the feds are taking for poor response times, I'm betting things will change soon, alas too late for some. UNBELIEVABLE!!
Maybe someone here who lives nearby could invite her family to stay, at least then they could look ahead and know that they didn't have to go into one of those awful shelters.
nymph September 2nd, 2005, 09:59 AM What can we do to help?
Luba September 2nd, 2005, 10:07 AM CAlling you NOW mommie in law!!!!!
Luba September 2nd, 2005, 10:24 AM Okay here is the situation we are trying to arrange pags and her family getting OUT of their location. They are basically stranded with no gas to go anywhere.
There is a family friend who is attempting to get to them from Alabama BUT HE IS HOURS AND HOURS AWAY!
Problem: Can't reach pags through the phone waiting for them to call on cell phone to her mother in law.
Question: Is ANYONE AVAILABLE OR HAVE ANY CONTACTS IN FLORIDA, ALABAMA OR AREA???? IS ANYONE AVAILABLE SHOULD THEY NEED HELP TO GET OUT ? DOES ANYONE KNOW OF OR HAVE ANYWHERE FOR THEM TO GO???
We are going to set up a donation drive but right now this is URGENT they need OUT!!!
The baby now has a rash, there is mold through the house, things are rotting and they have no running water, little if any food and little water left.
ANYONE ANYONE PLEASE!!! WHO CAN HELP SHOULD THEY GET OUT AND HAVE NOWHERE TO GO? There is 4 children and 3 adults. One is a newborn baby!!
IF YOU CAN HELP OR HAVE FRIENDS OR FAMILY THAT CAN HELP PLEASE POST IT HERE!! EVEN IF YOU HAVE CANS OF GAS THAT YOU CAN TAKE THEM, ANYTHING!!!
Will keep posting updates as they come in!
Copper'sMom September 2nd, 2005, 10:41 AM Do they need a boat to get out from where they are or would a vehicle do??
Luba September 2nd, 2005, 11:11 AM UPDATE
A family friend is going to try to get them out he is over 8 to 12 hours away from them.
Still unsure where they will go or stay after that. BUT if anyone is closer then a days drive away???
Please let me know
ONLY FOR THOSE THAT CAN HELP IMMEDIATELY: lnwilliams@sympatico.ca
Everyone else sit tight and pray!!!!
Dog Dancer September 2nd, 2005, 11:25 AM It brings tears to my eyes worrying about Pags and family, to say nothing of all the other stranded and desperate people. Bless you Luba for all your work and efforts. Can't say it enough. I know I'm just too far away to help physically or they would all be welcome in my home (pets too). Put them on a plane and send them to BC. There must be someone on the board who will read this urgent msg today and be able to help Pags. Lord help all these people and those who are trying to help them. Hugs to you Luba and to Pags and family.
Rick C September 2nd, 2005, 11:41 AM UPDATE
A family friend is going to try to get them out he is over 8 to 12 hours away from them.
Still unsure where they will go or stay after that. BUT if anyone is closer then a days drive away???
Please let me know
ONLY FOR THOSE THAT CAN HELP IMMEDIATELY: lnwilliams@sympatico.ca
Everyone else sit tight and pray!!!!
Please let the board know when and how we can help at the appropriate time. Hopefully they're extricated soon.
Rick C
www.goldentales.ca
Bearsmom September 2nd, 2005, 01:44 PM PM ing you, Luba, read it right away!
Luba September 2nd, 2005, 01:55 PM GOT IT!! THANK you :grouphug:
Right now we don't know exactly what they are doing or where they are going.
Myself and her mother in law have 3 options for them set up just waiting for them to contact us so they can decide where they want or can get to!!
kimbilly September 2nd, 2005, 02:27 PM Luba, let us know when and how we can help.
Luba September 2nd, 2005, 03:15 PM NEW INFO
Over the last TWO hours they have had some relief and help come their way.
They now have running water and plumbing still no power
Phones are coming on intermittent in some locations
There are some stores open and supplies are arriving
They've decided to stay as help has finally arrived BUT they will be in desperate need of money
EVERYTHING on the first floor of their home is probably destroyed
Waiting on Western Union Information
I think it is the fastest way to send them money and probably the closest to them!
Will post the Western Union information HERE!
Luvmypit September 2nd, 2005, 03:27 PM Make sure they can get to a western union. I am willing to send $ just tell me but I want to make sure its to the place most accessible to her.
Thanks for keeping us updated Luba!
Lucky Rescue September 2nd, 2005, 03:28 PM This is too awful for words. Let us know how we can help, Luba.:(
What is really happening in New Orleans is beyond belief. This is an eyewitness account from someone who lives (lived) there. It's very disturbing:
"Well last night I was watching the 6pm news when they announced the 17th street canal pumps failed as well as another break in the levee. My house is right off St. Charles Ave. and up to 6pm yesterday is was the only part of the city that was dry. Since the pumps failed and the new break St. Charles Ave. would be under 9ft of water in the next 12-15hrs. My brother and I felt if we wanted to save anything we had to leave NOW. We loaded up flashlights, rope, our medical ID's, both our .45 Glocks, 2 shotguns and rode out. En-route we listened to the radio which broad casted all the news about the looters and what not, in hindsight it was a mistake.
One the way we had to pass 5-6 checkpoints to allow entry into the city. We stated we were medical personnel who were activated, showed our ID and off we went. On the radio reports were coming in about the officer who was shot in the head, the 2 gunman who opened fired on the NOPD station, and how looters were carjacking cars to get out of the city. This started making my brother nervous and giving seconds thoughts.
Anyway we get to the city and it looks like a freaking war zone. The best visual I can give is the movie "Blackhawk Down" when all the Somalians are rushing the city. They are people EVERYWHERE, they are pissed off, and all have weapons, 2X4's, Axes, and guns. I couldn't get over the little 8-10yr old kids with weapons, I ever saw one carry a claw hammer!
These people were absolutely nuts rammed trucks(stolen I'm sure) in to jewelry stores stealing items, they were tearing apart Wal-Mart carrying out TV's, Playstations, DVD players, etc. One lady was wheeling out an entire rack of merchandise, not sure what it was but sure wasn't clothes for food. They were all laughing and carrying on like it's freaking Christmas.
We got stuck in traffic when we see the group of guys walking down the street w/ AK-47's, at that point the "pucker factor" kicked in, a couple Glocks and shotguns were no match for that. We haul azz trying to get to Uptown when we see these people chopping down the front door w/ an axe of this $4-5 million dollar mansion on ST. Charles Ave. I was just in total awe because it was so surreal. Making matters worse it's 11pm at night there is no electricity and you really can't see anything or anyone until they are right up on you.
Our plan was to be in and out in 30min, this included putting his Harley on the trailer. It would have taken me 5-10min tops to get my stuff, all I wanted was my pictures from college, my clothes/shoes, and my computer tower. Well he got scared saying we are going to get jumped while putting the bike on the trailer. Keep in mind this is the only area in the city that is dry. So just like rats who move to higher ground these people were doing the same. Word must have gotten out that Uptown was dry so there started to be a large influx of people.
Needless to say he wanted to go home rather than take our chances. While it was the smart thing to do I was beyond infuriated w/ him because we made it this far. He just kept saying our lives aren't worth it. So we turned around, our next challenge was getting out of the city while not getting jacked. Reports came out that people were jumping in the back of truck holding the drivers at gunpoint. Traffic started to slow so I just nailed it got out as fast as I could.
Even though he was the voice of reason I'm still pissed. All I have is my life and the clothes on my back. I lost my house(which is now 9ft underwater) ALL my clothes, TV, computer, furniture, and photo albums and videos from childhood and college. What makes this worse is my brother owned the house and I was a tenant and I didn't have renters insurance, hindsight is 20/20.
I also hope everyone of the ****ing looters get ***anus, E-Coli and F*(KING drown. I'm serious I really hope they all die for what they were doing to the city, killing people, and destroying homes. Never in my life have I ever seen people act like savages, it was truly sickening.
What you guys are seeing on the news is propaganda BS!. It’s like a 3rd world county war in the City right now. Armed mobs of looters raping and killing at will. Dead bodies floating everywhere."
wjranch September 2nd, 2005, 04:31 PM I am so sad and appalled at what we are hearing. It is truly hard to believe that people would be willing to behave this way... I understand it is a scary, challenging time....but, shouldn't they be reaching out to help one another? Instead of climbing over top of each other to save or WORSE yet, profit for themselves??
I am saying prayers and of course shedding tears over the plight of the good, honest families that have to endure this hardship. And remember, "what comes around, goes around...sooner or later they'll get thier's"
Dog Dancer September 2nd, 2005, 04:40 PM Glad to hear some help has gotten through to Pags. Please do let us know about the Western Union thing. Not sure how that all works, but it sounds good. I don't have access to a computer over the weekend, but will check again later today before I leave work and again on Tuesday when I return. For sure I'm in with an effort to help out Pags. If by good fortune she gets more than she needs she can pass it along to someone else needy. Thanks again Luba.
Luba September 2nd, 2005, 05:10 PM MORE GOOD NEWS!!
I just spoke to her on the phone!! It was SO GOOD to hear her voice!
Just at this moment they have a home to go to that has power and are in the process of packing up to go there (pags mothers).
They have food and diapers and some water but very little gasoline and mothers car.
For right now EVERYTHING is okay!!
They DO NOT have FLOOD insurance though and their first floor has been destroyed as has the contents of the garage, both cars as well.
There is no Western Union up and running where they are but there MAY be in the area where they are going to.
She is going to let me know ASAP about Western Union and I will post that so that those of you wishing to can donate, including myself.
Luba September 2nd, 2005, 05:34 PM Just to add in.......... Judge the puppy is fine but traumatized
The mama cat and kitties are okay as well.
Anita described to me the flood waters ripping into her home flooding up so fast they just had time to get to the next level.
People were being whisked away by the swift current of the waters. There was no way to save them. Others bunkered down in their attics waiting for the flood water to receed.
Anita and Dave have lost everything on the first floor all furniture, clothing, bedding, linens, keepsakes EVERYTHING as well as the two cars!
It's devastating but they are alive!
Keep them in your prayers.
chico2 September 2nd, 2005, 05:36 PM Luba,you have been an absolute angel in keeping us up to date on Pags,thank you very,very much :love:
I am sooo relieved that she and her family are safe...
I am not familiar with Western Union,would there be one account where we could donate too,so that Pags would not have to go several times??
Or could we send someone checks and this person would send it all via Western Union?
PS,I was concerned also about Judge and the cats,((sigh of relief))that EVERYONE is ok :thumbs up
Luba September 2nd, 2005, 06:18 PM Good point chico
How comfortable would you folks be in sending me the funds so that I can send it on to Anita in one big donation through Western Union
Everything is up in the air right now and just throwing some ideas out there
Money orders, certified cheques...? Western Union?
Anyone have experience in something like this...?
I'll look more into what Western Union can do.
kimbilly September 2nd, 2005, 06:46 PM Sounds like a great idea to me Luba. That way we should save on charges etc.
Joey.E.CockersMommy September 2nd, 2005, 07:24 PM I think that would be better just to send you checks. Then you would only have to pay one western union fee.
I feel so bad for your daughter in law and others there. I am glad to hear she is getting some help.
My job at the call centre (its for U.S based cellular company) is very emotional right now. The calls are coming in from customers in the hurricane region that cant pay there bills. I cant even imagine, I spoke to one customer and credited her charges for her she said they lost everything and didnt know what to do. When I told her I was so sorry for what shes gone through she lost it and started crying as soon as she did I almost lost it too.I almost had to walk away from my station to get it together after the call.
Another call centre for this cellular company in Lousiana is underwater we are now taking on their calls and trying to help out.
badger September 2nd, 2005, 07:33 PM What is your company's policy, are they going to waive the fees in the affected areas? It was nice of you to be so sympathetic, I imagine to someone in such a hopeless situation, a kind voice means alot.
Joey.E.CockersMommy September 2nd, 2005, 07:37 PM yes we are. Although I didn't know at the time of the call so I just credited her account, but later I found we are waiving their monthly fees indefinatley and they will still be able to use their service. Cell phone bills should be the least of their worries right now.
Eleni September 2nd, 2005, 07:39 PM I havent posted in quite some time but my thoughts go out to you paqs and your family.
I hope you come thru it well.
I have a box of baby clothes i ahve boxed up from my baby, they no longer fit him.
if you need and want them, they are yours, all you need to do is let me know where to send them
you and your family will remain in our prayers
Lizzie September 2nd, 2005, 07:50 PM Luba, the simplest and quickest way for people to get you money would be to set up a bank account at your bank, IN TRUST for pags. This way people will have assurance that the money will go to pags (in case people need this) and then people across the country who want to help simply have to go to their local branch of X bank to deposit funds.
All you have to do is set it up, which takes minutes, and then post the bank account number here...or have ppl PM you for it.
Banks do this all the time when local families have floods or refuge of some sort.
Luba September 2nd, 2005, 08:10 PM Thats a GREAT idea about the bank account in trust
My question... Canadian and US banks are different, different names. How would someone in the US make a deposit to an account in Canada or another province for instance?
Can anyone answer that for me? If not don't worry I'm still gonna go to the bank tomorrow and inquire more about it!!
Thank u and keep the ideas coming!!!!
Lizzie September 2nd, 2005, 08:14 PM In Canada, so long as you open the acct at a national bank like TD Canada Trust, CIBC, BMO, RBC or Scotia Bank people can walk in to ANY branch from the particular brand (for the lack of a better word) across the country. For example, if you open the account at TD, people can make a deposit at ANY TD across the country.
People in other countries can make WIRE payments to the Canadian bank or mail your international money orders. Again, they will need tons of information from you about the bank, it's SWIFT CODE and it's bank code. However, international checks are typically held for up to a month at banks. WIRE payments take a bit and cost a bit more, but the money goes right in.
Does that clear it up at all?
nymph September 2nd, 2005, 08:54 PM How about PayPal?
Joey.E.CockersMommy September 2nd, 2005, 08:57 PM Personally I dont like paypal I had to many problems with fraudulent activity I shutdown my account. Any other method is fine by me.
StaceyB September 2nd, 2005, 09:00 PM Luckyrescue I am a little confused about the story you posted. Is this a story you heard about or are you also going through this?
nymph September 2nd, 2005, 09:28 PM A trust account sounds like the best idea so far.
However wired transfers are fairly expensive in Canada. Usually the bank would charge a fixed amount PLUS a percentage of money being transferred. I just consulted with my banker friend, she said that Scotia Bank charges a fixed amount of $28 for every wired transfer less than $10000.
International checks generally take 10 business days to clear. If you have a higher cashback value, you would have access to the funds faster.
My friend also suggested bank draft or money order, they are essentially the same thing except money orders cost less, but they are usually used for funds less than $1000. The recipient would have immediate access to the funds.
Email Money Transfer (EMT) can also be used, it's offered by the banks, so very reliable, and service charge is only $1.50, but it does have some limits:
* $1,000 in any 1-day period
* $3,000 in any 7-day period
* $7,000 in any 30-day period
My friend will let me know if Scotia decides to waive service fees for donations to disaster affected regions, they did this for the Asian Tsunami.
Luba September 2nd, 2005, 10:20 PM All of this information is very very helpful thank you so much!
pamha September 2nd, 2005, 11:17 PM Stacey,
[QUOTE=LuckyRescue]This is too awful for words. Let us know how we can help, Luba.:(
What is really happening in New Orleans is beyond belief. This is an eyewitness account from someone who lives (lived) there. It's very disturbing:
"
I read it as a quote from something Lucky read or was told.
I`m not there either, but I have a friend whose brother is a police officer in NO and she is hearing similar stories from him. Just a very chaotic & scary situation for everyone who is still there. They are getting a lot of National Guard troops in now to hopefully be able to control things a bit more & speed up the rescue & relief.
Prin September 2nd, 2005, 11:46 PM Here is a site with a ton of pictures of the destruction that Katrina left behind. :( http://www.nola.com/hurricane/photos/
CyberKitten September 3rd, 2005, 04:48 AM So sorry to hear of Pag's situation!! Glad they are OK but this takes such a toll! I have spoke to medical ppl I know there. They were shot at as they attempted to get sick and dying ppl out of NO - and not everyone made it. The morgue is floooded so they have to put bodies on the stairwell - this is a modern hospital , not some 3rd world relief center we are used to with Drs without Borders but my friends say it reminds them of that. Other docs were held hostage. I cannot imagine this happening to my hospital but that is the situation - anarchy and meyhem in NO. This is a "county" facility and they were obviously aghast at seeing patients from the private hospital (Tulane) air lifted while some of their their patients died. I've been up all nite worrying about my friends there as well as another - a nun who stayed behind to help. She is downtown too - the Sisters of Sacred Heart motherhouse which is not too far from the Super Dome. These are ppl they work with all the time - moms and babies. Babies are dying as are the elderly. Most who die are elderly, babies, poor and African American - I agree wth Badget, finally someone raised that issue in the NY Times. Jesse Jackson also discussed it on CNN.
If I can get there, I aim to help - my experience in areas of conflict - I have learned over the yrs ti make do with little in the countries I have worked in for DWB but never thought I;d see the day those skills would be needed in sNorth America. But FEMA is discouraging ppl - apparently the setup is worse now that FEMA is under Homeland Security. This according to one of my besy friends who is with NIH.
I know Miss needs help too - I just know NO better and we (DWB) are organizing for there - someone has to relieve the ppl at Children's and Chaity hospitals, thise ppl are about to collapse. What they describe is beyond words. - not new to those of us who have watched ppl (again mostly the vulnerable) die and feel helpless but that was in war and famine ravished countries in the develping world, not NO.
There are also many Maritimes in NO- Acadians who are teaching there. And it is not just NO tho that gets the mosy publicity but all the small villages and towns in the other close parishes.
Ten yrs ago, the Times Picayne predicted this!!!Bush cut funding. As a woman noted tonite, they managed to invade Iraq in one nite but it is 5 days and where is the US military? Getting there.... slowly!
It's heartbreaking and frustrating!!
The Cdn military will help us (DWB) to get to NO but not via Miss or else I'd offer to bring supplies to Pags. At this rate, no one will get in tho or the "temporary" clinic at the airport will become permanent. And why can't they set up small villages? I have seen refugee camps set up[ in less than a day in Africa - by participating military personnel , Oxfam and our groups, some religious groups - why can this not be done there??????
Sorry for yet another rant. I do not comprehend why this is taking so long!!! In 2005 in North America when the hospital we took over (for exhausted personnel) in Sumatra due to the Tsaamui took mere days to accomplish - not all at once of course but this is just ridiculous.
chico2 September 3rd, 2005, 06:59 AM Luba,the simplest thing to do would be to open an account,like stated before...maybe to complicate things less for our American friends, someone there can do the same...
I keep hearing and reading about people complaining about the International community not offering to help,the fact is that Russia,Japan,France,Germany,Jamaica and even Cuba to name a few,have offered help but have up until now been turned down,not needed,Cuba of course is a given :D
Joey.E.CockersMommy September 3rd, 2005, 07:41 AM However it is done the most important thing is that we help. I will be following the thread to see what needs to be done.
I also have some boy clothes,(age 5 and under) pullups, and other kids stuff I could send to your daughter in law if she needs them or if I can get them to her.
Luba September 3rd, 2005, 07:59 AM I don't believe pags mother in law is following this thread. I'm doing the courtesy for them and updating any necessary information.
However if by chance she reads it she'll be very greatful for everyone's love and kind gestures so just keep them coming. I'm sure pags and her family will want to read it all one day too!
:grouphug:
lilith_rizel September 3rd, 2005, 11:29 AM I have a few baby clothes I can send for the baby, it won't be much, because we found out we are having another girl, and will need some, but Pags needs them more than we do......
Luba, if you could try to get ahold of Pags mother in law ask her were we can send stuff like this. I know I don't post much anymore, but I do come and lurk daily, and I check updates on this thread daily. I sure hope Pags and family will be ok.... The must have lost alot.
Also, how old are her other children? I have some short overalls with t-shirts that I got at freecycle for my sister, they are size 10-12, would they fit any of her children? I have 4 sets of them. I would rather give them to someone who would really need them then send them to my sister..... when she has plenty of clothes.......
Luba September 3rd, 2005, 01:09 PM Okay after speaking with a plethura of banking representatives, branches, managers sigh and 'others' lol I am going to wait until Tuesday to find out more. Most of them are unsure if #1 they can waive the fee's for me and #2 if it will be cost effective for raising money if the fee's aren't waived.
Also need to speak to pags again and figure out what will work best for 'her'
Gonna sort out all the clothing etc..donations will let her know they are available but right now there is nowhere to send them (will change in the future)
Most of what I think they will need in the short term is money to buy what they need.
The kids are baby, toddler, kindegarten and grade 2 I think?
(bad memory) So we're looking roughly at newborn, 2yrs, 5 and 8.
As always will update u as I get more info :D
:grouphug:
lilith_rizel September 3rd, 2005, 02:02 PM another question, do they have boys / girls, and which age is which..... I might be able to find some clothes for all of them here, to send.....
Luba September 3rd, 2005, 02:14 PM Two boys 5 and 8 (roughly)
2 girls (newborn and 2yrs)
Plus Judge but he doesn't need any clothes LOL
BMDLuver September 3rd, 2005, 02:23 PM Plus Judge but he doesn't need any clothes LOL
Bet he'd like some chewies n toys n stuff though! :D
lilith_rizel September 3rd, 2005, 02:27 PM great idea!!! We have a store that often has sales on dog toys.... hmmmm....
I posted on freecycle that I am looking for clothes for this family, so I am sure I will have some to send to all of them, and whatever they don't use, they can find another family that is in need.....
Prin September 3rd, 2005, 02:43 PM Wow, you guys are GREAT!
I was just reading on Concordia's website (university here in Montreal) and it says this:
Concordia to assist students affected by Hurricane Katrina
In response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, Concordia University will assist students from the affected area by admitting them as visiting students into courses for which they are academically qualified and where spaces are available.
Students will be able to register until September 20th, 2005, for the fall term. After that date, students will be considered for the January 2006 term.
The University has also approached government officials for assistance in facilitating the process.
I don't know if they expect to be paid, but either way it's a good thing. Tuition here is sooo much cheaper than elsewhere, even if you're international. At least there's a possibility. :)
Luba September 3rd, 2005, 04:08 PM OH YES Judge would LOVE some toys and mama cat and the kittens too!
I'm sure once there is mail delivery all things can be arranged.
lilith_rizel September 3rd, 2005, 08:25 PM It looks like I will be getting alot of clothes for the kids. Whatever pags and her family don't need, I am sure she has friends that need some.....
It will be a few weeks until I can ship them out though, because we are tight on money, and hubby doesn't get paid for a while, but I am sure they will appreciate them none the less....
Luba, do you know of anything else that the family is going to need, besides clothing and money?
Luba September 3rd, 2005, 10:11 PM Hey it will take awhile before they can get any mail :D so no worries!
Not sure what they need right now, or what they would like in the form of donations as I wasn't able to get through and they weren't either. Atleast not today.
doggy lover September 5th, 2005, 04:49 PM I've been away for a few days and I'm so happy to see that you have heard from Pag's, Luba. Everyone here is so wonderful, I'm moved to tears. So happy to hear that everyone even kitties made it out, alive, keep me posted.
Jackie467 September 5th, 2005, 07:16 PM It's so good to know that pags is ok. I was starting to really worry about her.
Things are really bad, especially in N.O. I went and volenteered at the astrodome today and it's mind boggling how many people are packed into this place. It's just row after row of pitiful looking people. Many don't have any more clothes than what have been donated and most don't fit properly. I saw a teenage boy wearing a pair of women's flip flops that didn't fit him but was all he had.
We actully adopted a family that had nowhere to go. There are just so thankful to be in warm beds with warm food. It's a mother and a father the father's brother and two children 2 & 10. The father and his brother are handicaped, the father in a wheel chair he's about 70. Yes he has a 2 year old at 70.
My mother invited them to stay before I could talk to her about pags, but I'm glad pags found a place to go. They are just so humble and thankful for the very little that we are doing. I mean we have the poor people crammed into 2 spare rooms.
I just hope that pags manages to get to her mother-in-laws safely. I'll be praying for her.
Luba September 5th, 2005, 10:13 PM God Bless you Jackie the world needs more folks like you and your family!!
Hugs and prayers!! :grouphug:
Joey.E.CockersMommy September 5th, 2005, 10:44 PM People helping people is what makes the world a better place in times of need. I extended the offer to an aquanitance that is from NO originally, and now lives here.He is now looking for places up here for friends that are down there. Really not sure what will happen at this point. We are so far from NO here in BC but would welcome a family or person in our home.
sammiec September 6th, 2005, 05:15 PM I'm just having the chance to read this now...:(
Bless your heart Luba for everything that you're doing! You're an amazing woman...
And Pags, we're all thinking about you and your family. God bless you! Can't wait to have the chance to chat with you again... ((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))))
Luba September 7th, 2005, 11:14 AM Okay a quick update and then hopefully by the end of the week we can start receiving donations.
#1 US bank account has been set up by pags mother in law
awaiting bank account # and branch information
#2 Canadian bank account not yet set up
having trouble getting a trust fund set up
banks are being very selective with these
they've had numerous requests and all have to be through
head office. I have yet another appt with another bank
today (so far 2 have not been able to help) lets hope
3rd one is a charm.
#3 I heard from pags they are at her mothers house which
is north of where they live. She has power but no hot water,
their home is waiting to be looked at and approved if they can
go back or not re damage, sewage and electrical.
Very stressful time for them, unable to make phone calls out
very often or receive any. They can't call any toll free numbers
and have no access to any banks or western union at this point
If their house foundation is okay then the repairs and stripping
the lower floor of all debris, mold and water damage begins.
Keep your prayers coming and I'll update when I get more information!!
kimbilly September 7th, 2005, 11:41 AM Luba, thank you for going to to so much effort to get this done. You are truley a very special friend to Pags.
Big hugs.
Luba September 7th, 2005, 03:23 PM I have one big giant BANK headache! LOL
Okay 3 banks down and all say no unless I have already established a government registered charity with a charitable organization number.
I have 1 more bank to try tomorrow then thats going to be the last of that attempt.
Waiting for info from pags mother in law she's trying to get the US bank to waive the fees of transferring canadian to american funds. IF she can do that then we can send all of our canadian donations to the US bank acct.
I had almost gotten through with one bank then at the last minute they called head office who disqualified my application because I dont have a charity number.
Nice huh!
So dems the updates...stay tuned I"m off to get an Advil! :eek:
chico2 September 7th, 2005, 03:31 PM Luba,I at least trust you 100%,what if we just mail you a check,you can then figure out how to get the money to Anita(nice name!! :D )...maybe just exchange it to US $$ and send it ahead.
Sorry you've had to go through all this frustration,charity I guess does not always begin at home,at least not when it comes to banks.
Luba September 7th, 2005, 04:12 PM Thank you Anita, for saying that.
I had one other offer from the bank, They suggested opening up a regular account where we can deposit Canadian donations.
There is one catch it would have to be in 'my name'. Now I'm not thrilled about releasing my name and information to the internet BUT I WILL DO THIS for pags (Anita and her family)
So my question is to you folks, would you feel comfortable in sending your donations to a bank account I set up. You would need to make the cheques payable to me. Once the donations build up I will get them to Anita by cheapest means possible.
I'm going to start another thread right now for US donors as they didn't have any trouble setting up a trust fund in the states. It was easy as walking in the door in light of the circumstances I assume.
So American donors pls refer to the new thread I will be starting
Canadian donors please give me some feed back and let me know if this is okay with you. If it's not then there's no sense in my opening a new account.
Please let me know!! Majority makes the decision. I know you have no clue who I am other then from on here.
I propose THIS to all Canadian and American Donors:
Anyone who donates $50 or more will receive a free Safety Identification Kit, valued at $25 retail. Your choice of an Adult Safety Kit or a Infant, Child, Teen Safety Kit. These are kits I have developed and am donating one to each and every donor who sends a donation of $50 or more to Anita's cause.
I will personally pay the postage to get the kit to you. You will need to provide me with your name and donation amount, where you sent your donation and as soon as we receive it I will send the kit out!
Thank you all for your kindness and lets get some feedback now on the Canadian bank account situation. I just got struck out by bank #4 who were willing to do it IF I had already consulted with a lawyer and have a notorized statement from a lawyer indicating who and where the funds will be going to and that I have ATLEAST applied for a charity number...sigh (let me tell you these were all top Canadian banks so you know who they are).
Feedback please? Are you okay with sending donations to an ordinary account I open up in my own name?
Pls let me know asap because I can set that up the same day as I find out!
Luba
chico2 September 7th, 2005, 04:20 PM I am,I think I know you enough to know you are a very honest person,although I probably will not be able to donate $50 or more,but every little bit helps,right?
Dog Dancer September 7th, 2005, 04:32 PM Luba I would trust you 100% and have no problem with sending a cheque to you or to any bank in your name. I did post in the US thread that I'd also be happy just to mail a Canadian Cheque to Pags (now we know it's Anita - great to know) once they have a bank available to them. So whatever works best is fine with me.
Luba September 7th, 2005, 04:40 PM Thank you
They have no bank access right now and they don't know when they will.
There is a charge (quite expensive) to convert from Canadian to US dollars if you do this at a bank. This is what I was trying to save everyone from doing.
See if everyone sends a Canadian cheque to a US bank acct the account will be deducted fees. HOWEVER if I collect it all into one lump sum then we can save all the fees and only have 'one' fee to transfer. That way the majority of the money goes to pags and her family rather then bank service fees.
Right now to transfer or wire funds even from Canada to the US it's $30 each transfer or wire. Every US bank is different but they charge to #1 verify and clear the Canadian cheque then they charge a curency conversion charge.
So it's just NOT cost effective.
I was hoping the trust fund would work out but I am not a charitable organization so they won't give me the account.
A few more feedbacks from Canadians if they're positive with this other option then I will open the acct immediately.
And yes Anita (chico) every little bit helps!!
Keep in mind the freebee :D over $50 and you get $25 back as a gift so you're really only donating $25!
I'm eating the production costs of the kits and mailing myself to try to encourage donations.
So is it working?? :D
Luba September 7th, 2005, 04:50 PM You aren't stingy I'm just pushy :p
Lizzie September 7th, 2005, 05:11 PM Just a tip. Most banks can add a tag to a deposit, with a brief description--like the donators name--so that you will know who donated what and can send the kits out accordingly. The person making the deposit has to ensure they ask that this is done though...
Luba September 7th, 2005, 05:13 PM Ahh really? thx for that info :D
kimbilly September 7th, 2005, 05:50 PM Luba, I am happy sending you the money.....
doggy lover September 7th, 2005, 06:54 PM Count me in too. :)
Luba September 7th, 2005, 07:47 PM Ok so do you think it's safe to go open an account tomorrow then?
So far everyone has been positive and I'm so very greatful to hear that you trust me , thank you so much!
I would encourage anyone to share this information with their friends and family as well as coworkers. I've heard many people are skeptical to give to charities even the Red Cross. Some may be more interested (like me) in making sure the money goes to a specific family who needs it!
Thanks for all your support and for trusting me, it truly means a LOT!!
:grouphug:
Luba September 8th, 2005, 12:15 PM I received an email from pags (Anita) today I thought I would share some of it with you along with a photograph. Have a tissue handy!
From Anita:
I hope this goes through. My internet connection is rather primitive.
"I took this from our upstairs hiding place. The water was still rising then.
We were completely trapped upstairs...and the wind was not letting up.
The house had started to sway and then the inside walls would shake
and groan with each wind gust. We felt like we were within an hour or
two of the house breaking apart... and at that moment we heard on the
radio that we had six more hours to go. Yeah - we knew we wouldn't
make it... not six more hours. Even more horrific was looking out over
our neighbors homes and realizing that we were on the highest point
in the neighborhood -- and in the tallest house... they all were trapped
in their attics. We dialed 911 frantically for over half an hour... and there
was never any response. And so we prayed and prayed until the water
receded even more quickly than it had rushed in. We brought everyone
back downstairs long before we wanted to because the wind chased
us down... We could hear it ripping apart the roof trusses.
We were all so grateful to have lived.... really we were. Until we realized
what we lived through... and what was left to live through. I can't adequately describe the conditions we lived in last week. I probably never will. I can't explain the terror of our isolation.
I am to you, Luba -- and to all of the kind-hearted souls for thinking about us.. for caring about us... at a time when we felt completely alone and forgotten.. and hopeless.
We do not have mail service yet - and we're waiting to hear when that may come back for us. I will try to let you know as soon as they tell us - Conditions all along the coast are so bad...
"
Rick C September 8th, 2005, 12:23 PM That's one scary story and an even scarier picture.
Rick C
www.goldentales.ca
Luba September 8th, 2005, 12:50 PM update:
Canadian Account Has Been Set Up Pls Refer To
The Thread Regarding Canadian Donations For Details
Luba September 8th, 2005, 04:19 PM I got through to pags (Anita) on the telephone just now!!
I spoke to her for nearly an hour as the line cut in and out and the sounds of military helicoptors flew overhead.
They are getting limited supplies and have to travel miles to a Red Cross Camp set up to give limited food and water with diapers and baby formula.
There is concern of contamination but no bleach is available to deconatminate themselves or their belongings. The water coming from the taps is thick dirty and sludge like. They can't even wash their clothing with it.
There are no parishable type foods available as of yet, everything is prepackaged goods. So no milk, dairy, meat, fruit, veggies, nothing.
The kids are showing signs of intestinal troubles, probably from exposure to the contamination.
The mama cat and kittens are doing well as is Judge. Mama cat suffered a cut to her face after the storm but it's healing and there are no vets around or open for assistance. The kittens eyes are open and they are walking about.
Anita's husband Dave has to ride a bicycle miles everywhere to get access to anything. They still can't dial out on the phone and if they do they get cut off and can't reach the toll free numbers set up to assist them.
There is NO direct aid coming to them as of yet!
Anita thanks you all for your support and for caring. She says it makes her feel good to know that so many are praying and sending thoughts of kindness and gestures her way. They've felt very alone and abandoned.
Luba September 9th, 2005, 10:07 AM An update from pags (Anita):
"Luba - I tried to call out last night again but all we get is a fast busy signal or a pre-recorded hurricane message when we try to make calls still. Our local news still has not given any word on when we may have mail delivery again.
And the state of our water system throughout the region is dire -- no encouraging words on local news about when we'll have clean water again.
We had better sleep than what we had last week - but it's all very exhausting. There are no relief workers in this area..We're all still hanging in there waiting to hear some news. I'll write again soon.. "
Luba September 9th, 2005, 02:57 PM I just went to put another deposit into the account and I want to say thank you to the four angels :angel: so far that have donated!!
Those of you who have donated $50 or more please pm me with your info so I may send you out the identification kit of your choice!
:ca: Very proud of you all! :ca:
chico2 September 9th, 2005, 03:32 PM Luba,reading her e-mail,where are they,they are not back in their house??
I understood they are with a relative,were they also hit by Katrina??
Luba September 9th, 2005, 04:05 PM They are a few miles away from their own home just a little north. They go back every day to check on their own house and get some supplies from the Red Cross which is a distance away.
Anita's husband is removing the sheetrock and exposing the mildew, mold and water rot, trying to dry thigns out a little. He unfortunately has no protective masks or gloves, they're not handing any out. In order to get there they ride a bicycle or rarely take the car if they can get through and have enough gasoline.
They are at Anita's mothers house who didn't receive as much damage as their home. More wind damage then water damage, she thank God didn't flood like they did. But there is NO assistance in the area they are in at her moms, no relief trucks, food supplies nothing. So they HAVE to go back to their own community to get that and even still it's not very close.
The odd part is they moved Anita's mother into their house to ride out the hurricane because they were under the impression they were safer, they were further from the river and up on high ground. Things weren't too bad until the storm surge flooding came through, then it was too late to leave.
Joey.E.CockersMommy September 9th, 2005, 08:25 PM I am not sure if Anita has cellular service if she does some of the companies are waiving fees such has ours. I am not able to mention the name of the company I work for but if she has a cell phone and is able to call her provider perhaps they can set her up to roam on other networks. Presently our company is waiving these fees. It may be worth a call if she hasn't done so already.
Luba September 9th, 2005, 08:27 PM Joey could you pm me that information so I can pass it along to her, I would so much appreciate that! :D
Luba September 9th, 2005, 09:45 PM Tonight an update from pags (Anita)
For those of you interested in starting to put together care packages, you now have a list of things to select from. Naturally if you wish to contribute some things they would need to be new, like linens and toiletries and towels as well as the baby bottles and such. Basically common sense that way! I've already started a care package myself, others may want to follow suit as well. I wish we could get it all together and get some way to get it shipped to her but that may not be the case we may just have to send them individually.
As you plug along packaging your things with love and care, know how much they will be appreciated. Every day I cry when I talk to her or receive a message and this one did it to me again, especially reading about Yvonne losing almost everything except her teddy.
Get a tissue before you read on you will probably need it!
From our friend Anita:
"It's so good to find an email from you when I connect. Thank you!
You know I have spent some time thinking about what things we need and I'm so overwhelmed, Luba. We need everything I think -- but I honestly don't know what I'm missing yet. We lost everything on the bottom level and absolutely everything in the garage. Where do I begin?
We definitely need new linens - sheets, pillows, towels (dish towels, bath towels, towels towels.. we have NO towels). I had stored all of our linens on bottom shelves in the laundry room and in closets near the bathrooms -- as a result they were soiled most severely when the sewage backed up through the drains. We had a king size bed (Dave is 6 ft 7 in tall) and lost all of our bedding. We saved the two cribs - but are without crib sheets, etc. for either of the girls.
We need casual clothes for Yvonne shorts, jeans, t-shirts, tennis shoes, etc... all gone. She wears 2T or 24 months -- whichever is bigger. Yvonne also lost all of her toys - she had a little plastic kitchen with
plastic food and a shopping cart she loved... We managed to save her favorite teddy bear as he came with us upstairs... but Yvonne's room flooded from top and bottom unfortunately and suffered from the highest levels of water.
Emily lost most of her clothes -- like Yvonne, her special occasion clothes were all stored up high.. but her regular baby clothes... the Onesies and playsuits and so on are gone. She's wearing newborn sizes right now but quickly moving toward 0-3 months. Unfortunately we lost all of the clothes we had saved from Yvonne for Emily as well. She also is in great need of baby blankets -- receiving blankets and so on.. the type you swaddle babies in? And cloth diapers.
Most of the boys things were saved as their rooms are upstairs... However the clothes which were in the laundry room at the time were lost (unfortunately this included their school uniforms!!!) George wears Boys Size 12-14 and William wears Boys Size 10-12.
Dave and I lost most of our casual clothes with the exception of our jeans! Thankfully they had all just been washed and folded on a high laundry room shelf. We could both really use some t-shirts -- XL or XXL would be fine (I'll wear whatever is too small for him and he can wear whatever is too big for me!).
We lost our pots and pans to the saltwater - every last one of them... And most of our kitchen utensils like serving spoons and steak knives... Everything for cooking.
We need playtex bottles, nipples, and bottle liners for Emily as well as 'sippy cups' for Yvonne.
The kids lost all of the 'outside' kind of toys out in the garage... balls, bats, frisbees, kites, tennis rackets, skateboards, scooters, and even their bikes. :( (Speaking of the garage.. did I mention this means we also lost our lawnmower... You know the one that we replaced after the other was stolen a couple weeks ago? Yes that one.. And our weedeater and edger and all of our power tools? And of course the regular garden tools and gloves and so on... We lost our generator too... So much for using that in an emergency...)
Toiletries are all gone - soap and toothpaste and makeup. OH and our household medical things like band-aids and so on.
Oh and of course the critters... Judge lost his doggie toys and his bed and leash... and the saltwater totally ruined the petfood bowls, etc. Also gone is the kitty condo and the litter box and so on and the collar I bought for mama kitty.
Luba - there's so much. I'm trying to think of just the basic necessities that we sort of take for granted, you know? There's so much...I mean we lost our furniture. We lost our electronics... Two computers and peripherals.. two televisions.. two vcrs.. a playstation.. a stereo and the CD collection... Our appliances - the refrigerator, the dishwasher, the washer and dryer... OH and a huge mound of board games I had been keeping since I was a kid. I had the ORIGINAL 'Operation' in the box... It used to be in good condition.
I did lose baby photos of the boys and some old family photos as well. And also the boys' schoolwork and artwork. Tons of keepsakes I had hauled around with me for years which were stored in closets and so on and ended up floating around the house. My album collection - you know.. vinyl? Real albums? Soaked and then warped from the heat.
Sigh.. See here's the thing... We lived downstairs. The boys had their two rooms upstairs and the rest of the upstairs is actually unfinished. Two rooms are empty (they won't be now because we'll be living up there...!! So that's sort of a good thing now!) but there are two other rooms which are completely unfinished - as in drywall and plywood floors... We had been saving our money to try to finish them someday. Er.. we have to start at the bottom again, it seems.
I wanted to give you an update from today! I will be back. In the meantime, HUGS I love you to death. HUGS. -- Anita"
Luba September 10th, 2005, 12:09 PM IF ANY OF YOU WISH TO SEND A MESSAGE TO ANITA
PLEASE WRITE IT HERE AND I WILL BE SURE TO SEND IT TO HER, SHE NEEDS ALL THE LOVE AND SUPPORT WE CAN GIVE HER RIGHT NOW!!!
More from Anita:
"Oh Luba this made me bawl like a baby!! It's a good thing - I think I needed a good cry again -- it's been a day or so since I've been able to. Could it be true? Could anything be that way again? Oh Luba - I didn't even mention my garden... though it's been there haunting me since the first day... My bulbs all washed away with the tide. The lawn is crisp and dead.. the trees are all burned and broken and leaning. There are butterflies everywhere and they're dying.. there are no flowers for them. The hummingbirds too -- we find more dead everyday.. starving to death as no one can spare the clean water for their feeders. The neighborhood.. the whole city.. probably the whole coast stinks of garbage and sewage and death. I ventured out one day.. and thought of pulling the debris out of what used to be flowerbeds.. but stopped for fear of what I would find under the mounds of lumber and seaweed. The birds and squirrels are gone. They've been replaced with snakes and rats. Everything teems with fireants and spiders while the air is thick with flies and wasps. Can you imagine what hell would be like? I can tell you firsthand.
I will try to hope.. for someday... But only because you tell me there is a someday. It's so hard to see it for myself.
I also checked the local post offices and none of them are operational for incoming mail just yet.
We HAVE seen Fed-Ex and UPS trucks in the area -- but I have no idea how limited their delivery is at this point. I'll keep checking with the post office and let you know.
Our immediate plans are.. well... we're trying to take this one step at a time. We don't know how we're going to do this.. we don't know how we're going to pay for anything... but we're just sort of trying to get done what has to be done and hoping to figure it out later. We know that insurance will eventually cover only the wind damage none of the water damage to the house -- and we're going to hold out on doing those repairs until we have the check in hand. We have no idea what else they may pay for.. and we have no idea if or when FEMA will consider our application. Right now we're assuming that no one will give us any assistance...
It's daunting. When the restoration people are done.. they will have ripped out most of the remaining flooring.. all of the sheetrock and baseboards.. all of the insulation... the kitchen cabinets - the bathroom cabinets and probably the sinks, tubs, and showers. We will be left with stud walls and a concrete slab. BUT it will be clean. And maybe someday we can put it back together again? Maybe?]
You know.. I feel like some of these prayers everybody's saying for us are helping.
That's my news report, Luba. I love you dearly and thank you so much AGAIN for everything. Please send giant hugs to all of our critter-loving friends and thank them for every prayer and wish. I keep trying to spread the word that people out there really care about us... and it does bring some smiles.... And smiles are so scarce these days!! HUG HUG -- Anita
Sniffle.
Love you
Anita"
chico2 September 10th, 2005, 04:02 PM Dear Anita and familly!
You should know,everyone here at Pets were sooo worried about you,when we heard The Mississippi Gulf-Coast took the brunt of the storm,hoping you had decided to leave.Then very relieved to know you and your family,Judge and cats were ok.
I am sure what has happened to your beautiful house is like hell on earth,but your flowers will bloom again,butterflies and Hummingbirds will return.
It will be an enormous struggle,but we know from the way you never gave up on little Moose(RIP)you are made of strong stuff and have a huge heart.
I am also hoping the attention and help will turn towards Mississippi,mostly we have seen NO,but the devastation is not only in Louisiana.
I am also hoping your government will help you rebuilding your home,but I suppose that is wishful thinking.
2005 will be a year you'll never forget,but I know you have the right spirit to pick up again and go on.
Lot's of :love: hugs and kisses from Anita(Chico2)
Luba September 10th, 2005, 04:13 PM Thank u Chico, keep them coming folks she needs all the support and love she can get right now!
IF ANYONE has any ties to a delivery company like fed ex or UPS pls let me know. I"m collecting donations and have no way to get them to her. I NEED some assistance if someone has any contacts. We need to deliver things to them and hopefully someone or some company willl do it free of charge.
april21h1 September 10th, 2005, 04:56 PM Dear Anita.
I was so worried about you and your family when I heard about the hurricane. I was so relieved that your family were safe. I know how scary hurricanes can be, we get a few here this time of year. I hope you get the aid that you and all the other survivors need to rebuild.
Although I don't know you as well as others, I believe that you are a very strong woman from all the posts you have shared here. I know that this will only make you stronger.
Anytime you feel overwhelmed just give a hug to you children or your furbabies. And remember we are here for you in pray and support.
My furbabies send you head rubs.
April
doggy lover September 10th, 2005, 07:47 PM Dear Anita
My thoughts are with you and your family. I was so glad to hear that you are all ok. We are keeping you in our prayers. Things will get better, even though it seems like you have been forgotten right now, you haven't you are in all of our thoughts. Take care of yourselves and give all big hugs from us. I think once you can get back on line with us you will be surprised on what a large impact you have made on everyones lives here. God bless you all. Love Diane XO
Joey.E.CockersMommy September 10th, 2005, 08:10 PM Dear Pagnita, and family
I have been thinking of you too. Even thought I too may not know you like some of the other members of this forum. I know this may have such a huge impact on you and your family. I can t even begin to find words to express how sorry I am for what you have gone through. Although this hurricane has such a tremendous impact, your lives will be rebuilt, and you can built your memories once more, and keep old ones as well. The most important thing is that you have each other.
Right now it is raining in my town, I was going to wimp out of taking our doggie for his evening walk. But considering what you have gone throught I certainly dont have any right to complain about a little rain do I.
take care and I look forward to your posts once again.
Jackie aka Joe E. Cockers mommy
Prin September 10th, 2005, 08:28 PM Hey Pags,
You being down there really humanized this whole ordeal for me. It put a face on this tragedy and made it all the more scary, aggravating and sad. The fact that you got out alive made my week. It must have been an incredible struggle with the new baby, but hopefully it will be over before they expect. I hope you keep on doing better and better, and keep your hope and faith alive. It is a huge thing you have been through, and when this is all over, you will have such a strong family to be even more proud of. :)
Take care,
prin
Luba September 10th, 2005, 08:49 PM I'm sending these messages to her right NOW
I'll continue to do so as you all provide them to me. Anyone interested in care packages pls get them ready to go :D I'm doing my best to try to get Fed Ex or someone to take it from Toronto to Mississippi!! So anyone in the T.O area can drop them off to me! Other then that, when mail service is restored you can mail them to her yourself if thats what we need to do :D
Here is her evening message, from pags "Anita"
Hey Luba! Wow!! I finally got online tonight and I got all of these happy emails from you -- and the happy messages from my Pets friends! It DOES help. Thank you for sharing it with me. I really want to hug everybody
By way of update -- still no word from the postal service. The USPS website simply states that service is suspended in our area and there are no available alternate pickup sites. They've gotten phone service up in most areas now -- but not our house... The wiring in our house and the service box in our backyard all got completely messed up... so it's gonna take some more time to get that going again
Here's big news! FEMA has finally made it to Mississippi! Uh.. a little late don't you think? I heard an interview with a FEMA official here in Pascagoula on the radio.. he said that they have no sites in any of the other coastal counties yet (!!!!!!) but have finally set up three sites in our county and will start working their way west. Thanks, FEMA. Dave and I went and stood in line for about an hour... And this is what they did... They allowed Dave to make an appointment to come back tomorrow at 1pm to stand in line again. Yes - they actually make appointments to let people stand in line! You see - you can't stand in THE line without an appointment
Ahhh.. I'm really tired tonight so I'm cutting this short... But I feel more hopeful today. You have a lot to do with that Luba -- thanks. I'll write soon. Love you! Anita
Luba September 11th, 2005, 07:35 PM Wanting to send some pick me up messages to Anita tonight if anyone has them she's feeling very down!
Joey.E.CockersMommy September 11th, 2005, 08:49 PM Pagnita,
This name is hereby bestowed upon you by me. You have gone through what most of us here will never have to go through. It is okay to feel down, I feel down about all of you down there and I am nowhere near the hurricane region. Just remember that you have friends that care about you, and all of us at pet.ca too. Just because you may not be able to reach anyone they are thinking of you more than you know.
;)
kimbilly September 11th, 2005, 09:40 PM Pags, We can not begin to imagine what you have been through the last 2 weeks. All I know is your determination is what is keeping you going and that is a real inspiration to me. You have lost all your material belongings, but thank goodness you have your family safe and sound. All the love and hope that we at Pets.ca have for you will be here for you always. Stay positive and just remeber that what you made it out with is the most valuable ever.
You will continue to be in my thoughts, stay strong. Love and Smiles.
Luba September 11th, 2005, 10:40 PM Thank you both I've sent this to her. Thank you for those that have and are responding.
:grouphug:
glasslass September 11th, 2005, 11:13 PM Pags, you've kept all of us on the edge of our seats trying to keep up with this thread. Prin described it pretty accurately when she wrote that you've humanized this whole ordeal for us. I know it's really difficult right now, but you're stronger than you probably think you are. The little ones are taking their cues from you and your hubby. Think of the memories your family will have of this time. Kids are pretty resilient. This is a real adventure for them. Please remember that we're all praying for you and will be here to support you in whatever way we can. If you need to vent, we're here. If you need encouragement, we'll try our best. :grouphug: This will pass. It doesn't seem like it at the moment, but it will. I hope your families, friends, co-workers, neighbors, etc. are all ok. You'll all be pulling together and some of your worst experiences will one day be the topics of conversation at your social gatherings. Try to find the humor wherever you can and store up the antidotes you can embarrass them with years from now. Can you feel all the positive vibes we're all sending you?
Prin September 11th, 2005, 11:50 PM Hey Pags-
I know it's frustrating, heartbreaking, and nerve-racking being in a time of such loss, stress, uncertainty and confusion, but try to remember that there is strength to be gained in everything you do. You prove yourself to be a true survivor every day and everybody here admires you more and more for it.
Your kids have a terrific mom, and we hope you come back online soon.
(I can't imagine the pets.ca withdrawal you must be going through on top of everything else!! :eek: :D )
Take care of yourself. That's all that matters right now. Everything else will (slowly) fall into place. :)
:grouphug:
Prin
chico2 September 12th, 2005, 07:35 AM Well,from one Anita to another,you certainly have earned the right to cry,but looking at the wonderful faces of your 4 beautiful healthy kids,I am sure even in the face of this disaster they'll provide you with a laugh,the way only little kids can,not to forget little Judge in all his cuteness,I am sure he's still full of misschiefs(sp?)..
Be sure,I talk about you and your family every day and think of you,not much help,I know..but you are certainly not forgotten,you are very much part of the Pets. family and when one is hurting so do we all.
I wish we could give you that very important light at the end of the tunnel...I know it's there and you will find it :love:
Hugs to your whole family :love: Anita
Schwinn September 12th, 2005, 09:29 AM I'm just writing this now as I don't get on very often on weekends...
Hi Pags,
I don't know that there is much that I can say, except be strong. I can only imagine how tough it can be, and how it must be difficult, at this point, to try and see light at the end of the tunnel. Often, during dificult times, I try to remember an earlier time in my life when things were difficult, when I dispaired and felt like I was trapped in a giant pit, and how it now seems so long ago. Remember, there is always a tomorrow, and the better tomorrow is coming. Hang in there, and remember that although you lost a lot of important things, a lot of things that may not be able to be replaced, you've still got the most important and the most irreplacable of them all--your family.
Luba September 12th, 2005, 10:22 AM THANK YOU~!~~
I've just sent these to her~! She will be so very happy to read them! YOu guys are awesome!!
:grouphug:
Luvmypit September 12th, 2005, 02:35 PM me too me too luba!
Dear Pags and family,
No words in the world can truly bring comfort to your family. But take comfort in the fact that you have a whole group here almost keeping a daily vigil of your updates! We read them everyday and its the first thing at least for me that I check. We worried about you and continue to do so. We understand what your going through yet can never truly comprehend the magnitude of your losses. I have included you in my bed time prayers and your family is ALWAYS in my thoughts. It truly has brought us to more of a realization of the disastor having a friend like you there. Please know we are here for you. That we care and have not nor will NOT forget about you! God bless you and your families and to the entire Gulf Coast! May the same wave that brought disastor and despair bring love, joy, and comfort. Keep the hope strong and don't feel discouraged. THERE IS A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL! And thats promise!
Love
Colleen aka, luvmypit!
chico2 September 12th, 2005, 04:31 PM Stenolyn,I am not sure where you came from or who you are,but nobody is asking you to send a check.
I personally know Luba and there is not a fishy bone in her body...if you read everything carefully you'd find a US account for people in the US interested in helping out and a Canadian account for us here in Canada.
Unlike many other charities I am 100% sure this money will go to the family we are trying to help.
You are suspicious,ok,then don't bother,nobody is forcing you...but our Luba has only good intentions out of concern for a loved member of this Forum.
Luba September 12th, 2005, 05:16 PM I want to fwd a message to you from pags (Anita):
"Dear Friends:
I have been trying to find a way to express to you all how much your words of encouragement have meant to all of us here -- to ALL of us..
Not only my immediate family.. but our neighbors and our friends from Alabama to Louisiana.
We share it all with everyone we run across... and we see a lot of broad smiles when we tell them we're not forgotten.
I still have trouble finding the words -- so I will tell you this...
This morning I woke up with a second-wind. This morning I woke up wanting to tackle this thing. This morning I dressed the kids in clean clothes and we
took the dog for a walk.
This morning we decided we're going to make it. We are going to reclaim
our lives.. our futures.
To all of you who have written, who have cried for us, or prayed for us -- I
want you to know that you are no small part of our renewed faith. Thank you!!
Thank you!!
As I told Luba yesterday... we're going to get our Gulf Coast back... We will. All of us. And then.. if ANY of you are ever in need of a good vacation to a really beautiful place -- come down and see us. We'll show you all some of that Southern Hospitality we've always been so famous for!
A multitude of thanks -- and much much love to you all,
Pagnita (I like it!) and family & friends from the beautiful Mississippi Gulf Coast".
Luba September 12th, 2005, 08:01 PM If anyone is interested in sending a CARE PACKAGE to Anita and her family please PM me for more information.
They don't have regular mail service YET but if we can get the care packages in the mail they may get them hopefully in a week or two and that's much better then nothing.
Thank you Whitewolf
Luba September 12th, 2005, 10:04 PM A bit of good news!!
Pags (Anita) tells me a WalMart store is open not too far away. So today they managed to get to the WalMart and buy some yogurt and some salad and some kitten food. THAT was a huge deal! Since the hurricane they haven't had any perishable food items.
Although the store has to close early on curfew, it gives people some time to go get some necessities and see some normal activity like shopping!!
I just had to share it with you all!! It certainly brought a big smile to my face :D
Prin September 12th, 2005, 10:13 PM Must have been a frenzy! I'll bet yogurt never tasted so good!! It is good news!
LL1 September 12th, 2005, 10:33 PM What you are doing is amazing Luba,bless you!
We're all pulling for you Pags!Stay strong!
chico2 September 13th, 2005, 06:34 AM That is good news,every little smidgen of normal life is a good sign and surely will lift everyones spirit...Thank's for the up-dates,Luba :love:
Luba September 13th, 2005, 11:27 AM Okay everyone take one deep breath and make a wish that WalMart lets me buy her a gift card over the phone!!
Okay wish really hard because I'm waiting for them to call me back right now!!
pags September 13th, 2005, 11:31 AM Please forgive me -- I pasted this in a couple different places rather than trying to rewrite a message. I hate doing that!!! But I only get a few minutes on the computer at a time right now... And no matter the trauma -- I'm still really long-winded. :o
Hello, everybody. Yes, it's me - Pags. Believe it or not they restored cable internet at my mother's house in Moss Point today and I am able to post from here for the time being. I haven't had a chance to read all of the messages here - but Luba has been keeping me updated via email for the last several days (thank you, Luba. thank you.) and I am so grateful to all of you.
We've all heard a thousand times in our lives that 'life goes on' -- and it really does. No matter what's going on -- life goes on. As I'm sure Luba mentioned -- we have a Wal-mart open now and we are able to get gasoline at many service stations. We're still staying at my mother's house while we try to get the mold and gook and nastiness cleaned out of what's left of our house so we can at least move back in upstairs. We had intended to be back there by the end of this past weekend -- but that didn't happen. Now we're shooting for the end of this week. Dave has had to go back to work now as well... Many of his co-workers are totally homeless.. or semi-homeless as we are. One of his co-workers so far is among the dead. It's very strange to try to find normalcy in such a place.. but that's what we have to do.
Semi-homeless. Honestly that's the new term for it. Our house isn't livable at the moment -- but we will have livable space again within the next month... It's all rather primitive and it will be for a while probably.. BUT, you guys, it's much better than most people are doing down here. We personally know about a dozen people who have an empty lot where their homes once stood... And we personally know several dozen people who don't have livable space as we do -- we were spared a lot simply because our house is on a raised foundation.. and because we have a second floor. We are some of the fortunate ones. All of these people I'm mentioning -- they all have families.. young children... They too need help.
You aren't seeing it on the news.. I know because we've had the national news for a few days now... And we search in vain for something really showing what happened here. I can tell you -- there is nothing untouched... This isn't about one city.. one area.. one county... Every area spanning our entire coastline and then about 60 miles inland has suffered extensive damage. I wish I could show you what I see when we go across town... The government housing projects have their modest little piles of keepsakes outside each apartment... The poorest neighborhoods have every personal possession thrown out at the street -- old armchairs repaired lovingly with duct tape and hand-me-downs that have found the end of the road... and the rich neighborhoods piled high with the most exquisite linens and furniture.. reduced to nothing. For miles... everyone lost everything -- some had more to lose than others... But we're all the same today.
The school where our boys go to school flooded as well... the damage is extensive and every desk, notebook, and table inside has been thrown out. Our church flooded as well and to add insult to injury the roof was torn off... But in October (we're aiming for October) - the kids from a neighboring parish will be coming to our school and to our church from now on. Why? Because there is nothing left of theirs.
I am deeply moved by your concern and by all of the help you have offered. I will never ever forget any of you for this. You are all my friends. And I want you to know...that any help you send will be shared with anyone around us who needs it. Nothing will be wasted. Nothing will be unappreciated.
I hope you'll all forgive me because it's hard for me to stay focused on whatever it is I'm trying to say. I've been in a daze for a couple of weeks now.. I guess it will be this way for a while. I will try to keep posting and hopefully become a little more coherent as time goes on.
I'm sure everybody has questions too -- so feel free to ask 'em... I'll do my best to answer!
Much love to all of you
Pags
Prin September 13th, 2005, 11:37 AM I think the closest thing to describing how it was down there was Oprah's two day special. They were talking to people and driving down streets showing how bad it was.
I'm just glad you got out in time. :) And you're amazing for looking out for the other families as well. :grouphug:
Luba September 13th, 2005, 11:47 AM I know you'll share with anyone else in need, you are a special special lady with a very special bunch there to take care of and have take care of you!
I'm so proud of you and feel so very blessed to have you as a friend and to have been able to know that you and your family have made it through the last couple of weeks.
Your worries and troubles are 'our' worries and troubles! We weep with you we smile with you and we share your pain as well as your triumphs.
And I'll tell you I did say a big hallilujah yesterday when you were able to buy some yogurt!!
I love ya'll ;) you know it!
Shamrock September 13th, 2005, 01:15 PM Dear Anita and family
Please forgive me for being so late in replying, I've been mostly offline, but would like to offer my prayers and good wishes to you and your husband, and your precious little children. My heart goes out to you, and to all those who have suffered so much, and face such daunting recovery.
I just cant imagine all that you have been through, the emotional fallout of all that's happened and the uncertainty of what's ahead.
Your spirit and resolve is so admirable,Anita, really illustrates the remarkable courage of the human spirit in the face of such overwhelming adversity. It's something to be truly proud of.
What a relief that a few services are at least becoming available again. The sheer scope of this tragedy is hard to fathom, to get a "handle on". As Prin stated, you have really put it in clear focus with your account of the havoc this disaster has created for your family, and for the area in which you live.
A true glimpse into the aftermath, of lives turned upside down. For you, and for so many others.
May God bless you and your loved ones, Anita, and watch over you as you go forward. May each new day bring you and all in the Gulf coast one step closer to seeing improvements and normalcy return.
Take good care of yourself, and know that many are praying for you. :grouphug:
Fran ( Shamrock)
doggy lover September 13th, 2005, 03:00 PM I'm so happy to hear from you again Pags, be as long winded as you want to be. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
chico2 September 13th, 2005, 04:03 PM Awww Anita(beautiful name :D )nice to hear from you again,I don't think anyone here can imagine what you and thousands others are going through,including me.
Is anyone helping you with the clean-up,like Fema,the National Guard or the Mexican soldiers I saw land in Mississippi??
I also watched an insurance-adjuster decide what was waterdamage and what was winddamage in a house,I hope you will at least get some insurance to cover appliances and such.
The covering on CNN of Mississippi has been very poor,it's mostly shown New Orleans,but it is a large city,generating a lot of money,so I guess that is why.
I am glad to hear your husband has a job to go to,unlike many others,at least you'll have some money coming in,but I suspect you'll need soo much more.
I don't know how you made it out of there,with 4 children,a puppy and a cat with kittens,but you did and I am very proud of you.
I am glad little Judge and the cat was not among the thousands of abandonned animals,drowning in this horrible brackish water.
I am sure,you and your husband will once again see your beautiful house and garden,it will take a long time and lots of work,but I believe you and your husband are made of the right stuff and will manage to get through this disaster,with a little help,of course :highfive:
:love: Anita(Chico2)
pags September 13th, 2005, 04:59 PM I think the closest thing to describing how it was down there was Oprah's two day special. They were talking to people and driving down streets showing how bad it was.
I'm just glad you got out in time. :) And you're amazing for looking out for the other families as well. :grouphug:
Prin! We actually got to hear the Oprah special on the radio -- but of course we didn't get to see the images. As far as the coastwide devastation ya'll have probably seen a lot more than we have. Since we didn't have television after the storm all we could do was listen to descriptions on the radio... After a while of course we saw our own neighborhood... And then we started getting in touch with friends and family elsewhere in Pascagoula, in Gulfport, in Pass Christian, in Bay St. Louis, in Poplarville and Lumberton, in Biloxi, in Gautier, in Ocean Springs, in Long Beach... and we heard their descriptions. This was when we were calling for help among our friends and family only to find they were in exactly the same situation. A couple days later we started hearing from friends from Louisiana as well -- and you're aware of how things are over there too. It wasn't until today that I got to see our city... I'm still in shock. It's not real. This was no normal storm.
By the time we got television back -- the news channels had mostly stopped with the scenes of devastation... I suppose it was time to move on. But we're still isolated.. and still wondering.
I grew up here. I was born in Gulfport at Memorial Hospital -- which I hear was severely damaged. I grew up in Bayou View - which I hear was being soberly dubbed "Lake Bayou View" as it had gone completely under water. The house of my childhood was completely destroyed. I went to elementary school at St. John's in downtown Gulfport... which we hear sustained heavy damage as well... And the pictures we've seen of downtown Gulfport.. *shudder* there's barely anything left of it. We moved here to Pascagoula two years ago from Gulfport... Our house there was leveled... as were all of the surrounding houses. It was less than one block from the beach. My father's office building.. where I worked for 10 years... but also where I spent many hours of my entire life... is gone now. It's unfathomable.
kimbilly September 13th, 2005, 05:22 PM Pags I am so glad you are able to get back online.
You are truley amazing for staying so positive about everything that you will face in the future. I hope that you get all the help that you need and that our long distance love and support is being felt down there.
Try to keep smiling.
All our love and support
Kim
pags September 13th, 2005, 05:42 PM I know you'll share with anyone else in need, you are a special special lady with a very special bunch there to take care of and have take care of you!
I'm so proud of you and feel so very blessed to have you as a friend and to have been able to know that you and your family have made it through the last couple of weeks.
Your worries and troubles are 'our' worries and troubles! We weep with you we smile with you and we share your pain as well as your triumphs.
And I'll tell you I did say a big hallilujah yesterday when you were able to buy some yogurt!!
I love ya'll ;) you know it!
You're quite special yourself, Luba... It's actually pretty easy to reach out to others in the middle of something so horrible and huge... It's almost a given. You - however -- have been reaching out from the comfort of your home.. taking time out of your life for people you've never met... Thank you.
Prin September 13th, 2005, 09:05 PM I understand a fraction of what you're talking about Pags. When I went to see my brother's apartment, I was overcome with such a weird sensation from having been in a place that was gone. It's hard to describe. I can't imagine if all the buildings were gone- that weird feeling must be so strong... :o
Luba September 13th, 2005, 09:27 PM You know I think it's very simple in life, you treat others the way you would like to be treated yourself.
My parents always instilled in me to give to those in need and who were needing. Whether it be a shoulder to cry on, a warm meal, a hug or more....
There are times when we feel as if we need or want to do more, yet we are bound and tied by things and people that stand in our way.
One can feel knocked down, stepped on, trampled and pushed aside, fogotten about...
But if you believe in humanity and decency something something ...a sign a feeling a belief will turn it around for you!
You never can give up on what may become of the future, for you are unable to know yourself until you get there!
Strength not only comes from within, it comes from a community and from those you surround yourself with. Keep surrounding yourself with positive and like minded individuals will help guide you through the 'storm' so to speak!
I try to live by example and select those who live by the same thread or strand... that you treat yourself with dignity and hold your head high, but always be humbled by what you have and what others don't...giving thanks for what you have instead of have not keeps your mind and heart warm not cold!
After all aren't warm hearts really easy to spot ;)
:grouphug:
chico2 September 13th, 2005, 09:34 PM Luba,beautifully said :love: thank you!
glasslass September 13th, 2005, 11:02 PM I'm at work and I just had to sneak a peak to update myself on this thread. Wow! Luba! You have a great way with words and expressed what I'm sure we all feel but are not able to verbalize as well. I have to close up the library now, so won't be able to look at any other threads. I just couldn't miss an update on Pags!
Pags, your positive attitude and beautiful spirit have made my evening. You're one heck of a fine example of what this country was built on! You did say it was ok to ask questions? I'd love to hear about your rescue. How are the critters doing?
Luba September 14th, 2005, 11:08 AM I just wanted to hug everybody!!! :grouphug:
pags internet connection isn't very stable and she's so very busy hoping to get back into her house and with all the children, and trying to get daily supplies she may not be on very much. She would love to help answer any of your questions I'm sure.... and will be on when she can! :D
The critters from what I know are all fine. Judge has a fear now of water (not a big surprise) the kittens eyes are open and they are wandering around with mama cat.
The children are restless and bored but the boys school has been wiped out and they have no school during the day as of yet.
She 'may' be able to move back into her 'gutted' home within the next few days if all goes well. There was an incredible amount of mold, I'm sure you could imagine.
Aside from that I'm sure pags has an enormous amount of stories and feelings to share. She is a great woman isn't she!! :angel:
BMDLuver September 14th, 2005, 11:12 AM Luba, this may sound odd but have you considered writing to Dr.Phil about them. I watched one of his shows yesterday and he's doing a lot to help. This internet friends angle may be something his producers would be interested in and it might get Pags a lot more financial aid? Just a suggestion.
JaydeDoggie September 14th, 2005, 11:38 AM I'm brand new, but was following thie thread for a few days. I'm soo sorry to hear that one of your members was hit by this devastation...
Pags and family, keep the faith, you survived the storm, you can and will rebuild.
Luba September 14th, 2005, 12:40 PM I've wrote to many individuals, companies, organizations, media over the last two weeks.
Just being honest and blunt here, writing to Dr. Phil would be a waste of time. There are thousands of stories like pags and many even much worse then hers. The producers of the show are hands on in communities and they hand pick the stories they want to publish. I'm running out of steam so if you want to email Dr. Phil bmd please go right ahead. I am channeling my energy where I think I may get a positive response, not a shot in the dark. Anyone else is more then welcome to pitch in and try out their own ideas.. :D
I've had no luck in securiing anyone able to take a delivery to Mississippi. I can't drive long distances or I would have taken it myself days ago
If anyone has any contacts to forward to me that would be useful please let me know. If anyone would make the trip to Mississippi to deliver donations from Toronto let me know. I have many people wanting to donate lots of things but I've had to tell them I can't take them all, I have no way to get it there.
People are forgetting and are turning numb to this disaster and that is just horrible for those going through it. Every day I spend hours on the phone both local and long distance trying to convince SOMEONE to help, I've gotten NOWHERE! Everyone is oh so sorry but nobody is willing to actually step up and say hey I'll 'help' not just 'suggest'. I've had a lot of 'suggestions' though, yes but nobody wanting to really help. Actually I can't say nobody I have had some offers of assistance in collecting baby clothes and making a few calls etc..
I post on Freecycle, (some of you may know about it) and I get DENIED by most of the Freecycle sites to post asking for help!
I tried to get pags a gift card for WalMart and they wouldn't let me do it!
I spent one and half hours on the phone to WalMart in Mississippi yesterday and countless calls the day before actually and literally begging them to take my credit card number down so I could get them a gift card, and they can get supplies.
THEY REFUSED....the reason it's the companies position 'not' to do that!
WHAT?? I try any and every angle I can think of and like a robotic WalMart employee 'I'm sorry the company policy is not to do that' So I try to pay for it ON LINE because walmart.com has gift cards you can order. So I say okay well I'll pay for it on line and then they can pick it up at the customer service desk at the store because they dont have regular mail delivery to send it to their house and they need things 'now' well......NOPE they can't do that either....
hmm so I call long distance again this time, to the gift card order desk, wait on hold music for 24 minutes and ... NOPE they can't help me either, company doesn't want to do that ..(are u following the trend)
So I ask for a corporate office number. The lady said she has a toll free number, and I explained to her hey I can't use that from Canada can you give the local calling number...she said she didn't have it. So I said okay well, can you put me on hold and call the toll free number and ask them? She actually HUFFED into the phone at me, and then HUNG UP on me!
I'm not kidding...So I call back (again long distance) and ofcourse wait until someone is able to take my call another 15 minutes, get someone else.
I get repeated some line that you know is prewritten for them to say.. "We are not set up to provide that service" UH DUH ! Even when I asked for a corporate office number that wasnt' toll free, they 'Are not able to provide that' either. LMHO
Okay so I keep searching ON LINE for a corporate number and I do find one...I call and 'they are not able to assist me' there either.
They tell me as everyone has to 'Western Union' the money.
Okay so I said , Yes this has been an option except ALL of the Western Unions in her area are wiped out. And when they get set up it will cost $30 American money to send her the funds. Money they could desperately use.
So I call back the WalMart in her town and say, okay what if she gives me a list of things to buy and I pay for it on my credit card if you can't do this 'gift card' thing.. 'Sorry maam we can't do that either'
Now this is going on two days dealing with WalMart's inadequacies and lack of compassion. Don't let those nice TV commercials fool you!
Then finally I say enough, they just won't do it and thats that! Disappointing considering it's the only store with things that pags needs as well as others.
I did find a Western Union that is open but they are waiting for supplies and can't give out any payments until they get them delivered, when? Who knows....we'll just have to wait! There is another Western Union in another part of the state that is open but hey it costs money and gas to get there doesn't it!
So, thats pretty much the way it has been with almost everyone. WalMart is just the example. Every other company and organization I deal with is the same way.
No offence to any suggestions anyone may make but unless you are really involved trying to do something, you have no idea the amount of run around you get....you may want to try it sometime (but first have a drink HAHA)!!
You would think compassion would play a roll but in most cases it doesn't.
The people that do mean well and those that do want to truly help are few and far between. On that note, if any of you have any contacts who can ship donations of goods to them for free to Mississippi or anyone want to volunteer to drive it down. Please let me know!!
BMDLuver September 14th, 2005, 12:51 PM I will make no further suggestions. Thank you.
Luba September 14th, 2005, 12:57 PM Sorry if you took offence but I feel to say it like it is. If you truly think Dr. Phil will help then please spend the time to send the email yourself.
Suggestions are wonderful but offers to help are few and far between.
It's only 'me' and I can't do everything myself, I am only one person trying to do the best I can. I'm sorry bmd if your feelings were hurt by my feeling the email to dr phil would be a waste of time, but it's simply just how I feel.
It takes so much time to do all of this and I only have so many hours in a day, there is only one 'me'. Please feel free to email dr phil if you feel his show will help!! I'm not stopping you :D
Again what is really needed right now is transport of goods and donations.
Copper'sMom September 14th, 2005, 01:03 PM Pags,
I am so sorry I haven't had time to write any words of encouragement to you and your beautiful family. Nevertheless, you have been in my thoughts and prayers.
I was so happy to hear you and your family, Judge and momma cat and kittens all made it out alive and well(as well as you could be in your situation). I was shocked to hear that you were staying home through Katrina and I really expected the worst. It was great relief to hear you all made it out alive. You truly have angels looking out for you and your family. You have been given a second chance on life, and it will make you even stronger than what you were before. All that was lost, were nothing more than material things. You haven't lost what is most important - life. You have your husband and your beautiful children(a brand new one at that!) and your puppy and Momma cat and her kittens.
Take the time to grieve what you have lost and let all of your feelings out(this goes for your hubby and kids too). It is all part of the healing process and it can't begin until you have dealt with what you are feeling now. Look to the future, don't look back at the past. You can't change the past, but you can change the future!!
What doesn't kill you, will make you stronger as a person and as a family. Things can't get any worse, from here on in, they can only get better......and it WILL get better. Whatever it is that you need, just ask. We are all here to help you!!!!!! :grouphug:
Glad to see your back!!
Sherry :grouphug:
kimbilly September 14th, 2005, 01:23 PM Luba, how far away from Gulfport is Pags?
kimbilly September 14th, 2005, 01:25 PM In-Store and On-Line Assistance
On Wednesday, Wal-Mart made available its gift registry kiosks so anyone displaced by the hurricane can sign up for items they need. This allows people across the country to buy items for individuals in the same way that they’d buy a gift for someone who had registered with this Wal-Mart service for a wedding.
Hmmm a bit confusing, how to the people get the "gifts"?
Luba, which store is closest to Pags, I am in the mood for a telephone war.
Luba September 14th, 2005, 01:38 PM WalMart is full of balongne
They aren't helping or they would have offered some assistance to me this week. I tried everything including begging but it does not work.
It's not just customer service staff I spoke to either it's management.
I'll pm you kimbilly.
kimbilly September 14th, 2005, 02:46 PM Well I just called Walmart and after a few people transfers I eventually got on to a manager.
I told him I was calling from Canada and that I wanted to help a family that had been effected by Katrina, he then said (straight away) "Is this Luba?". Surprised I said no and he responded with "oh, well then this is the second call I have got from Canada!"
Does he not realise that there are people up here wanting to help too??
Anyway, he has agreed to help out!! So lets hope this is the start to getting Pags some supplies.
:angel: She needs all the help she can get :angel:
Luba September 14th, 2005, 02:53 PM I am THRILLED and I don't know 'why' they all of a sudden changed their minds to help.
I have been sitting here waiting for a return call from the manager that never came today (thus you see my frustrated post from earlier).
Apparently they have some sort of their own money transfer system similar to that of western union within the US walmarts. They charge a fee as does western union and my only thought is MONEY. They wanted to get the extra money through the money transfer service (their own I think).
Kimbilly thank you for making that call, I don't know what came over them. Whether they realized it's money loss for them or whether someone actually has compassion. Either way, I"m greatful you got a positive answer. Thank you!
Shamrock September 14th, 2005, 03:36 PM Way to go, Kimbilly!! Kudos to you for making this call and getting them to agree! :thumbs up
kimbilly September 14th, 2005, 03:44 PM Way to go, Kimbilly!! Kudos to you for making this call and getting them to agree!
Thanks Shamrock, but I really think the Kudos should go to Luba. I am pretty sure it was her collection of calls that made them decide they should help out....
Either way it is good that this is now an option.
:)
Luba September 14th, 2005, 03:48 PM Yes you're all probably thinking I'm a nutcase LOL and she all of a sudden makes one call and they go OKAY!! LOL it's very funny!! Oh I have to laugh at it cause if I don't then I'll go nuts!
I'm trying to reach pags to see if she can or wants to go to the WalMart today. Not able to reach her so will have to wait.
sammiec September 14th, 2005, 05:32 PM WTG Ladies!!!! *Hugs* GREAT work!!!
I just wanted to share something.. I'm not sure how this link will work.. but it's worth a shot...
THis is CNN in Pags' town... the devistation is undiscribable... :( And the worst part is all the focus is being held towards New Orleans.. there are other families and towns that have suffered just as much if not more...
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2005/katrina/rescue.relief/
Click on Biloxi and then scroll overtop of the cameras and one of them is PASCAGOULA, MISSISSIPPI (The camera on the far right side) where Pags is from..
Pags, we are thinking about you! I pray that you and your family are able to get your lives back together! I hope that you're able to find comfort in all the support you have here! *hugs*
Luba September 14th, 2005, 05:41 PM Thanks Sam I wasn't able to get the video to work but I can imagine. Maybe it's just busy right now!
I haven't been able to reach Anita this afternoon the phones are wonky! The Walmart closes at 7pm for curfew so it will have to be tomorrow tomorrow there's always tomorrow! LOL
Prin September 14th, 2005, 08:32 PM it's true though- Dr Phil has what 7 million viewers a day? And they just did a couple of shows on it so the letters would pour in... Maybe if we all wrote one... :)
Schwinn September 15th, 2005, 10:05 AM I do know that we have been getting updates by my company as to what can be done for people in affected areas (LA, AL and MO). I deal with US customers and pension cheques. We are being told that UPS is making limited deliveries, as well, areas where they can't get to, they are holding things at the local station.
As for the Dr. Phil thing, it might work. The unique angle is all the people pulling together on the board. If someone has the time, it's worth a shot.
Luba September 15th, 2005, 04:19 PM Another day full of calls both local and long distance, emails and all were negative. Nobody is willing to help transport donation of goods to Mississippi.
Though with all the negativity there is a bright side. We all can just make this lovely family care packages and send them down to them!
Again if you are interested in sending care packages please pm me for further information. Pags (Anita) may be off line for awhile I don't believe she has internet access right now.
I've got many things together and will be sending them boxes this week.
Please, if you can do the same. They really need our help. Get together with your friends, family and coworkers. Go do a little shopping buy some things you know they will need and some things for the kids as well. The most important thing is to make the package with love, so whatever you put into it it will reflect your care and concern for them and your love for anothers need.
Unless I get a call or some miracle happens I may be unable to get a truck down to them. I'm almost all out of options!
Again, if any of you have a contact that can do this or assist please, do your best....make that phone call, get in touch with that person you know who may be able to help and explain the situation.
Where there is a will there is a way!
Dog Dancer September 15th, 2005, 05:06 PM Luba you're working so hard and we're all so proud of you. Pags must know what a wonderful friend she has in you. Please take care of yourself too Luba, I worry you're getting so involved you're not taking care of your needs as well. Relax and let it work itself out. It will! You're doing so wonderful don't let the little setbacks get you down. I hope it's not too late to get to the TD Bank. Will be there on Saturday with a donation for Pags and family. Not nearly what my heart would like to give, but all that we can muster for now. Wouldn't you know both dogs to the vet this week and the car broke down, but still I'm grateful and know how much worse we could be doing. Anyhow, Luba just wanted to tell you not to forget to take care of you. Pags will understand if you take an hour off you know :angel: :grouphug: I did see the video and it's unbelievable. I hope Pags and family have gas and can get to the grounds where the supplies are now.
Luba September 15th, 2005, 05:29 PM Dog Dancer thats very sweet to say...I'm okay :D really I am!!
Yes it all gets frustrating but I realize who am I to complain while I sit in my home with all things accessible to me? The only frustration is getting things to them. Which now I don't want to wait for any offers to take things....if it comes at a later date thats great but right now a few things I could send by mail would help them if even put a smile on someones face!
:D Thank you for being sweet!!
Luba September 15th, 2005, 06:46 PM A very good update
Just now, just this very moment........we have success with WalMart!
Thanks to the donations raised they have a lovely WalMart gift card and can buy many things they need.
I spoke to them when they were in the store and with the assistant store manager. I asked the store manager to please give her a hug for me since I can't do it myself.
I think everyone cried!
KimBilly THANK YOU for that call you made yesterday!! This has meant a world of difference to this family right now.
Pags wanted me to thank each and every one of you who have donated and supported her and her family. She is so very greatful of the care and compassion being shown to her and her family.
They can buy much needed necessities that they've been doing without for over two weeks now!!
God Bless you all :grouphug: from and to everyone involved!!
Luba September 16th, 2005, 02:35 PM I just got off the phone with pags (Anita)
They are starting to receive some mail delivery YAH! Care packages are MUCh needed PLEASE send me a pm for the information.
She and hubby tried desperately to get the washer and dryer to work but they uhm went up in smoke, as did all the other appliances and electronics. The refrigerator will you believe it, is sorta working right now. So they have a cool place to put their food! Isn't that amazing.
There are piles of debris and contents of everyones home sitting along the street. They have been picked up 3x so far but as soon as they are gone there are more piles and contents, of folks lives that take their place. Everything just tossed out as simple as that!
She's holding up, she is a strong woman with the deepest devotion to her family. I am so very proud of her and her husband, they are remarkable individuals.
They are happy to be home, what's left of it at this point...but happy to have somewhere to feel grounded to begin 'again'.
The boys are still unable to go to school that will still be weeks away. They are keeping themselves amused as best they can. Miss Yvonne the 2yr old is best buddies with Judge, they really are the cutest....follow eachother everywhere.
Mama cat has settled a little and her 4 kitties are doing fine!
The donations made to help pay for the WalMart gift card will help them buy so many needed things, although only a small drop in the big bucket of replacement it IS helping.
kimbilly September 16th, 2005, 03:35 PM Luba, What kind of stuff are you looking at putting in the care packages? Do we have a list of things needed that can be mailed?
Luba September 16th, 2005, 03:43 PM You name it they need it, to be honest!
Whatever you think they can use, they'll need.
Anything from baby clothes and receiving blankets and stuff for a two year old girl and 7 and 8 yr old boys to things for Anita and hubby Dave....
to household things like new face cloths and some linens and towels, dish cloths..anything, kitchen utensils, bathroom things, first aid supplies, omg...the list is endless...really endless.
I can make a list but if I say 'everything' that pretty much covers it Kim.
I'm not trying to be vague but really thats the brunt of it!!
Luba September 16th, 2005, 06:30 PM If you haven't decided on giving yet or if you've been reluctant to send money. There are some other alternatives available now that the area is receiving mail delivery.
For home repair and many other things
Lowes Home Improvement is located in Pags (Anita's) community of Pascagoula.
If you would like to buy an all occassion gift card for them through Lowes
Please visit this site:
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=giftCard&view=home&pad=true
The cards start as low as $5.00
WalMart gift cards start as low as $10.00
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product_listing.gsp?cat=130663
Now that other options are available it may be easier for folks to help out a little bit. Remember a $10 or $20 gift certificate can really help out. Especially if you are trying to replace the entire contents of your home.
There are other options as well. If you for instance belong to a collectors club program like AIRMILES www.airmiles.ca then you can use your airmiles to purchase gifts on line and send them to the Thomers. Of course there are certain gift cards or certificates which they can't use in the U.S so you'd need to select an appropriate gift. Click on the 'rewards' section.
They lost 'all' of their cookware and these are some current Airmiles specials I just found:
T-Fal Optimal 2-Piece Frypan Set FOR 375 reward miles
Manufacturer's Model Num 51926
AIR MILES Item Number 64110914
Value and performance are delivered in this fabulous ensemble from T-Fal. These 20 cm and 26 cm frypans feature T-Fal's patented "Thermospot" technology.
Lagostina® Classic Original 8-Piece Cookware Set
1,600 reward miles
https://www.airmiles.ca/images/AirMiles/Rewards/Details/Products/641_3507_PROD_ENG.jpg
Bionaire ENVIROKLEANTM Air Cleaner
900 reward milesManufacturer's Model Num BAP1422-CN
AIR MILES Item Number 6409773
Help make the air you breathe as clean as possible! Ideal for rooms up to 180 sq.ft **this is a great one because of the contamination in the house**
https://www.airmiles.ca/images/AirMiles/Rewards/Details/Products/640_9773_PROD_ENG.jpg
Northern Feather Night Dreams Queen Size 4 Pillow Pack850 reward miles
Lay your head down on pure comfort! The Northern Feather Night Dreams Queen Size 4 Pillow Pack includes anti-microbial and anti-bacterial ball fibre, 290 threat count, 100% cotton,
They lost ALL their linens and things.*great idea*
Koolatron 12 Volt Portable Power with 260PSI Air Compressor 725 reward miles (NEAT THING THIS IS great for emergencies!!)
The Koolatron 12 Volt Portable Power with 260PSI Air Compressor is an essential tool for every family. You'll find many uses for it. For example, it can jumpstart a car or supply power to a cell phone, lights or any other 12-volt accessory. Great for family vacations! Take a look at what this can do:
- It's a portable power source for 12V accessories
- Recharges at home or in your vehicle and is powerful enough to jumpstart vehicles
- 900 amps peak power / 400 amps boost power
- 17 amp hour capacity (can power a Kooratron Cooler for 3 to 4 hours)
- Sealed rechargeable maintenance free battery
- Emergency light with on/off switch
- 260 PSI Compressor with pressure gage
- Battery power level meter
- 12 volt portable power in bright yellow case with integral handle and with attached jumper cables
https://www.airmiles.ca/images/AirMiles/Rewards/Details/Products/6441_0929_PROD_ENG.jpg
If you have a lot of miles and want to help this is a great package
because they lost all their tools to fix the house up, every power tool was ruined.
Skil 18 Volt Cordless 4 Tool combo Kit
3,100 reward miles
Model Num SK288716
AIR MILES Item Number 64410678
Every household, and business owner, needs the Skil 18 Volt Cordless 4 Tool combo Kit. Includes:- 2-Speed Drill/Driver w/Stud Finder- 7 1/4'' Circular Saw- Reciprocating Saw- Flashlight- 2 Batteries- 1 Hour Charger w/Bag
https://www.airmiles.ca/images/AirMiles/Rewards/Details/Products/6441_0678_PROD_ENG.jpg
For Yvonne, doubles as a learning tool and a place to sit :D
Learning Musical Chair - English
450 reward miles
Manufacturer's Model Num H4609
AIR MILES Item Number 64210716
Language: English. Age: 1-3 years.
https://www.airmiles.ca/images/AirMiles/Rewards/Details/Products/6421_0716_PROD_ENG.jpg
For the boys, they lost theirs in the flood
2,050 reward milesManufacturer's Model Num SP2
AIR MILES Item Number 6422858
Forget everything you know and step into the 128-bit universe brought to you by the Playstation® 2 computer entertainment system.
https://www.airmiles.ca/images/AirMiles/Rewards/Details/Products/642_2858_PROD_ENG.jpg
So there are just a few things you can visit the sites yourself.
IF you plan on buying something through AIRMILES you may want to post it here so someone else doesn't buy the same thing!!
I just felt that many folks want to contribute a different way and this may just be another option!
:D
Cards and Gift packages
Can be mailed to :
The Thomer Family
c/o 1505 Gallery Street
Pascagoula MS 39581
Luba September 17th, 2005, 12:16 PM Can anyone in the U.S tell me of any rewards programs that allow you to accumulate points then buy things (like our version of Airmiles)
If so can you let me know the name and such, if they have a website too....
If you're really super you can find out for me if you can buy things and have them sent to pags like the above things I indicated Airmiles will.
Please post any info you know! Thank you for your help!
chico2 September 17th, 2005, 01:27 PM Luba,thank's for their snail-mail address,this way anyone can send anything directly to Anita at any time :thumbs up
kimbilly September 17th, 2005, 02:51 PM Luba, Thanks so much for the additional ideas.
Come on everyone, lets get some things going their way.
Luba September 17th, 2005, 04:52 PM Wow we got another :ca: donation that makes (6) donations to the Canadian account.
Thank you my 6 little angels ! You've all earned your wings and a :grouphug: too!
:angel: :angel: :angel: :angel: :angel: :angel:
pamha September 17th, 2005, 11:55 PM The only good US points program I know of is mypoints.com I doubt it would be worthwhile to sign up for a short time unless you love filling out credit card applications or have a bunch of points already. It pays for a Red Lobster dinner about once a year for us.
I did have another thought, I`ve shipped boxes of clothes across the US before and the shipping costs can be really high. What I think I`m going to do is go ahead and donate what I have already to local agencies who are helping there and send $ at least what I`ve saved in shipping costs to someone in particular.
Luba do you know if its easier for her to cash checks or use MOs or Travelers checks?
Luba September 18th, 2005, 10:58 AM Thanks for the info on the points program.
Cheque cashing not so good for them right now though it can be done 'sorta' See the bank is only open for curfew and that was 3/4 hours a day and not very close to where they live. Her husband works and she has the 4 children at home, she can't take them to the bank because no transport but also can't wait hours in a line up outside until she can get in.
Depending on the amount being sent cost effective can be, the money transfers available at WalMart and Western Unions.
I'll see if I can get more info about travellers cheques I don't know, can you use them at WalMart? IF you can then they could use those.
I just found out that someone, some kind soul has loaned them the use of their washer and dryer. So she can do some laundry now! YAY!
StaceyB September 18th, 2005, 11:25 AM If you can purchase the gift cards to whatever stores they have access to like the walmart. Maybe there is also a home depot for repair supplies, anyway if you purchased the gift cards yourself and just sent those there wouldn't be any wasted time standing in line at banks. They would be able to just go to the store and use them.
Luba September 18th, 2005, 12:50 PM If you look up at one of my previous posts Up up upppp!! LOL
there is a Lowes Home Improvement store in their town,
I've supplied the link as well u can order the cards on line and have them sent to the address I posted.
Luba September 18th, 2005, 11:06 PM Cards and Gift packages
Can be mailed to :
The Thomer Family
c/o 1505 Gallery Street
Pascagoula MS 39581
I was just telling someone concerned about postage that even if you buy ONE little item like a top or pair of shorts or something and put it in a legal sized envelope it will go with letter class mail and it's cheap :D
It wouldn't be a bad idea to even send them a greeting card and send your thoughts and messages to them that way. I'm sure it would be a lovely thing to receive happy greetings. It would let them know they are cared for and loved, something that is often a topic of what she says 'they feel forgotten about' (not by us but in general)
Emily's clothing anywhere from 2/3 mons to 6mons (fast growing newborn)
Yvonne 3x girls
William and George sizes 10,12 and 14 boys
Anita and Dave large and xlarge tshirts
Ladies for more particulars on Anita's needs u can pm me! :D
Other needs, well just about everything!
Prin September 18th, 2005, 11:16 PM Here Montrealers: A sale I have been to since I was little. They have oshkoshes for kids relatively cheap, and jeans and shirts for adults too...
http://www.howick.com/?myndeye
Click on Factory Sales at the bottom...
Luba September 19th, 2005, 07:15 PM I would like to give you some updates on pags....
Anita stepped on a nail and had to be taken off to the docs by her hubby to have it checked out and get a tetnus shot. The air conditioning that a contractor did happen to get working for them upstairs has now died and they're all downstairs trying to cope there.
Nerves are a little frazzled because of a threat of another hurricane coming through. They just can't wait unti the season is over!
There is enough food right now. The boys go back to school in October but the school has been badly damaged. Things wont' be the same or near 'normal' for quite a few months either there or at home.
Any messages you want to give her just put them here and I'll be sure she gets them :D OR you can mail her a little card, she'd like that!! I'm sure they all would!
Cards and Gift packages
Can be mailed to :
The Thomer Family
c/o 1505 Gallery Street
Pascagoula MS 39581
chico2 September 20th, 2005, 07:14 AM Thank's Luba....Looking at the big weather-map,it seems the Oceans are churning with hurricanes,I could not imagine living under such threats.
Wherever Rita hits,it's bad,but let's hope it bypasses the already devastated areas :fingerscr for Pags and everyone else :love:
Luba September 20th, 2005, 12:46 PM Nobody is looking forward to Rita, it's unbelievable....I'm sure our prayers and wishes are with them all right now, they sure need it!
Jackie467 September 20th, 2005, 01:53 PM I hope things get better for poor pags. She's been through so much. it looks like rita may miss her though, it's coming straight for me :eek: . Hopefully it won't strengthen too much by the time it gets here. If it's a catagory 4 or 5 we have decided to evacuate. Since we are inland a bit (about 50 miles) if it's a 3 or below we're going to stay. in my area the biggest threat is the spin off tornados. Guess we'll see, it's suposed to hit sat.
Luba September 20th, 2005, 02:28 PM Jackie if you don't already have them go get some sheets of plywood for your windows.
Do you have an emergency kit? Flashlight with extra batteries, candles, matches or bbq lighter they are safer, lots of water ( i tell people fill your bath tub with water (duck tape off the overflow so you can fill it right up), you can use this to atleast wash down what is in your toilet or use for cleaning things)
Be sure you have a small portable radio with batteries in it and set it to an AM station that gives regular news updates!
I hope you'll be okay :grouphug:
Prin September 20th, 2005, 03:24 PM Aw Jackie! I hope nothing too severe comes your way. :fingerscr :grouphug:
chico2 September 20th, 2005, 04:04 PM Jackie,I hope you will be safe,tornados can cause a lot of damage too.
Better safe than sorry,as the world has learned from Katrina,hopefully you are a safe distance away :fingerscr
Dog Dancer September 20th, 2005, 05:04 PM Jackie, I hope you don't get a direct hit. We'll be thinking of all you folks. I've been watching Rita and not been happy at all!
So did anyone else get warm fuzzies listening (reading) to Luba swing into Rescue II ?? Luba your heart is so big :angel: Give it up girl, you're stuck to this board just like we're all stuck to you. :grouphug:
This really just goes to show that we all need to have radio's, flashlights, etc. for emergencies (food and water for humans and pets). I live in earthquake territory and have to admit I am not prepared adequately. Time to take action.
Jackie467 September 20th, 2005, 05:39 PM Thanks guys it means a lot to me that your worried. It looks like Rita is heading to Galveston which is 50 miles straight south from us. They predict it will be about a catagory 3. We are still thinking of heading north to dallas anyway. Starting wensday at 6am galveston will have a mandetory evacuation. They already did a volentary evacuation for galveston today. We have stocked up on water and ice, canned food, dog food, cat food, cat litter and all that good stuff. We are starting to put up our papers and valubles into the attic. by thursday we'll decide if we're evacuating to dallas. I'll keep you guys updated as much as possible.
Luba September 20th, 2005, 06:31 PM I'm so happy to hear you have made preparations and are thinking ahead of time! God Bless you and I hope that things will be better then what is expected. This certainly is a season nobody will EVER forget!
Okay there was another donation to the Canadian Account
T's Mom that MAY be yours!
A reminder if you've dontated $50 or more to let me know by pm and I'll send you out your Free Safety Identification kit!!
Thank you we now have *8* Angels
:angel: :angel: :angel: :angel: :angel: :angel: :angel: :angel:
doggy lover September 20th, 2005, 06:58 PM Jackie play it safe and don't take any chances. We'll end up with more sleepless nights wondering if you are ok, like we did with Pags for a few days. Take care.
BoonyB September 21st, 2005, 07:32 AM I just saw about an hour ago on CNN that rita is now a cat 4, and could be a cat 5 for a short time.
I hope everyone plays it safe out there !
Luba September 21st, 2005, 05:40 PM We have a 9th angel!! :angel:
I am so very touched, you are such a wonderful group of people. Thank you so very kindly!! It's the little people like us that make a BIG difference!!
Luba September 21st, 2005, 11:01 PM I wanted to let you know I was able to speak with Anita very briefly on the phone this afternoon.
She's doing okay, her foot is healing. She and her husband Dave have made arrangements to evacuate re: Rita if they need to and have lodging already set and ready if necessary.
Unfortunately the insurance company has still NOT sent anyone over to atleast tarp her roof there is still a big hole in it (tsk tsk tsk)
Everyone is holding up okay right now, plugging along trying to get through this the best they can.
She wanted me to say hello to all of you and to thank you for your prayers and your kind donations. The family is deeply moved!
Luba September 23rd, 2005, 04:57 PM Okay this is really strange I just made a post and it disappeared (ghosts) LOL
Anyways...
This is a bit important
Anyone who has made a donation to either U.S or Canadian bank accounts
PLEASE pm me with the date and branch/bank the donation was made and the amount.
Thank you. I want to track and make sure everything is done appropriately!
Thanks to every :angel: out there!! :D
Luba September 23rd, 2005, 05:43 PM Thank you to our 10th Angel!! :angel: You are a bunch to be very very proud of!! :grouphug:
Luba September 25th, 2005, 07:54 PM Okay just a little update. Pags and her family evacuated for the weekend but are now back home. They are fine, and nothing further is damaged to the best of my knowledge at this point!
She sends a big hello and wants everyone to know they made it through yet another hurricane!!
:D
chico2 September 26th, 2005, 06:56 AM Thank's Luba,Pags and her family were on my mind,lets hope this is it,no more disasters...the whole thing is just beyond belief :eek:
Luba October 2nd, 2005, 09:59 PM Hi folks sorry I've been off line for a few days.
I'm going to the bank tomorrow and I'll update you as well after I speak to Anita. Going to try to reach her tomorrow on the phone!!
Prin October 2nd, 2005, 10:00 PM I saw her online yesterday, but she didn't post anything. I hope they're still ok. I hope this thread and this issue keep coming up and don't fade away. :fingerscr :grouphug:
Jazz&Cricket October 3rd, 2005, 07:42 AM Luba, have you had any luck with transport of your supplies? Manitoulin Transport, (based in Gore Bay but international trucking,) has arranged to send a full transport of donated supplies from our area (Elliot Lake through to Manitoulin Island). They do have terminals in the GTA and you might have some luck with them.
Thanks for posting the other information on how to help out. I'll look into that this week.
Luba October 4th, 2005, 06:07 PM Hi there
What some companies are doing are taking supplies in general to areas affected but not to specific individuals.
I've had a hair pulling contest with some courier companies. I have to send everything myself. THe one company who said YES they'd do it backed out on me and denied even saying they would do it to begin with.
Funny thing they record ALL their calls for QA right so I asked them to review the call.....they never got back to me . My return calls to them were hitting brick walls they just dont' want to do it without getting paid thats all.
Thems the breaks!!
Luba October 6th, 2005, 05:47 PM BTW Prin I don't think she was on line, she has no service at her home yet. NO computer either. It may have been her mother in law, as she posted the original help request for pags. She was probably just reviewing the thread etc..
Luba October 7th, 2005, 09:14 PM CARE PACKAGES STILL DESPERATELY NEEDED!!!!!
I spoke to her yesterday though and things are still unsettled and unsettling. Not much help at all from
FEMA and the community is actually giving their supplies to RED CROSS when teh red cross truck comes around they have NOTHING to give but things like snacks. Not even water....
They treck miles to get supplies and you need a car.
People in her community are starting to sell their homes, and they are also still sleeping in tents. FEMA was supposed to supply them with trailers but nobody has them yet.
IF you use FEMA's money you have to use it for EXACTLY what they tell you to use it for, if you don't then they expect full pay back.
Anita still has a huge hole in her roof and side of her house, they haven't tarped it yet, the BLUE ROOF committe was supposed to do it but each time they come around they are unprepared to do the work and just leave.
Insurance hasn't settled any claim yet so they can't get started rebuilding or fixing teh things they need to.
Apparently the MOST that FEMA is giving is 10grand and thats IF you're house was completely destroyed down to the foundation......so you see Anita and her family are pretty much on their own, Insurance covers NOTHING and everything will have to be their own money, when and if they ever get it.
They have only stud walls and concrete floor right now. Good thing it doesn't get much below 60 degrees in the winter.
Sent my boxes off to her, considering FEDEX copped out on sending them as they promised, that was a big headache and a half.
ALSO the next bunch of financial donations which have come in are being sent off to them tomorrow!!
Thanks a load a bunch for everything everybody!!
I'm going to paste this same message in some other spots so everyone can read it!!
Keep prayers up! They sure need them!
hugs
Prin October 7th, 2005, 09:31 PM Luba, we just send cheques to the bank?
StaceyB October 7th, 2005, 10:47 PM This is sad seeing that w/o the governments help other people and groups have nearly raised what they said would be enough to rebuild and clean up. If you add in their amount there should be more than enough. Someone should question where this money is actually going.
BoxerRescueMTL October 8th, 2005, 07:07 AM Luba, we just send cheques to the bank?
Yup-sounds too easy, lol. But that's it.
chico2 October 8th, 2005, 07:33 AM Watching CNN it all sounds great,billions of $$$ for the needy and rebuilding,but as of yet we still have to see any proof..
A lot of the money is concentrated on NO,rebuilding businesses,to bring in Revenue..to get people working and bringing back tourists.
All through the days and days of reporting,very little was said about Mississippi,so I am not surprised they feel abandoned in the smaller towns.
Heck,in Florida after last years major hurricane,the people are still living in temporary trailors.
I think people are getting donation-weary,at least to bigger relief-organisations,like the Red Cross,never knowing where the money is going.I wish I had sent our bigger donation to Pags rather than the Red Cross. At least giving to Pags,we know everything is going to help her family.
Luba,thank you for the update and for making sure Pags and her family is not forgotten :love:
Luba October 13th, 2005, 11:06 PM I just sent the second batch of donations along with three large care packages to Anita and her family.
Thank you to everyone who has donated so far, who cares and who has said a prayer or sent positive thoughts.
Anything is worthy, believe me!!
I am very very disappointed in the Red Cross. To be honest, I just said the other day they must be 'loving' these disasters, they're getting donations up the wazoo! Sounds shameful but it's true..... where is all this money going? It's not reaching the people in need. If you are in need and you are giving donations to the Red Cross mobile units that come about to help YOU then something is definitely wrong!!
Another note about the levee's....and wondering why they are only repairing them to pre Katrina status and not any stronger. The repaired levee's will still only hold back a Catagory 3 hurricane and nothing more.
Yes Prin just send a cheque to the account if you wish to make a cash donation, or do up a care package and send it to Anita directly in Mississippi. It's really all up to you :D Thank you so much! :grouphug:
CANADIAN DONATIONS
TD Canada Trust
Branch # 253 & Account # 6293328
3115 Kingston Road
Scarborough, ON
M1M1P3
Make cheques out to :
Account # 6293328
Branch # 253
OR
AMERICAN DONATIONS
The Thomer Family Fund
Commerce Bank
3051 Walton Road
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
Luvmypit October 14th, 2005, 11:38 AM Please let pags know that we haven't fogotten about her!
Thanks for doing all this Luba! I just sent my donation into the account.
:grouphug:
Luba October 16th, 2005, 03:47 PM Thank you I hope to speak to her very soon!
She doesn't have a home phone and cell is intermittant use so when I get to reach her I'll tell her for sure!!
THANK YOU :angel: for donating!!!
:grouphug:
Luba October 18th, 2005, 03:59 PM HOW SAD! THIS IS PAGS (ANITA'S KITTEN) OUR FRIEND FROM THIS BOARD, WHO SURVIVED AND IS REBUILDING FROM HURRICANE KATRINA. THIS KITTEN AND IT'S LITTERMATES ARE SURVIVORS AS WELL!
STOLEN MALE KITTEN
NOT FULLY WEANED
BLACK WITH GREY STRIPES
LONG FUR
WHITE TIP ON CHIN AND FEET
ROUNDED EARS
FUZZY HAIR ON EARS AND FACE AND TAIL
VERY PRETTY MARKINGS, WOULD BE 9.5 WEEKS OLD 'NOW'
stolenkitten@hotmail.com
***TAKEN ON OCTOBER 9TH FROM ANITA'S HOME IN PASCAGOULA MISSISSIPPI**
*KITTEN MAY BE IN THE PENSACOLA AREA OF FLORIDA NOW with someone who may own or have a friend who owns a white BMW Sedan*
*WAITING FOR UPDATED PICTURE OF KITTEN*
A man described as white possible 30's grabbed the kitten and ran to a waiting vehicle where another white male was driving & took off.
Car is described as:
White BMW, early model (atleast 2000)
4 door sedan with FLORIDA plates
2 White male occupants!
*The day previous their roof was tarped by contractors working for the 'blue roof' project. They said they were the 'last' house they had to do and were leaving the next day for PENSACOLA FLORIDA!!*
These men who stole the kitten MAY be from this group of contractors.
Please spread the news and information.
Anita was having her morning coffee with the kittens and mama cat and her puppy Judge out on the patio (well whats left of it). She went indoors to get a refill of coffee. Her husband Dave saw someone approach the yard, he ran downstairs but it was too late.
It's my belief that these individuals will probably try to pass this kitten off as a stray and unwanted survivor of the hurricane, rather then the reality of it being someones kitten that was STOLEN!!!
This was reported to the local police in Pascagoula.
Contact: stolenkitten@hotmail.com
WHITE BMW SEDAN WITH FLORIDA PLATES and these folks were RECENTLY IN PASCAGOULA MISSISSIPPI PLEASE CONTACT ME BY EMAIL DO NOT APPROACH OR WARN THESE INDIVIDUALS. PLEASE RECORD THE LICENCE PLATE!
stolenkitten@hotmail.com
Permission to crosspost this EVERYWHERE!!
Luba October 18th, 2005, 04:26 PM Poster For Printing
glasslass October 19th, 2005, 11:33 AM How much more does poor PAGS have to endure? I can't even begin to express how sorry I feel for her and how outraged at who did this!
Luba October 19th, 2005, 03:59 PM Thank you glass I got your pm, and yes thank you very much!! :grouphug:
I am outraged as well! They had planned on keeping all the kittens in the family, they weren't going to be rehomed to strangers or adopted out. They are sick with worry for this kitten, and so am I.
I've spread the word across Florida and have emailed radio stations in hopes they may broadcast the email address. Someone knows who has this kitten and hopefully whoever does will finally do something 'positive' and maybe return him unharmed.
On another note, lets talk about another hurricane coming towards the coast...!!! Can these folks take anymore??? I hope it doesn't reach landfall with the same severity. Let us all just pray!
So they finally have their roof tarped..to cover the holes where the shingles were blown off, only took about 6 weeks to get done (wow fast workers).
Now the down side to this, they covered the entire roof with tarp...which means they had to nail down wood stripping and nail it into all the 'good' areas on the roof. Now the rest of the roof is full of nail holes and will have to be replaced. They could have just covered the affected area, but now, ...it will all have to be replaced....but when? Who knows. They need to now recontact insurance for another estimate since the tarping IMHO was done inappropriate.
Can we say 'make work' project....so you know the companies doing the tarping are the same ones that are coming back to do the roofing right $$$$$
I think you follow!!
The boys are back in school during the day, they love being back there.
We sent them a small train set to play with....and they love it. I mailed lots of clothes for the baby and some household things for the family. There were three boxes, they have one so far, ...two are still on the way to delivery.
I was suprised it wasn't really that expensive to mail...the three boxes in total were just over $100 (would have been nicer if fedex kept their bargain..but oh well) and they were quite heavy...really heavy and loaded to the brim!
Just incase anyone is horrified at postage, don't be it really wasn't that bad!
Judge is getting big and loves to chase bugs all night...they have some odd looking large beetles that came in with the hurricane..seem to creep up all over the place. The kittens play with them and so does Judge.
Emily is doing well and so is Yvonne. ...nothing major other then growing like weeds and a bit bored, things are not normal yet.
Anita and her husband are holding on there and doing their very best. They are a strong family and I admire them so much for their determination and their strength and love for eachother.
Keep them in your prayers and remember, the postage to send things wasn't so bad...... so if you ever get the desire to mail a little something :D you won't die from postage!!
Will keep you updated!
Care packages, letters, cards can be sent to:
The Thomer Family
1505 Gallery Street
Pascagoula MS 39581
Thank you again!
Luba October 27th, 2005, 05:38 PM Hello everybody
I spoke to Anita (pags) today, she has now received all the boxes I've mailed her and all the funds to date...thank you everybody!
There is no word on the whereabouts of the stolen kitten who has been named TOMMY.
The rest of the kittens and mama cat have names too:
Mama cat was appropriately named KATRINA LOL
the three girls left are : Sunny, Savanah and Jo
Tommy was the only boy and the one that was abducted.
Judge the puppy is about 7mons old now and getting big probably over 35 lbs and TOMORROW is going to get snip snip done! LOL
Finally the vets office was open and able to accomodate Judge. Arrangements are being made for mama cat to get snip snip too!
To Chico (Anita) your post card was received and it was a very kind gesture that brought the family happiness thank you so much :D from Anita and her family.
I had made up a bunch of halloween trick or treat bags full off goodies and some Canadian change BIG HIT I tell you!! THe kids love them and shared them with kids in the neighbourhood that had nothing. GREAT BOYS she has!! Very sweet!! They took the Canadian money to school for show and tell (so sweet).
No updates on the progress of the home , still bare concrete floor, hole in the exterior wall and a tarped roof. No sheet rock on the walls everything is wood studs, no privacy.....NO privacy...did I say no privacy LOL
Just thought I'd put this out there , but if anyone is considering or contemplating some form of a donation for Christmas, this family would be a very worthy cause. Whether you wrap and send gifts or money, I can't tell you how much it would mean!
The boxes that I sent meant so much to them and really weren't expensive to mail. ..... it helps so very much!
So no new work has been done on the house, it's very depressing for Anita and the family. Things are at a standstill. More negative responses from FEMA and the insurance company. They're pretty much on their own to get their home back to more livable and comfortable circumstances.
TOMORROW is Yvonne's Birthday she is turning 2 years old!!! Her and Judge are little buddies they are constantly with one another playing and causing havoc.
There is the sniffles going around, mostly everyones got it now. The baby Emily is doing very well and growing fast.
Dave and Anita are holding up and holding strong , continue to say your prayers for them and share any piece of love, positive energy or other that you may have.
I thought you would like to hear an update.... I'll always keep you posted!
Thanks again!
glasslass October 27th, 2005, 06:33 PM Thanks for the update Luba! The bad thing about this forum is the distance. Wish we could have a good, old-fashioned barnraising! Relay our love and prayers to her and her family. I don't know how they do it, but their positive attitude and determination is truly inspiring!
Luba October 27th, 2005, 08:12 PM You are absolutely right, the distance is trying ..... and yes they are determined and very inspiring.
Anita was telling me that some streets in her neighbourhood are completely empty, abandoned.... for sale signs up on almost every single home.
A lot of her community is no longer a community, things are not up and running even partially normally. The larger corporations like the WalMart's are open and slowly the little ones are, but still very much is missing. A great deal of people are just simply moving away and starting new somewhere else.
I can't imagine how depressing it is to her, to see people just keep moving away. She must want to stop them and beg them to stay....
No matter what though, she knows there are people who love and care about them and who are genuinely concerned for their safety and their emotional being.
This is a wonderful family with a great deal of love to offer and a great deal of wisdom and inner strength!!
Prin October 27th, 2005, 09:14 PM Why is she staying? Why not start over somewhere else?
Luba October 27th, 2005, 09:58 PM She wants to stay and that for me is enough.
She's lived in this community her entire life, her family is there her past is there, it is her life. The land her home is on is very old ancestry land.
They have never been effected by a hurricane like this before in this area, not even with Camille...so lets just hope the odds are with them now and hope it never happens again.
Let us hope everyone will be safe in the future.
The reason why other people are leaving is that they simply don't have the money to fix what they have and their home isn't really inhabitable but Anita's is somewhat inhabitable, more then most. They were the lucky ones, with a second story..most of the homes there are only one story. So a lot of those folks have left because the homes require so much work they can't live in them while being fixed.
pags October 29th, 2005, 12:01 AM Hello everybody! I just finished reading this entire thread for the first time.. it took about an hour and I have definitely gotten my good cry for the week out of the way. You are truly amazing people. I can't even explain how I feel... Of course I'll try anyway.. You see.. During the last two months I have felt so alone.. off and on... some days more than others... So isolated.. Sometimes totally helpless... And then I read this thread from start to finish and realize that the entire time.. THE ENTIRE TIME.. you were all out there worrying, wondering, working, and caring about us. There is NO better feeling in the world, you guys. Thank you SO much.
We have a computer now (see? *type type*) which was a very sweet gift from one of Dave's coworkers.. and this morning we had cable internet installed. (We have fallen in love with the local cable company due to their efforts in our area... Kudos to these guys!) Okay so it's weird to have internet and computer stuff and still not have walls or finished floors.... But everything's a little backwards right now. At least we can laugh about it... And the cable installer guy told me this morning that he has installed internet for people living in tents on the slabs of their homes... So we must be doing okay!
I just read so much and I don't know where to begin... First thing on my mind is Jackie -- is Jackie okay? I know Rita moved over and didn't hit near Galveston... but then again Katrina didn't hit in Pascagoula either. :eek: So I hope Jackie's okay.
And forgive me for not looking back to see for myself.. but whoever found the CNN video footage -- THANK YOU. Obviously, I never got to see that for myself and Dave and I just watched it three times. They did a pretty decent job showing just what happened here and I'm impressed. The sad sad sad thing about the video is the part about the relief supplies! The story was dated September 6th... I wonder what happened to all of those supplies? Hopefully someone did manage to get to them and they got put to use. The Baptist Church they mention is where we managed to go around the 12th of September and they loaded us up with diapers and water and cat food!
We are all adjusting very well and we giggle a lot. Can you believe we giggle a lot? It's some sort of hysteria, I think... When things are just so ... upside down. Sometimes you just have to laugh about it. I finally heard from a friend I have been worried about this entire time.. She was my college roommate.. and she was living in Long Beach with her three kids when Katrina hit. I couldn't get in touch with her.. and I didn't know if she had evacuated. She called me this past Sunday. :) She's living with a friend in Gulfport because her house is not only destroyed, but what's left of it is still surrounded by razor-wire and national guardsmen. We laughed about that for a while. Her kids are staying with her ex-husband in Ocean Springs while she works as a 'furniture liquidator' for commission only because she lost her job along with her house. We laughed because it's a prime time to be in the furniture liquidation business, for sure. She laughed about our flooded house and my poor dog who barks at his water bowl now... And then we quite soberly agreed that we only laugh because we're really LUCKY to be able to laugh. It's quite true.
Things are looking up. I promise. We've gotten most of our necessities together.. We are able to buy food for the next two months on the State food stamp program -- a HUGE help. FEMA has sent us two checks now -- one toward home repair and one toward personal property loss. All we have to do is send FEMA our insurance info to prove which part of our repairs are not covered by insurance and we'll be able to put that money toward getting our walls back up.. and we have used the personal property money to buy some living room furniture. Our insurance company has settled with us on the wind damage and although the check was made out to our mortgage company -- the mortgage company has agreed to send the money back to us for the roof repairs... So hopefully we can get that done in a couple of weeks. This may seem weird -- but we're really lucky to have had some obvious wind damage and therefore a settlement from insurance. There are many many people who have no home to be inspected and the insurance company is paying NOTHING because the assumption is that the house was destroyed by flood...
To everybody who has sent donation $$ to us so far.. I can't thank you enough. The Wal-mart gift card that Luba & KimBilly worked so hard to get to us (thank you!!) went a very very long way... And the money sent to us from the US account immediately went toward the repair of our air conditioning units -- our MUCH NEEDED air conditioning units. Without those donations we still would not be able to stay in our house. Thank you.
Someone wanted to hear of our rescue.. (I'm still being too lazy to actually go back and look.. please forgive me!) and I have to say this.. We were never rescued. We called 911 for over half an hour and there was no response. The cell phone said that our location was logged... but no one ever came. I suppose we were rescued by our prayers and that alone. The water went out as quickly as it came in... and I mean very very quickly.. fast enough to knock over trees and fences and all manner of structures. Dave and my mother had gone downstairs before the water was completely gone to see what was going on.. I was upstairs with the kitties and Judge and the kids then.. and that's when I could hear the wind coming through the house above us. There was a lot of creaking and clanging and so on.. So I gathered the babies and sent Judge down the stairs ahead of us and called Dave to run and get the kitties... And then it was over. The water was gone. Just like that. The wind gusted for hours afterwards but no where near hurricane force winds... And immediately there were people walking around outside - trying to find a telephone or trying to find family or trying to find a working vehicle. It was the aftermath... that was the worst for all of us.
So just imagine this for a moment, if you can: Imagine that you wake up tomorrow and your day-to-day necessities are all gone.. Simple things like toilet tissue.. your toothbrush... your shoes.. your clothes. You wake up with just the clothes you have on.. and your feet are wet. Everything in your house is wet and stinks quite a bit. There is no where to sit. The toilets have all backed up and there is raw sewage all over the floors. You go to the faucet and nothing comes out. No running water -- not even dirty running water. Nothing. You can't even rinse off your wet stinky smelly feet. You have some canned food and three days worth of drinking water. You have no television, no internet, no telephone.. and then you discover that your car (which is as wet and smelly as your house) doesn't work. You run out to ask for help and find that all of your neighbors for the next 5 miles or more are in exactly the same situation. The day wears on and it's over 97 degrees Fahrenheit with a relative humidity of 90%. There's no electricity.. there's no a/c.. there's no ice.. And you discover that your gas powered generator was submerged in salt water and won't run. So you have your battery-powered radio and desperately try to listen for news.. but discover that most of the radio signal towers were apparently destroyed and you can't get a signal. So now imagine that you aren't alone and you have to ration food and water to four kids and six animals. The dog food, the cat food, the extra baby formula, and all of the diapers were flooded. You get on your bike and start riding to find what you need only to discover that all of the stores within 5 or 6 miles flooded as well... even if you were desperate -- there's nothing worth looting. Now.. do this for four days.
I suppose we were rescued at the end of those four days... A neighbor had managed to get a friend into town with a truck full of supplies and they loaded us up with diapers and baby food and some ice and water. That same day they apparently got a cell phone tower up and working and we were able to actually receive a couple of calls.. and make some calls out. We called my mother's neighbors to ask if they needed water and we would try to get it to them and were delighted to find out that electricity had been restored in their neighborhood... We very very quickly gathered everybody up and headed for my mother's house where we stayed for the next two weeks. That was our rescue. OH I have to mention.. You see my mother stayed here with us during the storm because her neighborhood was evacuated (ours wasn't...) Dave rode his bike to Moss Point the day after the storm to check on Mom's house and discovered it was not damaged and that her car (which was still at her house) was also okay.. So he drove her car back to our house. Hmm.. Which reminds me.. I forgot to mention the gas crisis. There were no gas lines because there was no gas. The stations either flooded or without electricity so there was no gas... so even when you managed to find a car that would run.. you couldn't use it because there was no gas.
Uh.. considering all of this.. We are doing really well now. :D I didn't mean to ramble but I always seem to start rambling about this! I think it has something to do with trauma!
Anyway -- I wanted to make sure I posted something on this first night with internet again.. and to let everybody know that Judge's snip snip went well and he's resting happily here with us. Oh and I have a link too for anyone who can help the Humane Society of South Mississippi -- http://hssm.org/help/wishlist/
Love you guys!! I'm happy to be back. :)
Pags
Prin October 30th, 2005, 11:52 AM It was really great to hear from you, Pags. Your descriptions are incredible and your ability to "giggle" through this makes your strength all the more apparent. I'm glad things are slowly shaping up. :) I hope they continue to get better and better.
Prin October 30th, 2005, 06:11 PM Hey, Pags, do you have laundry and stuff (like hot water) there?
pags October 30th, 2005, 08:01 PM Yes. We do now. Our water heater is electric AND upstairs so it was spared the flood... And about three weeks ago one of Dave's coworkers gave us his spare washer and dryer. :) True bliss, let me tell you.
shannonRN October 31st, 2005, 11:25 AM Your post was really good to read Pags. I've only been around the site since right around Katrina time, so I wondered a lot about who this "Pags" person was that every one was so concerned about!
It's even better to read, directly from you, that you and yours are doing alright. I'm sure that you find yourself and your family bonds so much stronger after this disaster. Obviously, everyone here supports you on your road to rebuilding. Nice to meet you, and welcome back!
chico2 November 1st, 2005, 07:28 AM Pags,the first thing I read after coming back from South Carolina,was your post.I am sooo happy you have a PC and now you can tell us how you are doing.
It sounds like things can only get better :thumbs up
glasslass November 3rd, 2005, 09:13 PM Pags, I've been off and on very erratically the last few months while moving. I also have to say that I search though the unread posts to look for updates on you. I'm so glad you're back on-line!
sammiec November 21st, 2005, 11:40 PM pags your story makes me so sad, yet so happy at the same time. It's truly amazing what human kindness can bring to your life when you need it most. I just wish that there was more that could be done...for the whole area...I am so glad that you and your family are alright. *hugs*
pags November 22nd, 2005, 12:52 PM Wow there were a few posts I missed here until sam resurrected the thread!
sam - it's so great to hear from you! :grouphug: I wondered about you and your baby while I was away and I see that it couldn't have turned out better for you! Carter (good name!) is a doll baby. Congratulations and many hugs!!
hugs to glass & chico as well -- and I'm glad to meet you too, Shannon. I'm enjoying your posts!
Luvmypit November 22nd, 2005, 04:41 PM Yeah pags! Glad your back! And clean too!
I can't imagine what you went through. You made us all very proud and oh ya worried! But your ok and so is your family and that is all anyone wanted.
Welcome back :usa: :ca:
pags January 7th, 2006, 12:15 AM Hey all! Hey luvmy! Er.. I'm a little late replying, I see. *giggle* I'm sure you can imagine it's been really busy around here for the last month or so -- so not as much time to post .. although I've dropped in a couple time to read some new posts.
I thought I'd drop in to say hi to everybody and let you know we're still just muddling through down here. Our family has been quite fortunate to have people like you who helped us so early on... We are much further along in our recovery efforts than many many thousands of people. Thank you for that.
Now that we've reached a point where our house may not look all that finished -- but it's quite livable.. we are trying to spend more time and energy helping out those around us. One way I know to do this is to try to continue to keep as much of the rest of the world as I can informed that although it has been over four months since Katrina hit the Gulf Coast to everyone else in the world... To many many many hundreds of people down here -- it may as well have hit yesterday. Most people who were going to get a trailer from FEMA have gotten them now... (or have been relocated) and so entire families reside in a 23 foot or smaller trailer in the yard in front of their rotting houses. Money is tight -- the federal aid which came into the area in the first couple months was for 'emergency supplies and repairs' only... there has been no aid since then for individuals and households. Any federal aid the news has droned on about here and there that has come to the area since then has not - NOT - gone to the people. This aid is for counties and municipalities to rebuild infrastructure and to remove debris and to reimburse themselves for vacation time lost and so on.
I met two elderly couples yesterday -- two brothers and their wives.. who lived just two houses apart a few blocks from here. When the houses they lived in for 40 years flooded.. they didn't know what to do. They left town to stay with friends and relatives further north and waited for instructions from FEMA. In the meantime, one of the elderly gentlemen who was already in poor health before the storm - began to deteriorate rapidly and ended up in the hospital. The family then focused on looking after him.
Last week one of the couples finally got a FEMA trailer. Only one of the couples. When their plight was discovered that couple told us to please help the other brother with his house. He doesn't have long to live -- and they'd like for him to see it cleaned up before he dies. Well -- that's when the horror hit us.... They explained that they had not touched either house at all since August 29, 2005. Nothing. They didn't know what to do. They didn't know who to ask. They don't have the money and FEMA hasn't finished their pending applications yet. Their houses are so infested with mold and slime after four months in the heat and rain that you can smell them when you turn onto the block. What do you tell someone like that?
FEMA 'temporarily relocated' thousands and thousands of people after Katrina... These thousands and thousands of people had no idea what was going on.. what to expect... They were simply told they couldn't live in their houses and no one was going to pay to fix them. Now several months later they are all trying to wander home and they are in the same situation as the couples I described above. The irony is... that if FEMA had simply given people the option of either using the aide money for relocating or beginning repair on their homes... None of this would be happening right now. But you've gotta understand -- we have no such option.. If FEMA gives you a check and says to use it for 'rent' then that's what you can use it for... If they say it is for 'personal property' that is what you can use it for..
And if they say they are going to spend upwards of $35,000 on the purchase, maintenance, storage, delivery, hookup, and pickup of a trailer for you... Then you have to accept the trailer -- even if it takes 4 or 5 or 10 months to get it. Wouldn't it have made more sense for FEMA to give people the option of the trailer or the $35,000 to put toward repair of their existing home? Wasteful wasteful wasteful!!!
If not for the many volunteers and just ordinary people coming down to lend a hand wherever a hand is needed.. we'd be in an even bigger pickle down here.
That's my rant for the month. :) I just wanted to remind you guys to continue to keep us all in your thoughts and prayers. Thanks for everything!!! Thousands of hugs.
Prin January 7th, 2006, 12:35 AM I wish this story was still on the news. Same as the tsunami last year where over a million are still homeless (and that's the million they're telling us about...), we don't get the updates here anymore. As far as we know, everything is all fixed up. The news just has stories of New Orleans being so cleaned up that Mardi Gras will happen.:rolleyes:
It's really sad that despite planes, trains, satellites and whatever that bring the world so close together, we're still so far apart when it comes to important things.
I'm glad you are doing well, Pags (and I'm sorry I haven't been much of a help,:o ). I hope your holidays were ok, too... :grouphug:
Luba April 27th, 2006, 05:21 PM I didn't know just where to start a new thread, things have changed since I've been away so I thought I'd refresh this 'old' thread!
Do not fear Pags (Anita) has not abandoned you. She is simply very very busy just getting through each and every day.
She has been keeping a blog with progress and updates, and told me that I could post it for all of you to read:
http://www.vasavana.blogspot.com/
There have been many hurdles and accomplishments over the last few months, and also man setbacks. Most recently being a resurgance of mold in the house. You can read more about it all on her blog, she is an exceptional writer!
Please feel free to read her blog and catch up! She will be happy to know you are thinking of her and care about her!
Thank you everybody for your support, donations, concerns and the ongoing prayers! This is one family that would not take you for grantid!
Thank you on behalf of pags and the Thomer family!
Luba
Prin April 27th, 2006, 05:23 PM Yey! Thanks for the update! I'm glad she's well, but I wish cleaning up was easier.
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