Posted on 09/01/2005 1:52:36 PM PDT by PropertyRightsResearch.org
KATRINA: Of Highest Importance: Please Read, Share and Help!
Hurricane Assistance, Assistance Opportunities
(Very Important Note from MS in FL: If you think this has merit, please pass it along to the powers that be -- newspapers, politicians, etc... There is a veritable sea of construction trailers and truck/shipping containers --including refrigerated ones -- that can be donated, purchased or loaned. Send in crews -- and don't forget to hire those left homeless and jobless who so desperately need the work/income -- cut windows, doors, roof a/c, plumbing, insulation, etc.. They are about the same size as older mobile home and trailers -- make them into temporary homes for the hurricane victims -- move them onto PUBLIC LANDS (bought and owned by the public) to accomodate these homeless individuals. Set them up at the PUBLIC LANDS CAMPGROUNDS, which already have hook-ups for electricity, water and sewage. To the good folks that own campers, camper trailers, motor homes, etc., that are roadworthy and may not get used anymore -- please consider donating these to the Salvation Army. Unlike hurricane Charley victims, these people have no job to go back to -- and in some cases, not even a town! Since clean-up/construction crews cannot work in the hardest-hit areas, now is the perfect time to get started on container housing. Mexicans have lived in these for years -- some have fences, flowers and even shutters! Ask Americans to donate clean bedding, grills, used furniture, appliances, etc. to outfit these container houses -- we all have perfectly good, usable extra "stuff" and it's far cheaper than buying new trailers. For temporary housing, this would be a Godsend. Thousands of temporary housing units are needed. It beats living in a superbowl or being homeless! Tax dollars go only so far. In Port Charlotte Florida, the debris from Hurricane Charley, abandoned houses, weeds and even the Charlotte High School have not yet been attended to -- the destruction is everywhere, the same goes for the Panhandle. And it's been A WHOLE YEAR -- not to mention Katrina hitting southeast Florida and the mess it created there. Those who were living in FEMA trailers sandwiched in like Oreo cookies alongside I-75, must evacuate by the next month or two -- but at least most of them have a job or found employment.)
September 1, 2005
The Lufkin Daily News
P.O. Box 1089
Lufkin, Texas 75902-7089
936-632-6631
Fax: 936-632-6655
Customer Service hours: Mon - Fri: 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Sat - Sun: 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
To submit a Letter to the Editor: aadams@coxnews.com or lufnews@coxnews.com (300-word limit)
If you need help
Free or reduced-price meals are available to evacuees this week at a number of Lufkin restaurants by showing a valid ID listing the place of residence.
Ralph and Kacoo's, 3107 S. First St. (a half-mile south of Loop 287) is offering free meals from 2 to 4 p.m. today and Friday for hurricane evacuees.
Hibernia Bank, which is located at 1610 S. First St., will be providing a free hot dog lunch for Hurricane Katrina evacuees from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. today.
Other restaurants that are offering free food to evacuees with valid IDs include McDonalds, Quiznos and Subway, according to a spokeswoman for the American Red Cross.
Also, Barnhill's Steaks and Buffet, 3102 S. John Redditt Drive will offer $4.99 all-you-can-eat buffet meals (approximately half-price) for evacuees with a valid ID showing place of residence.
Wal-Mart Supercenter, 2500 Daniel McCall Drive, is offering assistance to hurricane victims.
The store is giving away coupons with a value of up to $30 to help cover evacuees' expenses, and the pharmacy is filling prescriptions for patients who still have their bottles, as long as their prescriptions are current and valid.
Also, the store is referring evacuees to local doctors who are taking in Louisiana hurricane victims for free if they have forgotten their prescription bottles or were left with nothing.
The store is also asking any hurricane victims who are employed by Wal-Mart to contact the Lufkin location for supportive information.
The Wal-Mart Supercenter number is 1-936-639-9600 and the pharmacy number is 1-936-639-2275.
To give help
The Red Cross needs volunteers and donations of toiletries, bottled water, bedding and toys for children. Donations are being accepted in Lufkin at 1905 E. Denman Ave., outside Loop 287 across from the Jack In the Box restaurant.
In Nacogdoches, donations can be dropped at the city's recreation center, 1112 North St.
Cash donations may by made by calling toll-free: 1-800-HELP-NOW (435-7669) or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). On the Web at: http://www.RedCross.org
A quick and easy way to donate to the hurricane relief can be found on the Internet at http://www.networkforgood.org/topics/animal_environ/hurricanes/
Home Depot of Lufkin is accepting donations of anything except money. The store is partnering with the Red Cross in providing much-needed items, including pet supplies. Contact store manager Alan Krusemark at 1-936-699-3555.
Lufkin Mall is accepting donations for the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army hurricane relief funds.
"In addition to these monetary donations, we are collecting personal items and baby items for evacuees who have to stay longer in the Lufkin area," Sherri Ziegenhals, Lufkin Mall's marketing manager, said in a press release.
The items listed include diapers, wipes, formula, baby food, toothpaste, toothbrushes, bath soap, deodorant, hygiene products, disposable razors, shampoo. The items will be given to the Salvation Army for Distribution. All donations can be dropped off at Lufkin Mall's Customer Service Center.
Phone numbers
Toll-free numbers from Louisiana Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness and Texas Governor's Division of Emergency Management:
Louisiana State Police Road Closure Hotline — 1-800-469-4828.
The Salvation Army 1-800-725-2769 (SAL-ARMY) or use the Internet at http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/USNSAHome.htm to give using credit cards. Checks may be sent to The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 4857, Jackson, MS 89296-4857. "A $100 donation to The Salvation Army will feed a family of four for two days, provide two cases of drinking water and one household clean-up kit, containing brooms, mops, buckets, and cleaning supplies."
Red Cross shelter information 1-866-438-4636 (GET-INFO).
Red Cross 1-800-435-7669 (HELP NOW) Credit-card donations can be made on the Web at http://www.redcross.org Louisiana hotel information 1-800-994-8626 99(-GUMBO).
Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) — 1-800-621-3362 or 1-800-621-FEMA.
Visit your local Wal-Mart or Sam's Club to donate to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort.
Anyone who traveled to Texas and is currently needing assistance can call 2-1-1 or 1-888-312-4567.
Information for persons with special needs seeking public shelter, including the elderly, the ill and the disabled, also is available.
The city of Lufkin, Texas, Emergency Operations Center has established a telephone bank where citizens may call to get updates on Hurricane Katrina. Inquiries in regard to shelter information, donations and other related items may be made at 1-936-630-0671, 1-936-630-0669 or 1-936-630-0667.
Copyright 2005, Lufkin Daily News.
http://www.lufkindailynews.com/news/content/news/stories/2005/09/01/20050901LDNhurr1.html
Amen! "Blessed is a humble, broken spirit". Katrina is breaking the heart of America. Only good things can come from such a humbling. Get ready for revival, and the latter rain outpouring of love, joy , and peace the "whole creation is groaning and travailing for!"
Where or to whom will my money go if I chose to donate?
Since I do not know, I can only offer prayers for the innocent and helpless, but not the rampaging and looting thugs.
This is a true national disaster. The sooner we all help pick up the pieces the less the damage there will be to us all.
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