Index

Commentary:
Why We Need To Rebuild

Updates From Leslie
January and February ('06)
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
1/29 December
1/29 January '07
February '07

Ways To Help
Supporting Gulf Fishermen
Starting To Help From Home
2/8 Collect Boxtops For Education
Collect Labels For Education
Children's Program - Art Felt Creations

Letters To Write
Helping Pets
Animal Crisis - Supply and Volunteer Request
Animal Shelter Assistance Request

Holiday Time Request Letters
To Churches
To Companies, Universities, Hospitals, etc.
Lagniappe Day (Boxing Day)

Police Departments
Letter to Police Departments
Letter For Police PBA's

Requesting Volunteers
2/23 Getting Gardeners Involved
Letter Requesting Medical Volunteers
Letter To Get School Teachers To Volunteer Over Summer
Letter For Medical Personnel To Assist
Letter To Culinary Colleges For Staff and Students To Assist
Letter To Local Colleges To Volunteer

Advocating
The Need For Heat
Letter To Assist Gulf Fisherman
Price Gouging Letter To States' Attorneys General
Letter To The Editor Suggesting Ways to Help

Financing The Volunteers
2/9 Getting Transportation for Materials
Major Airline Letter For Discounts To Volunteers
Campmor Letter For Discounts To Volunteers (may be sent to other camping stores)
Tax Write-Off Request To State And Federal Officials

Miscellaneous
2/16 Utilizing NonViolent Offenders For Recovery
1/29 Educate Your Volunteers on Infectious Diseases
Request For Rummage Sale Leftovers For MS
Letter To Local Habitat Restore

Software Suggestions 4 Donated Computers

From Microsoft's page regarding how to donate computers:

"If possible, keep the operating system intact. If you are donating
hardware with a pre-installed Microsoft operating system, keep in mind that
the license is only valid when used on the original OEM machine on which it
was first installed. Since charitable organizations usually cannot afford
to purchase and license new operating systems, a legal transfer (keeping
the machine and operating system together) can be very helpful. Linux and
Mac operating systems have different requirements, but we urge that
whenever possible, please pass on the operating system software with all
donated computers."

http://www.microsoft.com/education/TenTips.mspx

This page also has info on tools that "wipe" personal info off of the computer.

3/30 - Just heard from 2 large hospitals in Baltimore - they are incredibly frustrated by the fact they must protect the hospital and physically destroy all hard drives of old computers. Someone good at forensic reconstruction of a hard drive can bring back the information, so all HD's are put through a magnet, rendering them useless.

Anybody have solutions to this problem?

2 Men and A Truck

Dear Ms. Sheets:

I read with great interest that your company holds community service in high regard and that your company played a vital role at the beginning of the Gulf Coast recovery effort. Thank you!

I hope you will accept the following proposal: To be in the forefront of energy conservation within the transport industry and assist in the development of a relief material delivery system.

Sponsor a medium or large truck to convert from diesel to straight vegetable oil (SVO). Use this truck to haul materials collected for the recovery effort from any northern US region to existing warehouses closer to or within the Gulf region.

The conversion can be done to either a new or used truck, with mileage and maintenance remaining the same, emissions decreasing and fuel costs becoming virtually nil. Using an SVO-converted truck allows you to test the idea of alternative fuels for your franchises, increasing your “green” presence within the transport industry and decreasing possible costs for assisting in the recovery process. Assistance with the conversion might occur through a company advocating bio-fuels called Grease Car (www.greasecar.com).

Coordination would be exclusively with Citizen Action Team (www.reliefdatabase.org). CAT is an all-volunteer agency that was specifically established for the 2005 hurricane season relief effort, but is expanding to include all natural disasters and has been attempting to establish a distribution chain for both current and future needs.

Please contact me with any questions or concerns regarding this proposal.

Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

And their address:
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®/ INTERNATIONAL, Inc.
3400 Belle Chase Way
Lansing, MI 48911
http://www.twomenandatruck.com/

The people to address it to...
Mary Ellen Sheets, Founder and Chair
Melanie Bergeron, Chief Executive Officer
Brig Sorber, President
Jon Sorber, Senior Vice President, Franchisee of both Grand Rapids locations and the Lansing location

Garden and Greenspace Letter

To whom it may concern,

Tens of thousands of people are still living in FEMA trailers since Katrina and Rita hit the Gulf Coast. They have no homes to return to, their original jobs washed away with the hurricanes, and virtually no plant life left to hide the scars these storms inflicted on their region.

And while original soil samples were toxic beyond compare, these areas are now testing within acceptable limits for most native and vegetable plant life.
What the entire region needs is volunteer gardeners to coordinate with local ones removing dead plants, rescuing ailing ones, establishing community gardens and replanting wild spaces with native species to ward off the current influx of invasive species.

These people need ways to augment their meager food sources. This can be accomplished with community gardens located in key areas throughout all of the communities.

They need to see their old estate gardens restored to even just a semblance of their former beauty.

They need to see the wild spaces as they once were, loaded with familiar flora and fauna.

They need to see the vacant home plots covered with something other than weeds and trash.

But they can't do this alone. They need folks who know how to make all of these things happen. They need you.

Please contact:
The MS Master Gardeners Association (msmastergardener.org/)
The LS Master Gardeners Association (www.lsuagcenter.com/mastergardener/)
The AL Master Gardeners Association (www.alabamamg.org/)
For more information on helping them rebuild their coastlines, greenspaces and gardens.

Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Send this letter to your state's Master Gardener Association. A list of the states' orgs are here:
http://www.google.com/Top/Home/Gardening/Organizations/Master_Gardeners/United_States/
Also consider sending it to gardening magazines such as Organic Gardening, Better Homes and Gardens, Garden Gate, People Places and Plants, Fine Gardening, Horticulture, Garden Design, Country Gardens, etc.
And finally, consider sending it to your local garden clubs, horticulture societies, cooperative extensions.

2/23 - sent to me by a great lady in MS:
When you send the le-mail requesting help with restoring the green space destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, please direct any interested groups and individuals to The Mississippi Renaissance Garden web site at: www.msrengarden.org
We desperately need master gardeners, landscape architects, construction firms, corporations, funds, materials, plants and labor ors to help us restore our landscape in Mississippi. The most devastated counties are Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties. They can also call me at (228) 388-2622 or e-mail me at msbkt@aol.com. The Mississippi Renaissance Garden Foundation has been formed to help the three counties recover their green space. Many plans have been made to do this, but we need the above resources.
Thank you for your assistance in our time of need. You are doing a wonderful job.
Regards,
Martha S. Boyce,
Founder and Executive Director
The Mississippi Renaissance Garden Foundation, Inc

Community Garden Assistance

1/8 Letter for Gardeners, Gardening Volunteers
As all good gardeners know, the new growing season is only weeks away. Seeds need starting; plans made anew for vegetable gardens; tools repaired and prepared.
As all Gulf Coast volunteers know, having a place to relax is vital. They also know survivors and volunteer camps alike need fresh vegetables regularly which are expensive and can be difficult to find.
How do these things tie together? They do in two ways: The Plant A Row Program and Community Garden Programs.
Plant A Row is a national movement to have home growers intentionally plant more than they need of any or all of their vegetable gardens. They then donate the produce to soup kitchens and food pantries, where storing perishables is difficult.
For more information: http://www.gardenwriters.org/par/
Community Gardens are created on private or public land for public use to grow vegetables, herbs and flowers. This can be a temporary or permanent agreement for the land; with rent either donated by the owner or for no more than $25/plot.
For more information: http://www.communitygarden.org/
Both programs need exploring and implementation throughout the Gulf Region. Are you a volunteer who gardens at home? Start the Plant A Row program at your home and neighborhood to take the produce with you on your trips down.
Are you a gardener without soil to play in at home? Help establish community gardens within the community you are helping in the Gulf.
Either way, your skills as a gardener are needed to help the survivors in one more way. And once established, these programs will last and grow, just like the plants from Spring to Autumn.
Please talk to your group and start at least one of the programs to augment your current mission.
Sincerely,

National Quilting Day Letter

1/1 - Letter for Quilting Guilds, Quilting Magazines for 3/24/07 - National Quilting Day

To Whom It May Concern,

Thousands of children have remained victims of the 2005 hurricane season. These children have lost everything that was of comfort to them.

Hancock County, MS still has roughly 32,000 FEMA trailers housing over 85,000 people, including hundreds of foster families and families with infants, toddlers and young children that are trying to create a loving environment. These FEMA trailers have fewer than 240 square feet for up to 4 people. Multiply this county by the same number of counties that make up 12 of the original 13 states.

National Quilt Day is March 24, 2007. Please plan an event for this date that will help the children in all of these areas. Invite the public and all local quilt or sewing guilds to participate in this event. It will expose more people to the joys of quilting and show the families of the Gulf Coast they and their children are not forgotten.

For more information on delivering the finished quilts, you can contact The Salvation Army, The Boys and Girls Club, or quilt guilds throughout the Gulf Coast.

Sincerely,

Places to mail the letter to:
National Quilting Association
PO Box 12190, Columbus, OH 43212-0190

Link to state associations:
http://www.nqaquilts.org/statechapters.asp

International Quilting Association
7660 Woodway, Suite 550
Houston, TX 77063

Search for Quilting Magazines
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=quilting+magazines

Boxing Day The American Way

The Dark Green portion is perfect for a letter to the editor. The black version is added to the request letter if you are sending it to church groups, industries, etc.

12/26 St Stephen’s/Boxing Day - The term “Boxing Day” came from the opening of church poor boxes that day. This arose from dissatisfaction of giving alms gathered at the Church to the poor. St. Stephen died for his attempts to keep these funds for the poor.

We can adopt this UK holiday and give it our own American word – Lagniappe, meaning “An extra/ unexpected gift/benefit.” It is now a well-known Gulf Coast colloquialism that started as a Spanish word for “gift”. Let’s make 12/26 Lagniappe Day from those of us not needing our extra items to those who have lost everything.

With disasters a natural part of history, there will always be a need for giving a hand up to our neighbors. Many of these are/were in the middle class, never expecting to be thrust into poverty with little hope of escaping, save our collective generosity.

Sort through the items you have received in the last year. Give them to those less fortunate. By giving just one thing to a person or family in need, you will give the far greater gift of hope.

You can do so by looking at the families on the http://www.realpeoplerelief.blogspot.com/ site, or literally any of the organizations I have listed on the side bar of this site, OR go to http://www.freecycle.org/ and post your extras there for help within your community. It's easy, needed, and a huge blessing to both the person you are helping AND you.

Holiday Request Letter to Industry

Holiday Help Letter to Send to Businesses, Universities, Hospitals, etc...

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing on behalf of dozens of families that have been trying to recover from hurricanes Katrina and Rita. These families are still spread throughout the country, unable to bring a sense of emotional normalcy or financial stability to their lives.

Something as simple as missing a day of work, or needing a new tire is wreaking catastrophic havoc on these families; paying rent becomes impossible, having to choose between electricity and food, having to choose between needed shoes for the children or that needed tire.

If your company encourages departmental philanthropy, suggest they choose a family from the Gulf Coast. The needs vary from simple toys for Christmas to total financial crisis management.

Regardless of their situation and of your giving, your greatest gift to them will be hope. Your boxes and envelopes are filled with more hope than any number of items packed within.

There are several options you can choose from to assist these families:
Work with an organization that has case managers for the families. These include CityTeam Ministries (http://www.cityteam.org/), HANDS (http://www.hands.ms/) or The Giving Circle (http://www.thegivingcircle.org/).
Work with a more loosely knit group of volunteers representing the families. These include Katrina’s Angels (http://www.katrinasangels.org/), Impact Ministries (www.citiimpact.org/html/events.asp), or Adopt My Room (www.adoptmyroom.org/).
Work with families directly through such sites as Real People Relief (http://www.realpeoplerelief.blogspot.com/), Adopt A Family (www.adopt-a-katrina-family.com/) or Hope Haven Children’s Shelter (http://www.hopehavenshelter.org/)

No matter what method you choose, I can assure you the family will give far more to you than anything you give them.

Sincerely,

Church Letter of Request

To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing on behalf of dozens of families that have been trying to recover from hurricanes Katrina and Rita. These families are still spread throughout the country, unable to bring a sense of emotional normalcy or financial stability to their lives.
Something as simple as missing a day of work, or needing a new tire is wreaking catastrophic havoc on these families; paying rent becomes impossible, having to choose between electricity and food, having to choose between needed shoes for the children or that needed tire.
If your church participates in Christmas philanthropy, please consider choosing a family from the Gulf Coast. The needs vary from simple toys for Christmas to total financial crisis management.
Regardless of their situation and of your giving, your greatest gift to them will the gift of hope. Your boxes and envelopes are filled with more hope than any number of items packed within.
There are several options you can choose from to assist these families:
Work with an organization that has case managers for the families. These include CityTeam Ministries (http://www.cityteam.org/), HANDS (http://www.hands.ms/) or The Giving Circle (http://www.thegivingcircle.org/).
Work with a more loosely knit group of volunteers representing the families.These include Katrina’s Angels (http://www.katrinasangels.org/), Impact Ministries (www.citiimpact.org/html/events.asp), or Adopt My Room (www.adoptmyroom.org/).
Work with families directly through such sites as Real People Relief (http://www.realpeoplerelief.blogspot.com/), Adopt A Family (www.adopt-a-katrina-family.com/) or Hope Haven Children’s Shelter (http://www.hopehavenshelter.org/)
No matter what method you choose, I can assure you the family will give far more to you than anything you give them.
Sincerely,

November Updates

11/26
Another slightly hectic week. With Thanksgiving, I was actually able to catch up on email! I only have 30 in my In Box! Woo!
Still feeling the affects of the last bee sting. Laryngitis being one of them. Yes, my family is grateful! LOL
I've sent out another 30 letters to local churches. Am going to start an email campaign to my state's public universities in hopes of getting some support there. I've found email is far more productive for the universities than snail mail. Snail mail literally gets lost.
Many new grants have been added to the Grants of The Week post. Also added much to the family and home repair pages. Will be adding more today or tomorrow.
Woke up feeling the futility of the situation. Katrinas Angels are being recognized all over the country, and yet, it's like preaching to the choir. They are being recognized by those who are already in the recovery effort, not be those who thought everything was ok. So, while the recognition is good, it's not doing much to spread the word or improve the efforts.
I've created a poster for folks to use, should they choose to. http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2007/08/letter-of-week.html
If you couple it with the letter AND the public service announcement sent to your local cable provider, you'll get the word out very quickly. And if you want to change the website at the bottom, feel free. The picture was copyright free and since it's not being used for profit, it's ok that way as well. I just put the color to it since it was a B&W line drawing.
I've written a letter that I will be posting in another week for assistance AFTER Christmas. It gives a brief history of Boxing Day (12/26 aka St Stephen's Day) and a way we Americans can make it our own as well.
I have a few more families on the RPR site. 2 have been adopted outright, 1's children have been adopted for Christmas, and am working on another for full adoption. Plus, my letters sent thus far have highlighted each family about 4 times to my local churches. So with any luck, they'll be adopted that way as well.
I really don't think people understand how important the gift of HOPE is. That has far more impact than anything else given. Please, consider it. It's a gift that gives to you as much as to the person you gave it to.
Leslie

11/19 My Story - People have been asking.
http://realpeoplerelief.blogspot.com/2007/10/about-moderator.html

11/18
Hello.
Well, it's been a very busy week. I shipped out about 5 boxes of various items, including one 33# full of Thanksgiving. I wish I could do that for all of the families, but such is life. Someday maybe.
I've added a TON of stuff to the Family Resource post.
I've also added a Grant of The Week post.
http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2007/08/grants-of-week.html
I believe all grants will live there, freeing up from posting each one individually, and losing the nightmare of sorting through to find them all. I will still cross index as I am able to the appropriate resource posts.
I've also created, and will be adding to, 2 more resource posts for education. 1 is for families - with both high school and adult learning funding possibilities.
http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/11/education-assistance.html
The other is for teachers and schools grants, loan repayment, etc.
http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/11/assistance-for-schools.html
Another resource post that will not get AS much attention, but is incredibly valuable is for the "mature" and the caregivers of the "mature".
http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/11/help-for-older-and-care-givers.html
When did it become illegal to use the word "old" or "elderly"? Anyway, it gives information for distance caring, financial, medical, and emotional support for both the carer and the cared-for.
I got stung by a bee again. Crap. Twice. In the hand. It's still swollen, but the arm isn't spasming all the way to the shoulder blade today. I'm the only person in upstate NY that can get stung by a bee/hornet, wasp in mid November.
I think that's it. I could be wrong, but I think so. LOL It's enough.
Oh - finished another quilt. It's washed and drying now. Will take a picture very soon.
And, my area flooded again. The same storm that flooded the South and made tornadoes everywhere created real flash flooding - which just doesn't happen in NYS. I think this flood casued more damage than the 'record' flood in June. But, we'll see what the numbers amount to in a few weeks. Just about every bridge over creeks and streams got topped by FEET of water, so all must be checked. One collapsed under a garbage truck. The guys weren't hurt, but the truck was "disabled". LOL
So - update me when you can! And read when you get the chance. There's a ton of new stuff and it's all 'good' information.
Leslie

11/14 Good day! I got word that the newlyweds LOVE their quilt - pictured below. Also got word that one of 'my' families is getting some full time help in finishing their house! Wooohoo! I love when a non-plan comes together. Also heard that one of 'my' groups got $3000 from their local elementary school to help finish a house that needs another $10,000. They're a third of the way there! Also found a job for a friend who had volunteered in Hancock County for a long time (see the family above). And sent out 30 letters to local churches asking for both Thanksgiving help for Gulf Coast Agencies (listed them) and for Xmas help for 'my' families - each family got 2 letters sent in their name. Next week another 30 will go out for just the Xmas help for the families. If this year is like last year, it will garner assistance. I just don't know how much. And also sent out 4 boxes to 4 separate families of little stuff that wasn't being used around here that they needed badly. So - I am a happy girl! It's a good relief week!

11/12 This is the latest quilt made - another Wedding Ring. This one is slightly different in that I put the "rings" in a different location than the previous one. It's for a darker room with different colors, so it was more appropriate this way. I think I calculated 38 hours in this one. Queen size - about 90" sq.
This week has been all about preparing for Thanksgiving AND adding families to the Real People Relief site AND cross indexing. That's where my eyes cross. Trying to keep all of the relevant information on all of the blogs. Woof!
But, I figure if I can get to it about once every 2 weeks, life is pretty good.
I created a post called Second Thanksgiving - it's about making "stone soup" out of the leftovers from the First Thanksgiving. It's an easy way to make 2 separate meals for the price of one - both for those who are cooking en masse and singular families.
I've gotten many updates from different organizations. The best ones thus far are Citizen Action Team, CitiImpact, City Action Partnership and The Giving Circle. The rest I try to sort through the websites for something remotely recent and post that. That is on this week's agenda. It's a killer on my vertigo, but it's very important since I've been receiving an increased number of emails thanking me for the most comprehensive and up to date information on the recovery effort.
Otherwise, not a whole lot going on. Am continuing to prepare boxes to ship of items I have to give, plus continuing the church mailings for the holiday giving spirit to kick in and normal daily stuff (which includes a LOT of napping!) Update me as you are able!
Leslie

11/9 A GREAT Quote
This is the story of the storm. You haven't heard from someone in a year but you haven't thought about it either because the year is a big blurr ..a big smudge. (thank you Val!)

11/5
A lot to cover this time!
First, I think I found the source of the increased vertigo - I tsopped a med last week and I've been feeling better ever since. Imagine that! At least it's getting better - that's all I can ask for.
Am working on 2 quilts. Have just gotten fabric for another from a friend in Canada. The design is a knock out too! Can't wait to get started on that one.
I have submitted a press release to God and everybody about the RealPeopleRelief blog. I honestly hope someone picks it up because it's one that really needs to be highlighted. The others would be nice to have highlighted, but this one, to me, feels most important.
You know what people are lacking? Clothes. For all the clothes that were sent at the beginning and then thrown away for lack of storage space, clothes are needed yet again. Paper supplies. Napkins, TP, paper towels are all in high need. Toys. So many have yet to have Christmas or birthdays since Katrina hit that presents are really being wished for this year. Food. FEMA trailers have NO storage space, but people are still really needing food.
It's as if the storm happened last week. The basics are all badly needed.
Am working on a series of posts regarding easy ways to update readers and volunteers. It seems a bunch of us are seeing this as a real issue - but from different sides of the problem. Hopefully, this will help one aspect of the issue be resolved and not in such a crisis mode.
Am also working on a longer post for volunteers and residents alike to use to stay as healthy as possible without the health insurance they so desperately need. I'm almost finished with the first draft and will hopefully have it on the RealPeopleRelief blog in the next 24 hours.
Have written a post about avoiding infectious diseases. This is vital, and is where the above has evolved from. Please review it and print the poster provided. Click on the picture, and then save from there. It should save as 8x10 to be printed on normal paper stock to hang in all communal areas.
I need some help collecting data on relief assistance available in both AL and LA. If anyone has such a compilation, please let me know. I'll give full credit and will save my vertigo a real workout. Thanks!
I have all of the weekly features up and running.
Family of the Week - Usually updated Sundays.
Agency of the Week - Usually updated Sunday or Monday
Letter of the Week - Usually updated Mondays
The LOTW will be about asking your local churches to assist by choosing an agency or family to assist all during the holidays. I will be leaving this one up for 2 weeks, and then as the secondary letter for another 2 weeks. This is too important not to.

And on that note of assisting - BoxTops for Education has many partnerships with companies, both bricks and clicks - so please check them out on the blog page. They can be tricky to get to through the Boxtops for education site.

Public Service Announcements

Please consider sending this to your local Public Access Channel.

Most have announcements during the daytime and off hours when programming is sparse. They also have strict rules about what can be posted and how large the post can be.Ours needs a local contact, needs to be no longer than 4 lines and no more than 32 characters per line, needs to be sent in at least 3 weeks in advance.

So - with all of that in mind, if you are willing to be your local contact, please first call Walton County Habitat so they are familiar with your name and location as well as to give permission and then put yourself down as the local contact - that will be used only by the Public Access Channel folks for verification - not as a contact for the public to call.

11/19
Regift to the needy in the US
Adopt a Family This Christmas
For More Information:
RealPeopleRelief.blogspot.com

Help Katrina Victims Help Themselves
Able Bodied People Of All Ages Needed
1 Week to 1 Month Intervals Call
Walton County Habitat @ 850 835 0067

You may use this wording ver batim or something very similar - this was approved for use by the Walton County Habitat, so I would strongly urge using this wording as is. If you need help shortening it for your PAC, please email me and I will do what I can to help you.

Similar One For Electricians

Please send the following announcement to your local Public Access Channel. They all have times every day where they post announcements for not-for-profit groups and needs such as this. I've written this one for our PAC and is conformed to their specifications, so should need little editing for your PAC.

Help The Gulf Coast Help Itself
Licensed Electrictians Needed Now
KatrinaCoalition@aol.com or
www.KatrinaNetworking.blogspot.com