Yesterday we went to Sam’s club and got a new membership there. One thing I really like about Sam’s club is the shopping carts. They are double wide, and so they have two kids spots there so my two youngest can both sit in the cart. Not that that lasts long but it helps!
As we were walking through the aisles I was looking at the bulk plastic ware, and all the foods and thinking about how much I could send to help people who are still struggling from Katrina. I was lifting boxes to see how heavy they were trying to do mental calculations of postage.
They were heavy, it seemed hopeless. So here is where I enlist your help.
I recently have been in touch with Angela Cole, she is a nurse who has been going down to help out taking supplies when she can, giving vaccinations, hugs, a listening ear, whatever she can do.
Recently she was able to get on CNN and voice the plight of the people in a particular town, Pearlington, Mississippi.
After going to Sam’s club, we stopped at the drive through to get some lunch. It’s so convenient to be able to do this. Even more so now that then can just swipe your bank card and off you go. Convenience. That is a luxury we sure take for granted. In many rural areas that were hit by Katrina there is none. There are no stores, no McDonalds no laundry mats no.. well.. nothing. It’s all gone.
Here is a photo gallery of Pearlington. Four months after the hurricane it still looks pretty much like this.
After grabbing lunch we went home.
Home. What could be better, putting our groceries away, kicking back in the recliner relaxing and of course knitting away. Cozy and warm.
Many people in Pearlington and areas like it have been lucky and have gotten FEMA trailers. Some, many, still are camping out in tents. Now this may be the south but it does get cold. The FEMA trailers are not heated, the tents most certainly are not. And while camping out is fun for a while, after four months it sure gets old. There is no dry place to keep the things that they have and there is no replacing many of the things they have lost.
In my communication with Angela I have asked her what people there most need right now.
Here is her answer:
“Due to the generosity of volunteers from my hometown in Newnan, GA, I think we’re good on things like sweaters and hats and gloves. However, they could use more blankets of all sizes and colors.”
Also here is a list of food goods that they might need:
I would love to get some kits out to these people.
So one unit or kit would include the following:
1 blanket (I suggest you buy one, or donate one that is gently used unless you have one already knitted or crocheted that you can give)
Some food items remember these need to be non perishable. (try to include enough for at least one meal and lets throw in one fun item.. hot chocolate, jello mix some kind of treat!)
Some knitted items..like washcloths, dishcloths, potholders, door “snakes” to keep-out drafts (the FEMA trailers are not insulated – very drafty around the door) These are small items that can be done quickly!
Please also get a plastic storage box that these items can fit in, not nessesarily all of them. Dry storage is a problem and a nice plastic air tight storage box will go a long way to keeping items safe and dry.
Any other items you can think of that might come in handy ie batteries etc..
I will get an address ASAP so please start collecting items to make up a kit! My goal is to get at least 50 kits sent to Pearlington and then keep this up as the need arises in other areas. Please consider helping out! The need is out there.
I know I am small beans. I don’t have a wildly popular blog like Stephanie or Franklin, but I am hoping that by word of mouth through the knitting and knitting loom blogging community and forums we can get the word out and get this done.
Also .. I will need a little help making up a button and possibly a header for a web page for this so if you are good at that please let me know!! Every little bit helps!
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