HurricaneRelief's Xanga

Wednesday, October 26, 2005

Wed, 26 Oct 2005 18:08:03 GMT

As the Hurricane season just rages on, our relief operation has used up most of our resources! We want to thank everyone who helped out! All of the many churches who gave and are still giving through adopting a family! The communities in Colorado that have opened up to evacuees have been so helpful. We want you all to know how blessed we've been by you.

If this is your first visit to our site, we want to know that there are still ways to get involved and help out! Feel free to contact us to make a monotary donation to the evacuee families, or if you are interested in getting more involved in Mercy ministries and Relief work here are some helpful sites to visit!

Tuesday, September 27, 2005

Tue, 27 Sep 2005 17:59:22 GMT

Good afternoon,

It's been a while since I've updated--sorry, it's been just a little bit crazy! The garage sale went well, we raised over $2500.00 for hurricane relief effort. We still have a ton of clothes left so we will be having another sale on Sat. from 7-4. We will provide grocery bags and clothing will be sold for $3.00 a bag full. Tell your friends and neighbors, there are still wonderful bargains to be had!

We just received word that there are approx. 50 people on a bus that is heading to Pueblo. The Katrina Store is in desperate need of personal care items, cleaning supplies and groceries. Please take your donation to the Ag Pavilion at the Fair Grounds between 9-5 tues-Sat. PLEASE DO NOT DROP OFF ANY CLOTHES--We are overflowing with clothing. We are looking to move possibly this weekend so if you can wait with any other donations please watch this post for a new address to drop off items. Also, if no one is at the store to receive your items please do not drop them off at the gates, there is no security at the Ag Pavillion and we cannot guarantee that items dropped off will not be stolen.

We can use any and all volunteers. Just show up at the Fair Grounds and we will put you to work. We have a lot of sorting to be done from the sale last weekend, we need to get ready for the next sale, prepare to move and handle the everyday items that come up. We really need more than 3-4 people down there to make sure that the Katrina Store runs smoothly and it's efficient for the evacuees to shop at. We are seeing a large increase in families that are "shopping"--it's a blessing to be able to help them out. Thank you for your generosity, YOU made the store possible.

Thanks for checking in--gotta run--work calls!

Julie

Thursday, September 22, 2005

Thu, 22 Sep 2005 12:38:29 GMT

Good Morning,

It's time for a monster of a Garage Sale. We are clearing out our clothing and shoe inventory on Sat. with a huge sale open to the public. Please join us at the fair grounds for this blowout event. All adult clothing will be $1.00, kids clothing .50 and shoes for a $1.00. Breakfast burritos and a hotdog lunch will also be available for purchase. Some of you are asking why we are doing this, there are a couple of reasons. First, the building at the fair grounds is open to the elements and this is not conducive for keeping clothing clean and dry long term. The other reason is we just plain have too much stuff! By doing the garage sale and earmarking the money for future hurricane relief we are benefiting the community by offering clothing at low prices but also keeping with the spirit in which the donation was given--which is hurricane relief. Clothing is available from Good Will for those displaced by the hurricane. At this point Good Will is offering 5 outfits per person at no charge for any evacuees. Please tell your friends, neighbors and family about the sale, there are many wonderful bargains to be had.

On the donation front, PLEASE HOLD ALL DONATIONS OTHER THAN GROCERIES AND PERSONAL CARE ITEMS until after we are moved. This should happen early next week if we can secure a building. We will continue to operate the store by partnering with several churches to ensure that the needs of those who have relocated are met. Additional furniture, appliances, housewares etc will be needed but we would like to get moved and settled before we accept any more items. THANK YOU for your continued generosity. I'm not sure if there is another city across America who has pulled together to form such a well stocked "super store" without a cash register. You have been a blessing to each and everyone of the evacuees who have walked through the door of the store.

I had better get to work, the sorting must be finished, the organizing must go on and most importantly the families must be able to shop! Just a side note, if you know of any individuals who have relocated to Pueblo please direct them to the store. If they have not registered with Posada please call 545-8776, this will ensure that those who are our newest Pueblo residents have gone through all the proper channels to receive the aid and assistance they need. Thanks for checking in.

Julie

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

Wed, 21 Sep 2005 12:44:14 GMT

ARE YOU READY FOR A GARAGE SALE? Mark your calendars for Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. for a blow out on clothing. We have received an abundance of clothing, more than we can possibly use, so we have decided to have a garage sale in which all the proceeds will go to Posada earmarked for future Hurricane Relief. All adult clothing will be sold for $1.00 a piece, children's clothing for .50 and all shoes are $1.00 a pair. Breakfast burritos and a hot dog lunch will also be available for purchase. Plan on coming out and doing some bargain shopping! There are lots of good deals to be found. SPREAD THE WORD! The sale will be held at the Katrina store, we are located at the Ag Pavillion on the State Fair Grounds.

We are looking for a new location to move the store to in the very near future. We will continue to operate the store for the next 2-3 months. If you know of any building please contact me at 564-5367. We need to get moving on this with the change of weather.

As far as the relocation effort we continue to see families come into the Pueblo area, however as of late last week it had significantly slowed down. That may change this week with the approach of Hurricane Rita. I will keep you posted as to our needs. Please contact Posada with any housing opportunities that you have.

If you are looking for something to do come on down to the store. We need lots of volunteers this week to get the final items sorted for the garage sale. We also are in the process of matching sheet sets/blankets/comforter/pillows into sets so they are ready to go when needed. All of this takes time and hands, we would love to see you!

Thank you for all that you have done, we appreciate the generosity of your donations, the willingness to help and ask that you continue to keep those who are relocated and in the process of relocating in your prayers.

Julie

Monday, September 19, 2005

Mon, 19 Sep 2005 12:34:16 GMT

Good morning,

I just wanted to jot a quick note before the day takes off. Saturday was a busy day at the Katrina Store. It was a huge blessing to be able to see families "shop" for what they needed to set up their households--and find EVERYTHING! Praise God! The people of Pueblo have been so generous. I cannot tell you how many people have walked through the door of the Katrina store and stood with tears in their eye's. It's been worth all the effort to see the smiles of children as they pick out new games and stuffed animals. To see the relief on Mom's face when she see's the dishes, pots and pans, crockpots and groceries. Dad's who are just relieved to see their families being taken care of. The teen's excitement of a nice TV and a "cool" set of bunk beds. THANK YOU PUEBLO.

Today is sort out day at the store. If anyone can help us our I would really like to nail the "to be sorted" section. This is a huge goal since most of the items need to be sorted and laundered and then put out in the proper places. I also need volunteers on an ongoing basis. If you are able to spend some time down there please let me know at fwcrelief@yahoo.com

Some needs that we currently have are bedding--if you could put your freshly laundered sheet sets taped together with a size noted on them that would be awesome. It saved a lot of time trying to find the right size. We have really been going through the bedding items. Sat. alone we outfitted over a dozen beds from sheets to comforters. Another thing that we could use are trash cans, laundry baskets and hampers. These work great to pack items into and also serve a useful purpose when unpacked. We also are in desperate need of washer/dryer sets. We have a few dryers right now but almost all of the households need sets. If you need your items picked up please email me. Please remember that we are not taking any more clothing. I appreciate your understanding in this matter. If you have any questions why please stop in and see the enormous amount already there and the huge task that we have today in sorting it. Goodwill and Arc are also assisting Hurricane survivors so may want to drop off your clothing there.

In closing today I just want to ask for your prayers that the word gets out that the store is for ALL Katrina relocatees, not just those placed by specific agencies. Our mission is to provide for the needs of those displaced by Katrina free of cost. Also please pray for sensitivity and direction as the evacuees come into the store. I cannot image what they have been through and lost and it is overwhelming to start over again. It's our job to assist them as best as we can without overwhelming them even further. Thank you again for your generosity and for checking in. It has truly been a blessing to be part of this project.

Julie

Saturday, September 17, 2005

Sat, 17 Sep 2005 12:58:16 GMT

Hey, it's Sat. and I expect it's going to be a crazy day at the Katrina Store. If any one you who are reading this could give us an hour or two of your time it would be very much appreciated. PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT ANY DONATIONS THAT YOU HAVE ARE CLEAN AND IN GOOD WORKING ORDER. We do not have the staff the clean and fix donations.

It's been a busy and productive week. We are continually assessing our needs and they are being met. The one thing that we could really use are NEW pillows. I believe that is our only critical need at this point. Good furniture and beds are needed. We have several dining room tables but no chairs and small entertainment centers are gone almost as fast as they come in. Please understand that we cannot accept any more clothing. We have a huge pile that needs to be laundered and an even larger pile that needs to be sorted.

It's been fun watching the families come in and shop. Most people who have not been to the store are literally in awe when then walk through the door and see the generosity of Pueblo. It has truly been a blessing to have gotten to know so many wonderful people through this project. I have been blessed with new friends that I would have never met any other way. God sure works in mysterious ways sometimes.

We have a caravan on the way up this weekend. I'm not sure of the arrival date or how many families are coming. I will be checking Doug's website in a few minutes. If any of you would like to keep up with Doug the address is www.homesofheroes.com/katrina. I have so busy with the store this week that unfortunately I have not had a chance to keep up with how many new families are coming.

If you speak with or know of ANYONE who has relocated due to Katrina either long term or short term please direct them to the store at the State Fair Grounds. We are located in the Ag Building. The store is stocked with everything from clothing to household items to personal care items, linens, bedding, towels, home decor, furniture, groceries, you name it!

Thank you for checking in, we appreciate your continued support and ask for prayers that God uses the store to meet the needs of the Hurricane survivors.

Julie

Thursday, September 15, 2005

Thu, 15 Sep 2005 22:49:47 GMT

It's been shopping time at the Katrina Store. What a wonderful site to see kiddos pick out stuffed animals, new games and clothes. Mom and Dad are outfitted in everything from wool suits and coats to shorts and T shirts. Groups are in taking kitchen and bath items and running to put a "hold sign" on the latest furniture. Thank you for your generosity.

I spoke with Posada this morning. There are currently over 60 families that have registered with the Red Cross in Pueblo. We are expecting another 30 people this weekend. So many churches and organizations have stepped up to the plate to help prepare homes and enfold those who are relocating here. It's a blessing to establish those relationships that will hopefully last a lifetime.

We have once again been blessed by donations today. Some items that we continue to see a need for our NEW pillows, all king size bedding, blankets and comforters for other sizes, furniture, beds and volunteers to help us sort and keep on top of things.

If you have a few hours to spare stop on down to the Ag Pavilion and we will put you to work. THANK YOU to those of you who have spent hours and hours down there this past week. You are appreciated.

We could use some help moving furniture. If you have a truck and some muscles we have quite of list of pickups that need to take place. Please email me a fwcrelief@yahoo.com or call me at 564-5367 if you are able to do this.

I realize Katrina is slowly moving from the front pages of the newspapers, however our work is really just beginning. Victims of the Hurricane are realizing that they have no home to go home to and reality is beginning to set in. As this process continues we will see an influx of people who are relocating that will continue to need our help. Without the publicity of the papers it seems as if people tend to forget about it and go on with their lives. Please continue to check this post for the latest happenings in Pueblo. It was quoted on the news the other evening that charity begins at home--do what we can do to help those who need it, after all, if it were you what would you hope someone would do?

Thanks for checking in.

Julie

Thursday, September 15, 2005

Thu, 15 Sep 2005 03:00:25 GMT

Hey, it's finally quitting time, well almost.

It's been a good day. The store is up and running. We had several families in "shopping" and organizations in preparing homes for more families. I'm not exactly sure how many people are expected but I wanted to update you with our current needs.

BEDDING: King size--everything, all other sizes blankets and comforters (we are OK on sheets.) This will be updated frequently since we have limited storage space.

CLOTHES: We are currently OK (more than OK) on clothing. However, I do foresee a need for additional children's clothing in the future, please have it ready to go by being freshly laundered and sorted by gender and sizes. PLEASE watch this post for when we need it--at this time we cannot store it.

FURNITURE: We could use everything and anything as long as it is clean and in good shape

FOOD: anything, this is going fast

PERSONAL CARE : Anything, this is going fast

CLEANING SUPPLIES: Buckets, brooms, mops, cleaning solutions, vacuum cleaners, laundry detergent.

APPLIANCES: Washer/Dryer sets (the one we had lasted about 10 minutes)

At this time many people see the Ag Pavilion as a large building and we should have no problem, however, if you were there at about 5 tonight when it started raining you would see the challenges that we face. The building is open to the elements and the roof leaks so we were busy trying to keep items dry. Bear with us, we are doing the best we can, but this is a new endeavor for all of us. I know you want to help, so how about your time? We are going to need people to staff the store and help move families in. If you are interested in helping us out email me at fwcrelief@yahoo.com.

Thank you for checking in on us. We are blessed to be part of helping people overcome adversity that most of us cannot even fathom.

Julie

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

Wed, 14 Sep 2005 11:41:18 GMT

Good Morning,

What a whirlwind of a day yesterday, but God is good and He provided the help necessary to accomplish the impossible--again! THANK YOU to over 12 women who stopped by to see if they could help last evening as the result of a newscast, you were a tremendous blessing.

The Katrina Store is ready for our newest neighbors to shop in--we still have a few items to organize, and there is still PLENTY of work to be done (especially sorting the donations that have come in), so please stop by and see what you can do. We also need to schedule volunteers for the next few weeks, if you have a few hours to give come on down and sign up. The store hours are from 8-5 tues-sat.

On the donation front WE ARE NOT ACCEPTING ANY MORE CLOTHING. I know many of you have some really nice things that you would like to donate but at this time we simply have too much. Thank you for your understanding. Some items that we need are the following: King size sheets and blankets (king size ONLY), vacuum cleaners, new mops/brooms/dust pans, buckets with cleaning supplies, groceries, personal care items other than shampoo/soap/toothbrushes and paste and furniture that is clean and in good shape. Please make sure all items that you drop off are CLEAN and ready to go. We have several items that need to be brought home and scrubbed down, if you would be willing to do this stop by and we will load you up. On the furniture front bunkbeds are a hot commodity, with several large families in smaller homes the bunkbeds are the only option for us. If you have other ideas on what you would like to donate feel free to stop down at the store and see if there is a need.

We are expecting more families in this weekend, thank you to all who have opened up houses for those who are relocating. We are still looking for churches and organizations to "adopt" the families. Leave me your name and number if you are interested in doing this. It is a huge blessing to build a relationship with a family.

Don't forget to mark your calendar for SEPT 20, SRDA is sponsoring a fund raiser for the hurricane victims who are relocating to Pueblo from 5-8 p.m. Big Ernest, our local New Orleans chef will be preparing a one of a kind Louisiana style BBQ for you to enjoy, watch the paper for further press releases. This will be a great evening to come out and enjoy some New Orleans culture with jazz bands, food and fun! SEE YOU THERE!

Thanks for checking in. I hope to update you on all of the families soon, the more volunteers we get at the store the more time I have to gather information for you--hint, hint! Pueblo is a wonderful generous city, thank you for embracing those who have lost so much.

Julie

Tuesday, September 13, 2005

Tue, 13 Sep 2005 20:45:07 GMT

GOT TIME? We DESPERATELY need help at the Katrina Store this evening. We have an abundance of items to sort and organize to be ready for the families to shop. We also need people to stop by and pick up boxes of household items and baby furniture that need to be cleaned up. Stop down at the Ag Pavilion until at least 9 tonight and give us a hand. THANK YOU!

Julie