Heart to Heart

Things have been somewhat quiet over the past month since our party at Fox Run Farm. We had entertained Lilly and Jennylyn in St. Michaels for the first time and what a time they had.
Michael Rork from Town Dock Restaurant recently spent some time in the Alabama Bayou rebuilding some of the houses selected by Lilly, Thanks Mike!

Our efforts will continue. There is discussion of a spring Gala for raising funds for additional building projects. We would like to have something really nice so we can quantify the cost and construct three to four homes. Our early indications seem to be leaning toward The Oaks a great venue for this type of thing.

Stay Tuned!

Seeing a group like Heart to Heart go completely out of their way to help folks in the Bayou is truly inspiring. But sadly even with such dedicated volunteers, I believe it will be a long time before the Gulf Coast is back to the way it used to be. Hopefully visits like these will help speed along that process.

Adam Ghassemi, FOXten news
Baldwin County/Pensacola Reporter
WALA-TV, Mobile-Pensacola

Heart to Heart,

I saw ya'll on the news again last night. FOX News 10

I know the residence in the Bayou were very appreciative of all your group has done this Thanksgiving. Fox 10 said ya'll might be coming back during Christmas. Since we didn't see you this time, maybe our paths will cross the next time ya'll are down this way!
Thanks for all you do!
The Barnes Family

A Holiday is a Holiday
We have made a effort to help those in need enjoy a somewhat traditional holiday. You may not have much, but you have the support of a community that cares enough to continue to supply you with the needs you request.

We wish you all well, have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Your Friends at
Heart to Heart
St. Michaels, md

07:00
Lilly arrives at the hotel, then off to get the turkeys to complete our "Thanksgiving Baskets", we think there is 300 baskets on the truck to be givin out throughout the course of the morning.
We start in Theodore, where Randi identified many desperate families in FEMA trailers through her letter to Heart to Heart.Things quickly become emotional for some of us who were here in Sept, to others it is becoming more difficult enduring all the hugs and thank you's from complete strangers. They are very thankful for the holiday food but are still in desperate need for clothing and bedding.

9:30
We leave the Theodore area headed south towards the bayou. We will meet up with Adam and his.Fox 10 News crew shortly before continuing our distribution.

As we make it into the bayou area many folks seem happy we are here, and some almost ashamed at accepting our contibutions.The scene here is awful, these residents definitely have a long way to go until they experiance normalcy again. Adam has been filming the team going door to door for about an hour or so,giving out Thanksgiving Dinners. Most are very welcoming but some seem still dazed by the fact they are still in such a situation.

In a comment Leeann made to me on the phone this morning ,"I feel so bad for some of these people,my god. I just can't stop crying".

Dominic has been very emotional as well, realizing the scene is the same as it was three months ago. He decides to head back to pick up the trailer to return home before the Thanksgiving traffic begins on Tues.

I have worked closely with our team over the past several months, and was upset at the fact I could not make the trip. I repsect them all very much, we have worked very hard up to this point, and most have become good friends. I find it difficult sometimes to continue writing when I feel their natural emotions effecting me so easily.

11:00 The Word is Out
We have been giving out baskets for hours. It is now becoming difficult to determine who is on our scheduled list and who are following the trucks in an attempt to collect more and more. There are people everywhere!
Larry tells me things are quickly becoming "Ugly, we must stop at some point soon or they will just overtake the trucks. We need to get more control on this, or we won't have any more baskets to donate". Lilly agrees to continue distribution in a few days. "We still have a couple hundred baskets to give out, but this is not working the way we had originally planned". It will all work out somehow.

12:00
The remaining baskets get stored for a while till things settle down. Lilly has the team take her to lunch,"Thanks Guys". We then continue to tour the bayou area in Lilly's tahoe. She is taking the team to some of the more devestated areas and pointing out landmarks that aren't there."Its incredible here, says leeann, there are boats bigger than houses still in the woods".
One of the residents sent in a letter with the address of her blog which contains pictures.



2:15
After taking the time to see what a mess these people have to deal with everyday, we only hope there is more for them to look foreword too. The issue of rebuilding is becoming more critical before the weather turns colder. Many need some kind of home repairs, roofs and windows in particular. We can bring them all the food in the world, but if they don't have a place to eat it, its worthless.
We feel it nessassary to think about returning home at some point. The trucks that have not already left, need to be returned to Budget before we leave. Most of the team will fly home tonight in order to meet work schedules and their own family needs, quietly remembering the past 28 hours with their friends here.

4:00 Time to Say Goodbye
Everyone seems very content and happy with this latest effort, we cannot ever provide enough relief for everybody effected by this monster, but we tried.
We all know at some point, even know we don't admit it."All good things must come to an end", we have reached the point in our efforts here where its time to turn and look at the many we touched and say goodbye. Lilly in particular, she has made our effort here easy by comparison and most will never forget here sweet, effortless ability to get things done.

I know this experience has made us better people. All of us who contributed their time and efforts in this project should be proud. We can only hope that good things continue to happen to our friends in Bayou La Batre, Alabama.

Oh, one more piece of advice from us:
"Don't ever give up hope, it's free", Happy Thanksgiving

11:00 PM
Everyone is back home safely except dominic, due on Tues. We are all tired and emotionally drained from the past five days and need a break. I wish it was that easy, coming into a busy week ahead. Lilly will continue on our behalf for the next several days getting the furniture and remaining food distributed to whom needs it."Bless her Heart". My Mom writes in and touches my heart with a "Heart to Heart" message:

Goodnight...

Dear Jeff, Your heart has been enlarged by your most recent project disaster relief. Your web site is wonderful.....I have just come from Mass and have heard the most wonderful homily relating to tonights Gospel, Matt.25:31-46.....do you remember that gospel? God teaches us to discern our life in patience and ease...just like the sheep he fed on the right and the righteous on the left..When you were hungry you fed, thirsty,drink,naked,clothed etc.....to look for Christ in another person, no matter who he is, is to feed your soul. I know how you feel now and you will reap the benefits of your labor. I have searched my entire life for what I heard tonight. What a gift....to discern is to wait and know how to separate your heart from the courage it takes to know God. I bliss your spirit. YOu are so talented and have touched nature which always told me it would lead to today. I pray for your work and your soul and I love you.....Mom

The trucks arrive in Mobile on Saturday around 12:30

Now that we are here, things start to happen. Lilly is a bit behind, but rest assured she will begin to coordinate things as far as unloading and distribution until Leeann arrives later tonight. The tractor trailer is PACKED to the brim with beds, refrigerators , mattreses, sofa's, towels and and linens. It will be hours before all this is unloaded, sorted and stored at the warehouse facility at I-65. We will then rest before heading into the Bayou La batre area early on Sunday morning.
Things are going very smoothly so far, but the best is yet to come when we start delivering our Thanksgiving Dinner baskets to all the folks who so desperatly needed our help.

Comments continue to come in here, with many many thoughts and thanks.

Due to a previous post about families put out by FEMA, we have coordinated a response to this young ladies desperate letter to us. Lilly Kraver, our Bayou La batre liasion, in communication with Jb has arrived with volunteers in Bayou La Batre at 6 Pm to help with them and distribute food and goods for their needs. This young lady saw the news on TV in Mobile last night and contacted us via the website with her plea for help.

Lilly said,"It is a wonderful thing you all are doing with this website, that we were able to identify and save thirty families that were so desperate.

Now This!
Hello, This is Randi Lynn Roberson. Thank you so much for all the help you
have sent my way. The group came to the rv park and delivered food to all
the FEMA trailers here. Thanks You!!! Randi Lynn Roberson.

By the tone of this letter FEMA seems to be reducing thier available resources. I guess we should try to contact her to make sure she is aware of the distribution points on Sunday. Good luck Ms. Randi

I am a Bayou La Batre resident and I'm not getting any help for my family
because FEMA has put us in a trailer in Theodore, AL. for some reason we are
being forgotten. There are several families here and none of us are getting
the help that our neighbors are getting. I'm sorry but that's not fair. I've
got an 21 month old girl and it's hard to make ends meet when you are only
on unemployment. I wish that your organization could give some attention to
the people in this park. We lost EVERYTHING to Katrina and it's
heartbreaking to know that others are getting help comming to their door and
we can't even find the lines to stand in for hours to get the help. Please
Help Us!!!! Randi Lynn Roberson. We are in Bellingrath RV Park in Theodore,
Thanks you!

We had three trucks leave early this morning for Bayou La Batre as we prepare to distribute our Thanksgiving food and furniture drive. Our dedicated drivers Dom, Bob and Larry are very thoughtful people whom we all respect. Have a safe trip guys.

We had some good media coverage for the Mobile area on the Fox News WALA Thurs evening. Adam interviewed our very good friend Lilly Kraver.
Also,last night WMAR 2 News in Baltimore came out to see the guys during the final packing stages , did anyone catch it

We have started to organize our last minute details before leaving for Bayou La Batre on Fri Nov 18. All things considered, we have a huge amount to accomplish this week with packing the trucks and trip planning for volunteers. As NIKE says, "Just Do It"!

We have started our campaign of creating the "Family Baskets" which will contain all the items needed for a holiday dinner for five people.

Once completed they will be boxed up ready for the trip to Bayou La Batre in time for Thanksgiving. We have raised a consideral amount of cash through the overwhelming generosity of some local business folks, Thank You.

We are seeking donations for sponsoring a "Family Basket", For $30 you can secure Thanksgiving for a family of five. In addition, you will be givin the opportunity to write a personal note tag to the family and recieve recognition in publicity surrounding the event.

Plans are also being made to send a tractor trailor full of furniture and linens donated by the St. Michaels Harbor Inn and Marina

I admire Brian Williams coverage of the regional devestation on the gulf coast. He recently touched on Bayou La Batre on his evening news program October 31,2005.

We've covered about 100 miles on our road trip through Alabama today. Done six interviews and shot five tapes using three cameras... all of which now goes by satellite to our Chicago bureau. There they will edit it and then beam the finished product to New York and Nightly News.

He also had this to say on his Blog "Daily Nightly":
3 miles out of Bayou La Batre

I also a sent a comment on behalf of all of our efforts and upcoming Thanksgiving drive.

Please join your friends and neighbors in providing Thanksgiving dinner for our friends in Alabama who are still recovering from hurricane Katrina.

From Oct 29th to November 13th canned and frozen goods will be collected throughout the Bay Hundred area and shipped to bayou La Batre in time for Thanksgiving.

300 families will be fed but only if you help!

Dinner Items being Collected

Canned vegetables
Canned Potatoes
Canned Cranberry Sauce
Boxed stuffings and Biscuit mix
Canned Pie Filling
Boxed Pie crust
Canned Chicken Broth
Jars and cans of Gravy
Poultry seasoning
Frozen Turkeys

Cash donations can also be made to purchase Turkeys at the drop off boxes..Payable to:SMCC/Katrina Relief

Heart to Heart
Box 202
St. Michaels, Md 21663
rosemary@pixelprintpost.com

This Thanksgiving, as we all sit around the table with fanily and friends we indeed have much to be thankful for. Please invite the people of Bayou La Batre, through your generous donations, to join us at our table for dinner, so they too, will be able to share in the company of family and friends on this holiday.

Hi. I'm Sue Carlson from Saraland, AL. I'm trying to make contact
with the people from St. Michaels who sent an 18 wheeler filled with
clothes to Bayou La Batre, which is south of us, for hurricane
victims. We're located just north of Mobile. The truck dropped the
clothes at our church, Saraland United Methodist, last night, &
we've labeled and boxed them to send to the Bayou. Is there anyway
you could find out who we can contact to thank them? Thank God for
the great people out there who care. There's a lot of people with
nothing left and I know they really appreciate the efforts of your
town. Thank You,
Sue


This letter was recieved during our efforts in early September 2005

Bayou La Batre News
http://www.topix.net/city/bayou-la-batre-al

Bayou La BatreCommunity Profile
http://www.hometownlocator.com/City/Bayou-La-Batre-Alabama.cfm

Bayou La Batre Maps
http://tiger.census.gov/cgi-bin/mapgen?lat=30.41667&lon=-
Google Maps Type -In 36509 for Bayou La Batre

PASCAGOULA, Miss. - Life after Hurricane Katrina is one big line. Long lines for gasoline are ubiquitous in coastal Louisiana and Mississippi. It's nothing to see dozens of cars bumper-to-bumper at any station that's open and has gas, as well as some that don't. But fuel is just the most obvious part of the Big Wait.

Storm victims stand in one line for free ice and a different line for water, sometimes miles apart in temperatures reaching the mid-90s. The few reopened stores have people queuing out the doors for diapers, cleaning supplies, chain saws and lumber.

There are lines to file insurance claims, too, often formed at RVs parked in lots outside bombed-out buildings. There was even a line of a dozen people waiting for a table at a Waffle House, a restaurant known for nothing if not quick service.

All the lines disappear as if by magic at 6 p.m. when daily curfews kick in. But people reappear shortly after the curfew is lifted at 6 a.m. to begin another day of waiting.

Full Story


Relief Effort Information Links
Please feel free to foreword these on :

Katrina Missing Persons Lists
Charity Navigator
DONATE HERE
Covoy of Hope
Red Cross
America Cares
XM Radio Helping Hands
Katrina Help Info
Katrina Missing Persons Board
FEMA advises against "Self Dispatching"
New Orleans station WWL TV, bulletin board

Aid On the Way to Katrina Survivors in Alabama

If you passed through St. Michaels this past holiday weekend, you could not miss the local relief effort organized by The Junior Womans Club and the St. Michaels Business Association.

Volunteers worked and managed the lines of traffic Saturday and Sunday in order to collect donations, food , clothing and supplies to be delivered to the many in need. By 2pm on Sunday there had been such a huge response, SMBA President Bob Porter said,"We have enough here to fill another tractor trailer, I'm impressed with our community." People just kept coming and the emotion to do more was obvious by many.

The scope of the devastation is also making it difficult to zero in on precisely where their help is most needed, and the challenge of getting it there safely and securely is changing almost hourly, according to the relief agencies.
It is my understanding the focus was towards getting the aid to a church community quickly. Then, distributing the items by volunteers on the outskirts of Katrina's hardest hit areas, says Rosemary Fasolo.

The response is "overwhelming" , she said. " But keep in mind, Private donors may get supplies to the affected areas sooner than other more formal organizations and charities".

Items Donated So Far:

$18,000 in finacial donations
800 cases of bottled water
100 boxes food items
150 boxes of clothing
200 boxes of linens, towels, blankets
75 boxes of baby food, items
500 boxes of diapers
300 boxes of toiletries
50 boxes cleaning supplies, bug spray

We will be following up with this post when the trucks and crew arrive home in a few days. It will be interesting to interview them on thier experience and thoughts of what they have seen first hand. Also , if anyone wishes to volunteer they need additional drivers for the near future.

The Katrina People Finder Project has launched its searchable database , which now includes more than 95,000 searchable records, at katrinalist.net. This is a very impressive project demonstrating how useful the Internet can be.
More on this from Cyberjournalist News