Sunday, November 20, 2005
The Big Day
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.
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...
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
