YES! We're "adopting" a family!

[Bouncy Ball]

I've been feeling very frustrated and helpless. But my husband called and a co-worker of his has an empty rental house and has just found a family--husband, wife, and two daughters age six and eight, from New Orleans and has offered it to them rent-free until they can get on their feet.

I need to go through our closets and get together clothing--they lost everything. We're going grocery shopping tonight with at least one of the adults, I don't think they've had fresh food in days.

They are due to arrive this evening, lots to do. The wife of my husband's co-worker is cleaning the house now.

It's weird to say I'm excited, but I am. Giving blood and money was nice, but this is so much more...concrete. I heard about a guy on the radio who took in 32 people. He brought them in his car to his house and had to put two adults in the TRUNK. Not safe, but he got them to his house and was putting out a plea on the radio for food, diapers, clothing and formula. 32 people, I cannot imagine. They must be sleeping all over the floor.

[habitual]

1. wonderful! thank you. n/t

[Lindacooks]

2. And you should be blessed for this.

You are an angel.

[madame defarge]

3. You are truly a good soul. Thank you... n/t

[fudge stripe cookays]

4. Good for you!

I'm so proud of you sweetie!

Let us know if you guys need any help.
FSC

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. Fabulous!

I think that is wonderful! My husband and I donated to a local fund-many survivors have come to NW Arkansas, too.

[spuddonna]

6. YAY!! Awesome!! :) God bless you guys!! n/t

[progressivebydesign]

7. Please let us know if they need anything else.

I know I'd be happy to send anything I can that they might need. Not sure what I can provide, but perhaps something.

[Momgonepostal]

8. That's wonderful!

You guys are the best!

[Spazito]

9. WTG! That is wonderful!

Very heartwarming!

[smurfygirl]

10. that's so awesome bouncy

I'm so glad to see others on DU helping out in such big ways.

you will officially become someones angel.

[seito]

11. Bless you

That is just wonderful.

[JimmyJazz]

12. Let me know if I can send anything.

[Henny Penny]

13. Good for you Bouncy Ball!!!

:toast: :bounce: :toast:

[SammyWinstonJack]

14. AWESOME!

That is so wonderful Bouncy! :hug: :yourock:

[girl gone mad]

15. hurricanehousing.org

http://www.hurricanehousing.org/

for anyone else who wants to welcome a displaced person or family into their home.

[Bouncy Ball]

18. Thank you for that link, I was looking for that

to post here.

[txindy]

16. You're awesome, BB!

Please keep us updated. :hug:

[1932]

17. Wonderful.

But one small point: you're not adopting them. They're not pets and they're not children.

[Bouncy Ball]

19. Sigh.

Ok. I put it in quotes. Better?

Of course they aren't pets or children. They're a family.

[Horse with no Name]

25. That's not a fair bash

We always "adopt" a family at Christmas.
It implies that you are bringing them into your homes and hearts--not figuratively.

[Mutley]

20. That is so wonderful!

Thank you for doing this! :hug:

[wtmusic]

21. Terrific Bouncy

you are wonderful :hug:

[joe_sixpack]

22. Way to go!!

Tell them our prayers are with them.

[IChing]

23. right on, you make us proud

I;d offer my extra bedroom but my condo was halfway destroyed by an arsonist on august 2
and was flooded by the carpenters the day before yesterday.

I know what is to lose things in a disaster, clothing,furniture, papers etc. but at least I still have my living room. My loses are nothing as compared to what I have seen this week.

[PuraVidaDreamin]

24. You are amazing BB

I'd love to do the same-
Here on Cape Cod tho'

I couldn't pay for the trip here
but I would do free room and board

[marbuc]

28. Cape Cod?

I'll come live with you! ;-)

[Glenda]

26. Do you need any more supplies or clothes?

I can certainly clean my closets

:hug:

[Stinky The Clown]

27. Bouncy, you da BomB !!!!!!!

[greekspeak]

29. Nothing like busy hands to lift the spirit

Good on you!

[babylonsister]

30. You rock, Bouncy! What a nice, generous thing to do! nt

[lavenderdiva]

31. Thank you for extending a helping hand Bouncy!

what you are doing is just wonderful! I know the family you are helping must be so appreciative and excited to get into some semblance of a 'normal' existence, especially with kids.

We have 4 evacuees from New Orleans staying at our house. They are welcome to stay as long as needed. They have lost everything: their homes, their jobs, their businesses, their livelihoods. Each has started to find new situations for themselves, but depression is setting in, and they are having trouble sleeping, understandably.

[Rowdyboy]

32. Just when I begin to wonder if their is any humanity left, I read

something that reaffirms my faith in humankind.

Thank you, and its good to hear from you again.

[Longhorn]

33. I just signed up with MoveOn.org and called the Red Cross in Austin.

We're hoping to take in some folks in our home. The Red Cross is only taking names and numbers and said someone would call back within 24 hours.

Good for you, Bouncy! I've been in tears all day -- it's good to feel like something is finally getting done for these folks!

[spuddonna]

34. Hey, you let us know if you need supplies, ok?

We're broke, but there's always a way to make it work! :) You guys are angels! O8)

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

35. That is so great, BB!

Karma's gonna like you for this!

[HEyHEY]

36. Watch, it'll be some person you HATED in high school

;-) Just kidding, give em a hug for me

[KamaAina]

37. Once again, Bouncy, much obliged.

Four down, 999,996 to go...

[JohnnyBoots]

38. Brings a tear to my eye, glad to see doing the right thing still comes

naturally to people. Best of luck.

[Ladyhawk]

39. Great! I am going to try to talk my mother into letting some folks

stay rent-free in her house. I don't know if she'll go for it, but we'll see. :(

[wryter2000]

40. Good for you

Wonderful. Tell them we're all thinking of them.

[Nothing Without Hope]

41. I'm going out to the yard sales tomorrow to look for kid & adult clothing

and other mailable essentials. We need to set up a system where people needing such supplies can connect with those who have them.

In the meantime, if the family needs clothing, please get their sizes and PM me if you'd like for me to keep their needs in mind when I start accumulating yard sale finds. I will, of course, launder and check anything I would mail, but lots of good-condition stuff is generally available, especially for kids. Lots of books, VCR tapes, and toys too.

Let us get to embrace your guests too! :grouphug:

[sniffa]

42. i Love you bouncy

:loveya:

i wonder if this tidbit wiLL make it into your staLkers' coLLection? nah.

[GretchenRed]

43. Oh Girl!

That is SO awesome!

[Beausoir]

44. "Sponsoring a family that needs to be relocated".

Or just plain helping a family in need.
Please don't use the word "adopt" in this situation.

How did you find this family?

I know that many of us are able and willing to help other families.

Details are appreciated. Let's all pitch in.

[all.of.me]

45. you are awesome! thanks so much for helping out.

[GretchenRed]

46. OMG!

a friend of mine, who is actually a freeper, named Steve, is trying to sponser a family too!

[flygal]

47. Way to go Bouncy!!

So cool - so cool!!!

[Corgigal]

48. PM me if the kids need any toys

They are kids after all. I'm going to ToysRus tomorrow and I would be happy to pick up a few things for them.

Let me know..PM, if needed.

[Beausoir]

49. How did you connect with this family?

Please share the connection information so that we can all help.

[Carni]

50. I want the name of a family that I can send stuff to

OK this sounds paranoid but to me giving to the red cross is like giving to bush cheney because I am afraid they will just rob the till.

I don't have big money to send and but I would love to send provisions and some bucks to a family directly when I can scrape up the cash.

How do you get names of people to send stuff to?

[ultraist]

51. That is fantastic!

I have listed one of my apartments, with hurricanehousing and our local DHHS, offering free rent to a family but I have not heard a response yet. I am in NC and was told by the Red Cross that they are getting a lot of calls from North Carolinians looking for places to house their families who are hurricane victims, so it's likely I too, will get a family!

[La Coliniere]

52. That's wonderful Bouncy!

You and your hubby are an inspiration.

[anarchy1999]

53. Bless you guys, Bouncy. Mr A and I are considering the same.

I'm in Crawford now and hope to be returning to Dallas tomorrow. There is so much to do.

Once again, bless you guys.

anarchy1999
s

[Lisa]

54. wow, Bouncy!

I imagine you're going to be rather busy for the next while -- but I'm sure DUers will keep this thread kicked so we don't forget about you!

[fujiyama]

55. You are amazing

If only those with more power had the same compassion you do...

[Niccolo_Macchiavelli]

56. thank you bouncy..just thank you

when night falls it's the people like you to the stars in night to mitigate darkness.

I wish i'd not be so far away

Karma bless you

[elehhhhna]

57. Way to go! Hub's coworker took in 22 people (extended family) &

the rest of the office brought EVERYTHING: toys' clothes, food, personal items, cash...was stacked up & filled the entire conf. room.

I do love (most) Texans.