LA Dem Staffer looking for help for LA displaced...

[Kevin Spidel]

I just spoke to Louis Rainey the Political Director for Louisiana's Democratic Party. He and his family are safe but they have lost everything. Their house is gone. He is now in Dallas, Texas and he is in recovery mode. He has set up a command post in The Marriot Courtyard in Dallas Texas. He has got the Hotel to cut prices in half and is himself paying for rooms for dislocated people. The shelters are full and can?t accept anymore people. He has taken it upon himself to contact everyone he knows to try and get these people help. He is asking us to send gas and food vouchers, gift cards to the Marriott, anything that can be spared to help these people. He wants us to get the word out.

Please give what you can. You can send gift cards or even write a check to the Marriott to subsidize the cost of rooms that the Marriot is providing at a discounted rate.

Hotel information:
Marriot Courtyard
2383 Stemmons Road
Dallas, Texas 75220
Attn: Louis Rainey
# Phone: [phone]
# Fax: [phone]

Stores surrounding the Marriot, Walgreens, Walmart, Sams Club, Kroger
Grocery Store and all of the major gas stations.

[Kevin Spidel]

1. serious folks.. this is legit. keep it kicked n/t

[cally]

2. I'll send stuff

and I think our firm has Marriott rewards points. I'll call and see if Marriott will accept them for these folks.

[Kevin Spidel]

3. thank you!

tell others!

thank you tons!

[Pirate Smile]

4. Are there many kids or babies? Do they need baby stuff?

[Kevin Spidel]

5. i don't have those details yet...

but he has folks aswering those phone lines. please feel free to call.

[Pirate Smile]

6. Why isn't this already on the Greatest Page? Please vote it up.

[cally]

7. Kick this up and recommend it please

[Kevin Spidel]

8. thank you folks!

please email your networks with this info too. please!


peace,
kevin

[cally]

9. I did and I'll keep kicking

[Kevin Spidel]

10. thx! surprised not as many votes for this one. :(

[cally]

11. It's real hard on Friday nights.

If this doesn't get seen, then try later. I'm going to post this in the lounge.

[Eloriel]

12. This is so much better than Red Cross, IMO

Much more direct, more impactful.

I hate to ask, but does he have a way to prevent mail with gift cards in them from being stolen by hotel staff?

[cally]

13. Another kick

I'm persistent

[crispini]

14. Kick and reposted in the Texas forum

and sent to everyone I know in Dallas.

[Kevin Spidel]

15. thx! please kick n/t

[wildflower]

16. kick...I've been looking for something exactly like this, thank you

for those who can't or are too far to offer their homes. I thought a fund set up where we could donate to hotels would work.

Can we get more hotels involved?

[Ranec]

17. How do we get a gift card to the Marriott?

I'd like to help those who have lost their homes, but I live too far away to have them come stay with me.

How would I get a gift to the Marriott to send them?

[wildflower]

19. Marriott gift certificates:

http://marriott.com/gifts/Default.mi?WT_Ref=MI_Home

But it may be best to call the number above (in the OP) first.

[Kevin Spidel]

18. kick

this is important folks!

[ultraist]

20. .

:kick:

[girl gone mad]

21. How many people are staying at the hotel? PM me if you can!

I have a spare room at my home in Denton.

At the very least, I would like to take them out to dinner or bring food to them. I can send money, but I really want to do more to help them feel welcome in this city.

[cally]

22. Saturday morning kick

[AnnInLa]

23. I KNOW that you can also buy gift cards for

walmart, burger king and mcdonalds....they must have them nearby, because they are EVERYWHERE, EVERYWHERE....they are the only game in my small city, so will get some today. Ordinarily no, but today, yes. I hope yall can help!

[wildflower]

24. Get gift cards for Kroger here:

http://apple.kroger.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&langId=-1

They have groceries and pharmacy there.

[wildflower]

25. Kevin, who do we make the Marriott check out to? Marriott or Louis Rainey?

Thanks,

wildflower

[Kevin Spidel]

27. call to make sure, but i think marriott. thx! n/t

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[fudge stripe cookays]

28. No, I don't think so.

K-Mart pulled out of Dallas several years ago. They are all CLOSED. Do NOT buy K-Mart cards!

FSC

[wildflower]

29. You are right

I got the information from a map site. But I went to Kmart and they say no stores in that area.

I hoped I had found a good alternative to Walmart.

I'm sorry about this. Mods: Is there any way you can delete my above message?

wildflower

[Midlodemocrat]

30. Also how about donating Marriott rewards points?

We have several hundred thousand. I am going to call Marriott and see if they will deal on those.

[demgurl]

31. If you want to send gift cards, but you are short on cash....

,or want to make your money go further, you can go to www.dealpass.com and set up a thirty day account with them for only a $1. Make sure you cancel your account before 30 days are up.

Deal Pass has all sorts of restaurants you can get gift certificates for. The restaurants include Pizza Hut, Burger King and Wendy's.

They carry Target gift cards and I entered the 75220 area code and it did say there are a couple of Targets in that area.

They also carry amazon gift certificates but someone would need internet access to be able to take advantage of those.

Anyway, I have been a member of Deal Pass for a while now and you get a 20% discount on gift certificates so that can help your money go even further.

I hope that helps someone.

demgurl

[crispini]

32. kick

:kick:

[TexasThoughtCriminal]

33. Just got back from visiting Louis Rainey

I dropped off some cash and spare toiletries. And gave a plug for DU, which he wasn't familiar with. :D

He is coordinating 79 hotels in Dallas that have graciously reduced their rates for N.O. evacuees. The Courtyard, for example, has reduced their rate from $119 to $19 per night.

He will get headquarters space on Monday at the Anatole Hotel, just down the highway. I have his email address and will post more information on Monday when he gets settled in.

He also knows about and will speak at the Dallas County Democratic Party Labor Day picnic on Monday.

On a related matter, those of you in North Texas will know that Reunion Arena is hosting many of the storm victims. I drove by it on my way home and saw a long line of vehicles trying to get in there, presumably with donations. I'm glad to see the heart that's missing in W's chest is present in many North Texans.

[derby378]

37. We look forward to seeing Rainey tomorrow

Our hearts are broken for all who are swept up in this tragedy.

[satya]

34. Kick. n/t

[Kevin Spidel]

35. .

[crispini]

36. .

[TexasThoughtCriminal]

38. Per Louis: Gift Cards appreciated. Email addy included.

His email to me:

Thanks for everything. Please have them give gift cards if they are from out of town. If they are in town, then they can email me directly. Also you can advise all folks to email me as well. The office should be up and running by the middle of next week.

His email address is [e-mail].