Dallas area relief efforts?

[jilln]

I've seen information on where to drop off donations, but what about actually WORKING? I have the next 4 days off work and I'd like to do something helpful. Does anyone know where to go or what I can do?

[crispini]

1. Here's everything I have via email.

Why not just go down to Reunion and see what's going on? There is also a phone bank working (below).

======================================================
"Linda L. Jones" <[e-mail]> wrote:
Date: Thu, 1 Sep 2005 12:50:40 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Linda L. Jones" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Hurricane Help! -- Stationery
To: [e-mail]

I need your donations. I don't want money but I
want notebooks and other stationery that you can
purchase to assist the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
The hurricane victims have nothing. They will
have to start from scratch to rebuild their lives.
One of the many things they will need will be
something to write the myriad of things that they will
have to do and something to write it on.
I want to assemble stationery bags for the
victims. A simple bag with pens, notebook, mailing
envelopes, a few postage stamps, etc.
You can purchase such supplies for next to
nothing at a nearby Dollar Store. I'll even accept
crayons to keep the kids occupied. If there is a
promotions department where you work, ask them for a
donation of those pencils, pens,notepads and key
chains that they often give away.
I want to put these items in something waterproof
so I am also asking for a good supply of those plastic
bags with handles (like the bags that you get when you
purchase groceries) or any other containers that
might work.
PLEASE respond ASAP with donations. My home will
be the drop off point. I live in Oak Cliff. Email me
for the address or call 214-331-2677.
I also need a team of volunteers to help me
assemble the bags which I want to start doing on
Saturday morning. Better yet, if you can have a club
or church organization or group of teens needing to do
community service, please help me out. They can come
to my house to pack the bags or I will arrange to get
the material to you.
On Saturday, with the assistance of volunteers I
would like to take the first "batch" of stationery
kits to the sites where the victims are being
temporarily housed.
I will deliver such packets as long as I get
donations and as long as they are needed.
Not only do I want to the victims to have this
stationery bag so they can record important
information, I also want them to have something to
write their thoughts if they desire. In the midst of
the madness, taking pause to write may be the
carthartic break that they need.

Thanks for whatever you can do.
Linda Jones
Owner, ManeLock Communications, professional writing
and media consulting
Founder, A Nappy Hair Affair, Inc.-promoting
African-American culture and identity.
214-331-2677
[e-mail]

"Emancipate yourself from mental slavery.
None but ourselves can free our minds." Bob Marley
============================================

If you can volunteer to help to work the phones for
the phone bank tomorrow, please call Winsor Barbee at
the cell number below or email her at
[e-mail]. See the email below for more
information….Please forward to others who might be
interested in assisting in this much needed effort. I
have also enclosed other opportunities that you can
assist in if you are unable to do the phone bank.
-----Original Message-----
From: [e-mail]
Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2005 4:40 PM
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: Information Hotline/Website for Dillard &
Xavier Students/Parents/Etc.

We are trying to enlist volunteers to work the phones
for the phone bank starting tomorrow. the phone bank
will be located at the at&t building at 4100 bryan
street at the corner of haskell. times are 7a-9pcst
daily. let me know if you have a pool of volunteers
we can contact for help.

As many of you know, we have been working with State
Senator Royce West, Marci Hailey, Paula Caldwell of
AT&T, Roland Martin of the Chicago Defender, Katrina
Witherspoon of Reach Media Inc. and the UNCF to aid in
the relief efforts for the students of Dillard &
Xavier Universities.

One of the needs that was expressed on yesterday was
not having enough information and not knowing what to
do, where to go...or just the big question "where is
my child." Thanks to the above mentioned individuals,
we have set up the phone banks, website and have
information ready. This is what we need posted,
printed, announced effective immediately:

Individuals can call 1-800-624-7189 from 7a-9p central
standard time beginning on Friday, September 2, 2005.

Individuals can be directed to www.blackamericaweb.com
for information and for the message boards that have
been set-up for both Dillard & Xavier.

Thanks for your assistance in getting the word out.
Should you have any questions or if you know of any
students, parents, etc. that are trying to reach
anyone from either Dillard or Xavier...direct them to
the 800 number.

:)Winsor

Winsor J. Barbee
The Marketing Collaborative
[e-mail]
214.943.1559 ofc
469.222.6172 cell

=====================================================
see below, e-mail received from a hotel requesting
assistance. Remember that garage sale you never had.
Well here is your opportunity to give those items away
and you won't have to stand outside all day in the sun
trying to sell the items!!!!!

Hello,

We have quite a few (about 30 families and growing )
hurricane victims staying at our hotel and it is heart
breaking to see how they have been affected. They are
all so humble and are so thankful for any help they
can get. We are trying to do what we can do to help,
so I came up with an idea. We are having a FREE Garage
Sale for the Hurricane victims at our hotel on Friday
at 1pm. If you have any items (clothes, toys, food,
kitchen stuff, blankets, pillows, etc. - ANYTHING)
laying around the house, please bring it to the
Residence Inn Park Central by noon on Friday. We will
also be having another one on Tuesday at 1pm also. Any
one attending the Garage sale will have to present an
out of State license for admittance.

Please help us help the Victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Your help is greatly appreciated.

Drop Off Time: Anytime between Now and Friday 12 pm
for 1pm FREE Garage Sale Friday or By Tuesday at 12 pm
for 1 pm FREE Garage Sales Tuesday.

Please pass this to anyone who you think may be able
to help. If you would like to help, we would love to
have you. Thank you in advance for your support.

Melissa Van Sickels, General Manager

Residence Inn - Dallas Park Central

7642 LBJ Freeway

Dallas, TX 75251

[phone]

*********************************************************************

Michael Terrell
EDS Supply Chain Management
Hardware Business Support
MS: H1-1E-59
5400 Legacy Drive
Plano, Tx. 75024
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
[e-mail]
http:\\www.eds.com <http://www.eds.com/>
Do you know anyone in Texas as an evacuee from any of
the three states Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama? If
so, the Texas Department of Health and Human Services
will give them 2 months of Food Stamps with no
questions asked. All they need to show is a drivers
license. This agency will also give you information
and locations where they can receive FREE GAS. Also,
if you are housing anyone from one of these states you
can call FEMA at [phone] file a claim and
receive assistance for your help. This is valid
information directly from TDHHS.
See http://www.tdh.state.tx.us

[jilln]

2. thanks

I think they're asking people NOT to just go down to Reunion, although it's been very difficult to get information.

I'm going to try the phone bank today and maybe a food bank tomorrow.