A fine woman in Austin

[silverlib]

I met a wonderful woman today while sitting in the office at Crockett High School in Austin. Her name is Linda. I was, while being my normal nosy self, dipping into her conversation with another woman. She was explaining that she had twelve relatives from New Orleans staying at her house and they are getting no help, after repeated requests, from the Red Cross. When she was through with her conversation, I asked her what she needed. She said these people came with nothing but the clothes on their back. She says the people of her church have approximately fifty guests, mostly family,staying with members. She, personally, has an aunt and uncle whose bodies have been identified in NO and another aunt and uncle, as well as their two children, that have not been found.



She told me that the minister of their congregation, Reverend Townsend, is gathering supplies for these people.



The needs she told me about are clothes of all sizes and school supplies,and food. I spoke with Rev. Townsend this afternoon and he added the need for soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, personal hygiene items, and disposable diapers to the items that Linda gave me. The information is below. The church is located east of I35 off east MLK. If you would like to help, you can call this fine man or just continue to help in the way you feel called.



Peaceful St. James

1803 Ulit

Reverend Townsend

477-7355

[katinmn]

1. Nice, silverlib

:)

[sonias]

2. kick

Sonia

[TexasBushwhacker]

3. Some numbers for you

I believe the SA was dealing with a lot of the clothing donations. Their number in Austin is 476-1111.

They can also call 211 to reach "First Call for Help", which is serviced by the Capital Area United Way. They can direct them to partner agencies that receive food from the Capital Area Food Bank.

She should also get them signed up for Food Stamps and Medicaid (if they don't have private health insurance). The food stamp office is at 745 Eberhart, 78745. Their phone is 445-0022.

[silverlib]

4. Thank yuo so much

The Salvation Army has been contacted and the pastor is working on the Medicaid. There is apparently something happening that makes transferring Medicaid from the disaster area unnecessary, which is good for those already in the program if this is the case. I am meeting the pastor tomorrow and will check to see if they have tried to make contact wtih the food stamp office.

Sonia has also given me some information on another group that is working outside of the main line and is having success filling the needs of people caught in the gap of the mainstream organizations.

Thanks again!

[silverlib]

5. My meeting with Rev. Townsend

I visited for more than an hour with Rev. Townsend of Peaceful St. James Baptist Church in east Austin. I took personal hygeine items, some clothers, and gift certficiates to H.E.B., as well as information on Katrina Help Austin that Sonia was gracious enought to pm me. Needs will be ongoing – right now, more of the same - more clothes and towels/washcloths, food and personal hygiene items –I hadn’t thought about what a burden twelve extra people in my home would be on my towel and washcloth situation. I’m still not sure about the division of the remaining fifty, but he mentioned that some of the congregation had opened their homes to people that they had never met.



Rev. Townsend is sixty-nine years old and he once held the boxing championship title for the State of Indiana. He thinks the war in Iraq is unnecessary and mourns for the innocent Iraqi children and other civilians killed or left handicapped. He also mourns for injured troops and the families of those troops that have died in action. He spoke of ministering to an injured soldier who lost both eyes, both legs below the knees and one arm. Until recently, he ministered to the prisoners in Del Valle. He doesn’t do that now – his hip problems limit his activities. He has been the pastor of Peaceful St. James Baptist Church for thirty some-odd years.



He spoke of the different needs of the NO evacuees, the psychiatric problems and trauma that haunts some of them as a result of what they saw and what they experienced. He spoke of how well adjusted some of them seem. He spoke of the long range needs and the problems he sees with the vouchers limited to clothing and food and that, if the evacuees do not understand this, they may end up owing the government money if they were to buy school supplies or some necessity outside of the requirements. He loves his congregation, and from the conversation I had with Linda, the member I met at Crockett, they love him in return. If Linda would have asked, I would have helped her, but she wanted to share any help with the other members with similar needs in her congregation. She was able to give me his home phone number and the address of the church. I have never had my pastor’s home phone number and the address of my church memorized! Peaceful St. James Baptist Church is a one room frame church – over thirty years old, with an add-on kitchen and two other small rooms with tables and chairs. His office is about 8x8 with papers and books piled high and no computer. This church makes my small church look like a mansion. Just another indication of how some Christians forget that it's not about the building. Rev. Townsend says he looks back on his journey with fond memories, but wishes he could have made a bigger difference in the world. That, in itself, is amazing. He has done so much and he is so humble.



I’ll be visiting with him as often as I can.



Love and Peace - E

[sonias]

6. Thanks silverlib!

You made a good contact there. Let's keep that connection going.

Sonia