The I-report of our stranded Brits.

[aquart]

<http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-434760>

iReport —

I'm a Brit stranded in New York with my 81 year old mother on my way back to London from a holiday in Hawaii. Just the journey from Honolulu to JFK was extrememly stressful, especially not knowing whether we would be able to continue on to Europe. Our original flight via Chicago had been cancelled, and we came here hoping to get a flight to Brussels which at least would be the right continent.



First we discovered that there would be no flight to Brussels and that the earliest flight to London would be 8 days hence. Then we found out that they had no idea where our bags were. Not planning to stay longer in the States our cash and travellers cheques were running out, especially since we had had to buy all our own food for the last 24 hours despite having paid for full in-flight service in advance.



Our spirits hit an all-time low. I just couldn't see what to do next or how I was going to look after my beloved mother.



This is when the miracle occurred. An organisation called Travellers Aid based at JFK found us and put us in touch with our New York angel, Nina, who out of the kindness of her heart has taken in two strangers and offered them shelter for as long as it takes. We have a bed to sleep in, a proper bathroom, food, good company and the warmest welcome anyone could hope for.



The reason I want to share this with you all on-line is that we have not been able to interest the New York papers in our story and to appeal for other angels to come forth, but I hope in this way to encourage others to think about what they could do. If you don't have spare beds, maybe letting someone have a shower, or letting them use your phone, or giving them some old paperbacks. when you are living on an army cot with a red cross blanket in a bare open terminal building and no bathroom facilities, even these little kindnesses would mean so much.



My thanks go out not only to the lovely Nina, but also Jane from Travellers Aid and the lovely American Airlines stewardesses who handed us free chips and cheese and biscuits to help us keep going along the way!



I know I'm going to do my best to help others when I eventually get home - I hope you do too.



The number for Travellers Aid is 718-656-4870 or you could email [e-mail]



Sherry

[Subdivisions]

1. K&R! Give your guests my best, aquart. n/t

[ZeitgeistObserver]

2. Nicest thing I've heard in a long time!

You'll have good memories of America because of this. A special thanks to Nina, Traveller's Aid and the AA stew!

And I wish you the best in getting home safely! And fast!

[quiet.american]

3. K&R nt

[virgogal]

4. Someone at DU picked up some people at JFK and posted about it a few days ago.

Sorry, I don't remember who.

Thanks for your post and I wish your mother well----I am close to her age and a trip from Hawaii would be exhausting under the best of circumstances.

Good luck and tell Mum she will have quite a tale to tell the rest of the pensioners when she gets home.

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

6. It was aquart who posted that the other day.

Its a wonderful thing her mom has done. Its a shame more people don't know that they could help in this way.

[virgogal]

7. Thanks. I was so touched to read it but my old,addled brain could not come

up with the username.

[aquart]

8. That was me and my Mom.

Sherry Banks and her mum, Betty, were the ladies Travelers Aid gave us at JFK terminal 8. Sherry wrote the iReport hoping other people would realize they could help, and that it was needed.

Most people I meet don't think this stranding of thousands of people and cargo is any big deal. But it is.

[virgogal]

9. We need more people like you and your Mom. It was a wonderful thing to do.

Sorry I couldn't remember your username when I posted earlier,but I certainly remembered your story.

[Suich]

5. K&R!

What a great post!!!

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: