Wednesday
Sep072005
a tangible way to help
Wednesday, September 7, 2005 at 02:01PM
My friend Rick Felkel, who runs one of my favorite little guitar shops, Elloree, lives in North Louisiana, and sent this e-mail out yesterday. I hope he doesn't mind me sharing it with you, but I've been kind of overwhelmed with how to help out, and this gave us a more tangible way. The place he talks about, Life Choices, is something he's been involved with for years, and last year one of their fundraisers was a guitar he built with Caedmon's signatures under the finish. It was pretty cool. Anyway, not to add to the voices screaming for your attention, but if this helps direct your giving at all, then I'll be glad I put it up here...
"You've seen the news reports of the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. And you're hearing a plenty about the long term effects. There's lots of political and racial bickering going on and the press is making big of it. Possibly, in a few months, when I can afford myself the pleasure, I'll state some opinions. Right now the times are too desperate for me to allow myself to be side tracked from the immediate needs we are facing. I want to devote this time to explaining where we are and how you can help.
As other towns north of the disaster, Monroe & West Monroe, Louisiana are completely overwhelmed by the folks who fled their homes on the Gulf. More people are arriving every day: some by bus, some in automobiles, and others on foot. Now, while it's only about a four to five hour trip from Monroe to New Orleans, people were stranded all along the way. When towns that were not destroyed lost electricity, gasoline could not be pumped. Folks have been living in their automobiles and waiting for a way to refuel. Getting the last survivors out of the effective areas has been painfully slow. Buses will be taking these people to several locations, including here.
Every imaginable relief agency is on the scene, and we are all stumbling and scrambling and trying to meet the needs. Every year, folks come here from the New Orleans area. The storms pass through, and in a few days, they go home, clean up, and carry on life. We had no imagination big enough to take in the enormity of what has happened. The Civic Center is filling up with families being helped by the Red Cross. I spoke with the commander at the local Salvation Army, and they are at absolute capacity. Churches have begun to open up every bit of available space for folks to live, and we are taking strangers into our homes. We are stretching hard.
This is no short term effort. I guess most of us can give up a day in our life to do some good somewhere. The truth is starting to sink in on us - we will need to give long term help to these people. The estimate is that the evacuees will be displaced from three to nine months. Some will be able to go back later and repair their homes. Others have nothing to go back to. The need is so enormous, we can see we are going to run out of supplies before need runs out. Before I begin to get specific about needs, it's only right that I thank Simon H. from California and Lynne R. from South Carolina for proding me. For years now, I have lived a quiet, reclusive life. But I can see I can't just sit this one out. Being out in the middle of it all scares me but these are desperate times. So here's what we need. We are very low on everything that pertains to newborn babies: formula, pampers, car seats, clothes. It's amazing to see the number of women who fled the hurricane and got to Monroe, Louisiana or Jackson, Mississippi just in time to have their babies. I have partnered with Life Choices for years now. They are being called by the hospitals because the hospitals are running out of things needed by newborns. And Life Choices is helping with relief efforts in Jackson.
I am presently selling an electric octave mandolin on ebay. This is an instrument I built and had in stock. Absolutely every bit that comes in from the high bidder will go to the local Salvation Army for this disaster relief. Commander Riggs tells me the biggest needs are: men & women's underwear of all sizes, canned and dried food, and Walmart gift cards for $5, $10, or $20. They don't really need our worn out underwear. They need new. Commander tells me they have lots of shelf space, but not much refrigeration space. Hence the need for canned and dried food. Some things they just can't provide for, like personal hygiene items. So the Walmart gift cards would help meet that need. I'm always hesitant to ask people for their money, but let me say this. A can of string beans doesn't cost much. But you would probably spend a lot in shipping that can. Clothes don't weigh much, so you could justify the cost of shipping them.
Some people are going to need to relocate and start over. If you are in a position to hire someone, that would be a tremendous help. Lowe's, Home Depot, automotive dealerships, and others are trying to hire the folks who had such jobs in the gulf cities. But there's just so many jobs available here. And others will just never see the point in going back.
We're slowly coming around to all the different aspects of normal life. When it became evident that people were not going home for quite a while, we began to see we needed to get the young people back in school. Lynne R., from South Carolina, is a college professor and she emailed me with the desire to help with school supplies even before we fully understood the need here. So if you have or want to buy anything by way of school supplies, it would meet a definite need. And school clothes, by all means: jeans, casual shirts, tennis shoes. They don't need to dress for the prom, just for going to school each day.
When the terrorists took the top off of New York City, the state of Louisiana raised money and bought a fire truck. We named it "The Spirit of Louisiana". It was driven to New York City and is on the job there now. New York City donated I think it was a quarter of a million to our disaster relief. I understand Hillary Duff gave a quarter of a million. Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Aaron Neville, and Harry Connick Jr. did a benefit concert. I haven't heard how much was raised. Different actors, singers, and organizations are doing what they can. Walt Disney Company gave $2.5 million. I don't remember how much Walmart has given so far, but they are one of the most charitable organizations. But make no mistake about it. The fives, tens, and twenties that come in from individuals will make all the difference. At present, the damage is being estimated at about $80 billion. Only about $25 billion is insured losses.
And please don't believe what you are seeing on the news. We are all so frustrated at how things are being misrepresented. I don't have time or inclination to address those matters right now, but in the words of 007, "Later - perhaps." I'm going to sign off with some addresses you can send to. If you feel more comfortable sending to me, I give my word as a gentleman, I will make sure your help goes directly and completely to the agency you request.
Salvation Army
105 Hart St.
Monroe, LA 71201
Life Choices Pregnancy Resource Center
1500 Royal Avenue
Monroe, LA 71201
Elloree Guitars
810 Tidwell Rd.
West Monroe, LA 71292
Red Cross is definitely front and center in the relief effort, and you can find various phone numbers all over the internet.
Thinking of New Orleans and missin' the music.
Rick"
"You've seen the news reports of the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. And you're hearing a plenty about the long term effects. There's lots of political and racial bickering going on and the press is making big of it. Possibly, in a few months, when I can afford myself the pleasure, I'll state some opinions. Right now the times are too desperate for me to allow myself to be side tracked from the immediate needs we are facing. I want to devote this time to explaining where we are and how you can help.
As other towns north of the disaster, Monroe & West Monroe, Louisiana are completely overwhelmed by the folks who fled their homes on the Gulf. More people are arriving every day: some by bus, some in automobiles, and others on foot. Now, while it's only about a four to five hour trip from Monroe to New Orleans, people were stranded all along the way. When towns that were not destroyed lost electricity, gasoline could not be pumped. Folks have been living in their automobiles and waiting for a way to refuel. Getting the last survivors out of the effective areas has been painfully slow. Buses will be taking these people to several locations, including here.
Every imaginable relief agency is on the scene, and we are all stumbling and scrambling and trying to meet the needs. Every year, folks come here from the New Orleans area. The storms pass through, and in a few days, they go home, clean up, and carry on life. We had no imagination big enough to take in the enormity of what has happened. The Civic Center is filling up with families being helped by the Red Cross. I spoke with the commander at the local Salvation Army, and they are at absolute capacity. Churches have begun to open up every bit of available space for folks to live, and we are taking strangers into our homes. We are stretching hard.
This is no short term effort. I guess most of us can give up a day in our life to do some good somewhere. The truth is starting to sink in on us - we will need to give long term help to these people. The estimate is that the evacuees will be displaced from three to nine months. Some will be able to go back later and repair their homes. Others have nothing to go back to. The need is so enormous, we can see we are going to run out of supplies before need runs out. Before I begin to get specific about needs, it's only right that I thank Simon H. from California and Lynne R. from South Carolina for proding me. For years now, I have lived a quiet, reclusive life. But I can see I can't just sit this one out. Being out in the middle of it all scares me but these are desperate times. So here's what we need. We are very low on everything that pertains to newborn babies: formula, pampers, car seats, clothes. It's amazing to see the number of women who fled the hurricane and got to Monroe, Louisiana or Jackson, Mississippi just in time to have their babies. I have partnered with Life Choices for years now. They are being called by the hospitals because the hospitals are running out of things needed by newborns. And Life Choices is helping with relief efforts in Jackson.
I am presently selling an electric octave mandolin on ebay. This is an instrument I built and had in stock. Absolutely every bit that comes in from the high bidder will go to the local Salvation Army for this disaster relief. Commander Riggs tells me the biggest needs are: men & women's underwear of all sizes, canned and dried food, and Walmart gift cards for $5, $10, or $20. They don't really need our worn out underwear. They need new. Commander tells me they have lots of shelf space, but not much refrigeration space. Hence the need for canned and dried food. Some things they just can't provide for, like personal hygiene items. So the Walmart gift cards would help meet that need. I'm always hesitant to ask people for their money, but let me say this. A can of string beans doesn't cost much. But you would probably spend a lot in shipping that can. Clothes don't weigh much, so you could justify the cost of shipping them.
Some people are going to need to relocate and start over. If you are in a position to hire someone, that would be a tremendous help. Lowe's, Home Depot, automotive dealerships, and others are trying to hire the folks who had such jobs in the gulf cities. But there's just so many jobs available here. And others will just never see the point in going back.
We're slowly coming around to all the different aspects of normal life. When it became evident that people were not going home for quite a while, we began to see we needed to get the young people back in school. Lynne R., from South Carolina, is a college professor and she emailed me with the desire to help with school supplies even before we fully understood the need here. So if you have or want to buy anything by way of school supplies, it would meet a definite need. And school clothes, by all means: jeans, casual shirts, tennis shoes. They don't need to dress for the prom, just for going to school each day.
When the terrorists took the top off of New York City, the state of Louisiana raised money and bought a fire truck. We named it "The Spirit of Louisiana". It was driven to New York City and is on the job there now. New York City donated I think it was a quarter of a million to our disaster relief. I understand Hillary Duff gave a quarter of a million. Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Aaron Neville, and Harry Connick Jr. did a benefit concert. I haven't heard how much was raised. Different actors, singers, and organizations are doing what they can. Walt Disney Company gave $2.5 million. I don't remember how much Walmart has given so far, but they are one of the most charitable organizations. But make no mistake about it. The fives, tens, and twenties that come in from individuals will make all the difference. At present, the damage is being estimated at about $80 billion. Only about $25 billion is insured losses.
And please don't believe what you are seeing on the news. We are all so frustrated at how things are being misrepresented. I don't have time or inclination to address those matters right now, but in the words of 007, "Later - perhaps." I'm going to sign off with some addresses you can send to. If you feel more comfortable sending to me, I give my word as a gentleman, I will make sure your help goes directly and completely to the agency you request.
Salvation Army
105 Hart St.
Monroe, LA 71201
Life Choices Pregnancy Resource Center
1500 Royal Avenue
Monroe, LA 71201
Elloree Guitars
810 Tidwell Rd.
West Monroe, LA 71292
Red Cross is definitely front and center in the relief effort, and you can find various phone numbers all over the internet.
Thinking of New Orleans and missin' the music.
Rick"
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