Real People Hurricane Relief

Index of Families

2008-12-05T20:30:00.000-05:00

I started this site back on 10/28/06 as part of Make a Difference Day. Since then, of the over 40 families who have registered, 3 have seen their situation improve, 4 have had it deteriorate, and the rest have remained in recovery limbo. Those are horrid stats. Help once, help many times, it doesn't matter. Help and compassion are what is needed now.

Red is new Green is updated Blue is unchanged Purple is New Topic

The Questionnaire
Helping Without Going Down
Helping A Family/Individual
My Story - Added 11/23/06 comment added 4/8/07

The People
2/1/08 Linda B+7 - Biloxi MS
2/1/08 Tammy W + 6 - Kiln, MS
12/12/07 Tracie + 3 San Diego CA
12/8/07 Carol - MS (adopted by 3)
12/6/07 Keisha + 1 - Baton Rouge LA
12/8/07 Thai C + 6 - Theodore AL (adopted by 1 work department)
12/4/07 ebbie S + 6 - De Ridder, LA
12/1/07 Carol R +5 - Picayune MS Adopted by 1 family
12/1/07 Jean - NOLA
12/1/07 Christie S + 2 - Hattiesburg, MS
11/26/07 Miriam + 3 - Prichard AL
11/26/07 Cheryl B + 1 - Biloxi MS
11/23/07 - Jessica + 1 - Metairie LA
11/23/07 Elizabeth + 4 - Jonesborough GA
11/10/07 Ginger + 7 - Lucedale MS
11/1/07 Shannon - Bayou LaBatre, LA
9/5 Gina + 2 - NOLA Area Doing GREAT!
6/22 Robb - Waveland MS - Lost Internet Service
6/17 Chanda L +3 - Picayune MS
4/17 Schonda S and Family from Waveland, MS
4/17 Roxanne + 4, Houston, TX (adopted by 1)
3/25 Yvonne T + 1 - Bay St Louis, MS
3/10 William Pearlington, MS
3/8 Cheryl + 3 - NC (adopted by 1)
3/7 Debbie- Kiln, MS
3/4 Robert + 3 - Biloxi MS
1.21 Jennipher + 3 - OH - Chose to be removed...
1/13 Toni and Family Metairie, LA (adopted by 1)
1/10 Christa and Family NOLA (adopted by 1)
1/5 Terry + 1 - Waveland MS
1/4 Lee Ann and Family - Waveland MS
12/28 Richard and Barb - Waveland MS
12/28 Barbara V + 7 - Petal MS
12/23 Julie S + 1 - Picayune MS
12/22 Shelley + 6 - Gulfport, MS (adopted by 3)
12/14 - Christine - IL
12/14 Penny and Family NOLA area (adopted by 1)
12/12 - Anna + 2 Vancleave MS
12/11 Jerry et al - Ocean Springs MS
12/11 Linda + 1 - VA
12/9 Pat - Bay St Louis MS
12/9 Melissa + 1 - FL
12/9 Bonnie + 1 - Phoenix
12/9 Valerie + 1 - Blacksburg VA
12/3 Alysia Broadmoor LA (Adopted by 1)

Individuals' Resource Pages
Grandfamily/Single Parent Resources
Family Resources
Medical Resources
LA Family Resources
Education Assistance
Businesses
Mortgage Resources
Furniture and More
Home/Utility
Elderly
Resources for Children/Childcare
Disabled
Grants for Individuals - does not include homeowner or repair grants
Dental

Other Sites Related to Real People Relief
Katrina Networking
Hancock County Agency Information
Pearlington Waveland
BayStLouis
Gulf Coast Artist Relief Blog
Gulf Coast Emergency Services Relief Blog

Volunteer Information
For Agencies and Organizations
Katrina's Angels
For Non-Profits and Municipalities -
Assistance For Schools -
Grants for Non-Profits
Grants For Communities
Citizen Action Team
Community Gardens Effort All 3 installments linked at top
Gulf Coast Civic Works Project - please support
Safety Guidelines For Volunteers

Questionnaire

2008-11-01T23:59:00.000-05:00

Contact me with questions at: KatrinaCoalition@aol.com I registered this project as part of the Make A Difference Day campaign. Since I continue to receive emails from both organizations and citizens regarding little money is trickling down to the survivors' level, I feel this is very important. Most people want to help someONE, not something. This site gives them the opportunity to do just that - help someONE.

Information for Individuals I will send you the links of your post, so the information can be edited as needed. I will leave the information of each family up as long as I receive 2 updates a month. I am willing to post up to 3 current pictures (I'll touch them up and resize if needed) and will rotate pictures as new ones become available.

Information For Agencies I know many agencies work with families who are struggling to find the money for their daily living and recovery efforts. I am willing to highlight up to 1 family a week from each organization who contacts me - leaving the information of each family up under the same guidelines as above. You will also be able to send this link to your reader/volunteer base so they can follow the information with less effort on your part.

Please copy and paste the following into an email and answer as briefly, but as completely as possible. I have vertigo, so reading is a challenge!

KatrinaCoalition@aol.com

Questionnaire For Inclusion On Real People Relief

Information To Be Posted on Your Page
Name: - I would like first and last, but please note what you feel comfortable having posted for all to see.

Email: - only contact information public will have about you. You will decide if you want them to know your full information by emailing them.

Location: - where you were; where you are; where you plan to be in a year.

Number in Household: - Please include pets. First names, sex and age of each person.

Situation: – brief paragraph of what you’ve been through, who you’ve applied for help with, what has happened in the last year.

Current Living Arrangements: - FEMA Trailer, Apartment, House, Tent?

Help: - what help, if any, have you received thus far?

Photos: - Up to current photos – can be rotated through as new images are sent.

Needs: Please list preferences; if you’re going to want, you might as well want what you want! Below are examples and in the categories to be listed under.
Foods – non-perishable only
Paper Products – Napkins, Toilet Paper, Paper Towels, etc.
School Supplies – notebooks, pens, pencils, folders, etc.
Computer Supplies – paper, ink (give specific cartridges)
Cleaning Supplies – Windex, Dishwashing liquid, Laundry detergent, etc.
Household Supplies – light bulbs, kitchen supplies (pans, pots, etc.)
Clothing – list sizes and style color preference

Stores you shop at – for possible gift cards or gift registry

Information Not Posted
Full Name
Mailing Address
Phone Number

What I Need

Twice monthly updates: - The more often I can update your information, the more frequently your information will be reviewed. People view blogs like an ongoing story. They get hooked on new little tidbits. If I don’t receive updates, the information will be pulled after 8 weeks.

Tammy W + 6

2008-02-01T21:58:00.000-05:00

Tammy; John, Sterling, Shelby, John Duke, Yancey; Little Joe

Email: tammy.walker @ rac.com

Location: Kiln, MS

Number in House: 7; 2 Adults, 4 Kids, 1 dog

Situation:
We’ve been through every emotion imaginable and every scenario imaginable. We had severe wind damage. – No payout from Insurance, and only given $973.00 from FEMA. Estimate to repair house is $13,000.00.

We have applied for all grants available but because we didn’t have flood, water, or surge in the house we do not qualify. We have become so filled with frustration, anger, disbelief, and anguish that we have considered just walking away from everything.

Financially we can not afford the repairs.

We were remodeling our home at the time of the storm and not only sustained damage to the house but lost all our materials we had stored. It took us a year to buy all our materials. We bought pay check to pay check.

FEMA of course would not even consider paying us for this loss. They said as far as the house damage they paid us based on the inspector’s report. Well, God Bless the inspector, but all he did was walk around my house. He didn’t go into the attic to see the damage to the ridge vents from all the trees falling on the house. He didn’t climb the roof to see that the structural integrity of the roof was so severely damaged that it was allowing water in the house.

Now I not only have a severe roof problem, but I have mold in my house. It’s all in the sheetrock in 3 rooms. Not to mention the loss of all our materials that we (at this rate) will probably never be able to afford to replace so we can finish our house.

I know some people had it and still have it worse off than us. And believe me we are so grateful for what we still have - but we deserve so much better for our children. We work so hard for everything we have. WE NEED SO MUCH HELP – but no one is there. We feel so alone

Help Received: FEMA Minimum, PA Family (Christmas 2006) , NY Family (Christmas 2007)

Current Living Arrangements: Tent, House (alternate living arrangements due to mold)

Needs:
Volunteer assistance with house.
Assistance finding home owner's insurance.
Materials for home.
Clothes for the kids:
Sterling – pants size boys 14 shirt – Medium – shoe/sock - 11
Shelby – pants size girl 16 – shirt large – shoe/sock - 7
John – pants size boys 6 – shirt medium – shoe/sock boys 12
Yancey – 3T in everything – shoe/sock – toddlers 71/2

Linda B + 2

2008-02-01T20:46:00.000-05:00

Linda; Charles, Rick; Hank, Goldie, Bama, Rosie, Hannah, Buddy, Lilly; Spot, Momma Cat

Email: linda_byrd70 @ yahoo.com

Location: Biloxi, MS

Number in House: 3 human, 7 Dogs, 2 Cats

Situation: House is up for foreclosure. Linda was disabled in Spring of '06, but had no income until spring of '07 from SSD. Charles was self employed, but without health insurance and needed neck surgery. Has been unable to return to work.
The car has been repossessed, the house is going up for foreclosure and the electricity is going to be shut off.
4 of the dogs and 1 of the cats showed up right after the storm and have become part of the family.
Clothes and furniture were replaced, but that has been all.

Current Living Arrangements: House - for now.

Needs: Groceries, dog food, cat food, heart worm meds, flea meds, rabies vaccine, assistance with financing of tractor, house. Flooring.

Stores: Lowes (for home repair stuff); Walmart (everything)

Carol + 2

2007-12-15T18:50:00.000-05:00

Carol V, Stormy, Harley
12/16/07
Well this is what they came up with today degenerative bone disease, curvature of the spine, hardening of the arteries and high blood pressure. They wanted to keep me in the hospital.
Oh and best of all he says "you no work you no walk."
I barely understood what he was saying the nurse had to translate, she is getting me an appointment with the clinic so I will have a pcp here close to the house not 2 hrs away, which is a good thing.
He basically said change your eating, lose weight or you are gonna die. Just kick me when I am already down.
The bone disease is in every bone I could not believe it.
They did a very thorough work up though which was a good thing I guess.
So I guess it was a good thing I started the ball rolling to apply for the disability. I guess as they say, this too shall pass.

12/8/07
Well We got quite a suprise this morning; a brand new water heater that works and does not leak so our water and elec bill should go down. My cousin Nolan brought it over and installed it and built a shed around it so it is protected. Lightning took out the old one.

Becky and baby Eden are home now. They are doing well.

Stormy and Harley are getting excited waiting on Santa. Before long they will be out of school for Christmas holidays.

My Dr appointment has been rescheduled for the end of Jan. there is no telling when i will get my knee fixed. I need to stay positive and not give up.

10/17/07
I have been side lined, my knee is going to require surgery to get better I am on the waiting list. I nor my Dr have any idea how long a wait it will be. So I am stuck waiting.

Do you have a really simple quilt pattern you could copy and send me I want to make Beckys baby a quilt. The baby is a girl. Which is just what she wanted. I sent her a baby block pattern with some fabric as well.

I am trying to make some outfits to sell on ebay so I can make some money for us to live on.

6/21 WOW
I am good and I have a surprise, I passed the GED, I diddn't want to say anything until I was sure but the paper came in the mail at my Uncle's and I had him open it and read it to me I passed Yeah!!!!!!!!!!! When I scheduled to take it I thought I wouldn't pass but it would let me know where I stood, well I fooled myself I passed. Thanks again for everything it is all very much appreciated, the Iron works fine.

6/14 Carol trying Avon...
http://www.youravon.com/cvoisin
Please use her as your contact and letting your friends know

5/29 Hey gang - Leslie here. Carol is moving closer to 2 of her daughters and has a job waiting for her! She's moving from upstate MS to LA somewhere and needs help. She needs GOOD shoes and scrubs to work in. She's getting training for CNA to work in a nursing home. She'll be living with a friend until about Christmas and then is hoping to have a place of her own.
Please contact Carol or me to assist her. Thanks!
L

Email: carolv70726 @ yahoo.com
Location: Life was devastated by hurricane Katrina. I rented a home, but then the landlord sold the land that was left after the storm, and I can't afford anything else. Am living with friends in AZ with my 2 grandchildren.
Number in House: 6 - myself, my granddaughter Stormy, my grandson Harley and my 3 dogs Stormy this year.

Situation: My life since the hurricane has been horrible. We lost our home we were renting - it was smashed and the guy sold the land and I cant afford the rent they are charging now. Then we were at my cousins in MS, with my aunt and uncle in Denham but they were too sick for the kids to stay there. From relative to relative during the summer so we ended up at a friend's in AZ. It is me and my grandkids ages 9 and 8. I have had them for years and before I could handle it. Now I'm not so sure. At home I was able to babysit make some extra money, but now I don't have that ability. I'm sure they miss all of their stuff but I have been able to keep everybody together and that is what counts.
Current Living Arrangement: With friends in AZ. Not sure where I'll be in a year.
Help: Initial FEMA and then denied. Nothing more.
Harley
Needs:
Food and shots for the dogs.

Clothes for the kids:
What I really need is clothes for the kids girls size 8 boys size 6 underwear socks for shoe size 2. they picked now to grow Harley has been a size 4 for 2 years now he is a 6.
Stormy Spencer Girl Size 7/8 age 9 - Size 8 underwear, all clothes.
Harley Spencer Boy Size 6 age 8
Stormy on Right, Harley on Left
Carol's latest Grandchild - Noah
4/13
Franklinton is perfect, it is 30 minutes from the place I found for rent I have a friend Cathy who I helped out like 6 years ago when she lost her job as an apartment manager they sold the apartments and gave her 7 days to get out anyway she emailed to see how everything was going I told her and she suggested that we come and stay with her until the 2br her landlord is working on gets ready I am not going to move the kids again this year until school is out. The rent on the 2br is 250.00 and the deposit is 250.00 and I will have to have util deposits and stuff but I think I can do it, it wont be ready till the middle of June first of July so I will have to help cathy with her rent in June, cathy says there is a sonic right down the road she lives in spring creek which is close to Kentwood. she works 10-6 days and I can work 2 jobs just till I get us in the trailer my daughter Becky lives 20 minutes from Franklinton. It is 45 minutes from Betty Jo and Cherie and about an hour from Angel.

They said at least 45 months for the grant Uncle Dennis might not even be here then. I dont know what to do it doesnt seem to bother him to live like this I guess he is used to it. (USDA rural home improvement grant. 45 months?!)

Harley needs a pair of size 6 navy blue cant have big pockets or nothing on them used is fine we only have like 6 weeks left.

3/24 The job hunting or lack of jobs to hunt for is doing me in. I cant stand on my feet for a long time so fast food is out or waitress so there is not much to choose from I check every day but so far nothing. I made 20.00 babysitting last week so maybe there is hope. I just have to keep looking something is going to come my way I just know it!
2/20 Carol has been learning plumbing - latest re: that adventure:
Oh dont worry I just about wore them out with questions I started out changing the bathtub faucets did no good, then I changed the sink faucets did no good then wonder of wonders I found a cut off valve turned it on and hurray water in the sink I had to fix a leak to be able to leave the water on to the sink but that is done now. Baby steps but it is comming along I changed the place where I was buying things because the one place diddnt want to help at all just sell stuff but the guy at the lumber yard hardware store in Shelby is a great guy and he doesnt mind giving advice. I need one of those hook ups for putting water in a waterbed that would hook up to the sink and then I could hook the water hose up to that and just run the water from the kitchen. I can take a bath now though and that is all that matters.

1/30
Hi ! I have my cousins computer on loan for a week while she is out of town. Her son is in the military and he is graduating from basic training. So I can stay in touch for a few days anyway, even though my computer died. I dont want to move again. I know it is bad but my Uncle really needs me no one should have to live like this and I am determined to make it better. They gave him the wrong USDA Grant application and he couldn't see well enough to even know it so I am going to call the 800# and ask them to send the correct application for the grant - not a loan. He can't afford a loan. He gets less than $1000 a month and with normal bills, he has hardly anything left. I know it's not a palace, but he opened his home to us when no one else would and that means a lot so I am going to help him make it better.
(The job promised her fell through. Her car died, so she can't go looking for another job just yet)

1/14 - Carol et al, arrived safely in MS! She's exhausted, but thrilled to be back.

1/7/07 There are no stores in Round Lake, in Clarksdale there is a walmart, a dollar general, a family dollar, a kroger, and a super saver. Not much to choose from.
I am going to need
1. a set of pots
2. a set of dishes
I will have to wait till we get there to see what else we will need, my cousin went over and checked out the house yesterday, she said bring cleaning stuff ....... LOL

12/30/06
The computer was fixed, died again, was fixed again, but is getting ready to really give up the ghost. I'll need a new one as soon as I get back into MS - which is scary and exciting at the same time.
Harley and Stormy will need uniforms for their new school, so if someone can help, I'd appreciate it.
Harley is a 6, Stormy is an 8 in shorts and skorts and skirts with elastic in the waist and a 9 or 10 in pants. Shirts I think are Red, Harley would be a size 6/7 stormy and 8 or 10.
12/13
My computer died so I can only check my email maybe twice a week. I am at my wits end. I dont know how much more I can take.
12/4
It is the one thing I know how to do real well, take care of people, there is an elderly couple that live about a mile from my uncle, so I can walk to work, and they desperately need someone to cook, clean, run errands etc... does not pay a whole lot but it's better than nothing at all. I took care of my Mom and Dad before they passed away and Im really good at it. My uncle says I have a caring heart and that is what they need. I wish now I had stayed in school instead of getting married so young, but you cant go back just forward. I am determined to make something good come of all this mess, my momma used to say when god gives you lemons you make lemonade. Well I have enough lemons to make lots of lemonade..... I am learning how to use the software so if need be I can find a job doing something else. I so appreciate you helping me I feel like if I can learn to use the software I will have a safety net in place.
11/28
We could really use prepaid gas cards, walmart cards or mcdonalds gift certifcates so that we can have gas and can eat on the way home in Jan.
11/25 Update We are definitely going to my uncles we will be leaving here on Jan 10th and I will go to work the following monday I am so excited, I just have to find a way to pay for the gas. 11/25
Ok here is our update we are still in Arizona for now , I have not found a job and my friends are getting tired of their house guests. My Uncle has offered for us to come stay with him in Round Lake MS it is up north about an hour and a half from Memphis I do have a job prospect if I go there,and rent is very reasonable, so I will be able to get on my feet, not sure how we will get there, but if I have no job prospects by the first of the year here, we are going to have to go. As for a christmas list, just warm clothes girls size 10 shirts size 8 pants & Barbie doll clothes. Boys size 5/6 shirts and pants & Hot wheel cars.
Thanks
Carol
11/14 Updated
Just a quick note to let you know we are still here. We are hanging in. It is actually getting chilly here now. I really need some little light jackets for the kids, I was thinking they might not even need them but I was wrong. Still no job yet but I am still trying. I find that as the holidays get closer I am getting more and more depressed it is getting to be a real struggle just to get out of bed and function as a normal person, I hate this, I want life to be normal again, well at least my idea of normal anyway.

Tracie P

2007-12-12T16:27:00.000-05:00

Tracie P, Camrie, Blade, Maycie
Email phelpstracie @ yahoo.com
Location: San Diego. I plan to live in Indianapolis. Indiana in three months
Number in Household: Camrie Phelps 12, Blade Phelps 11, Maycie Phelps 3 months.
Situation: I left New Orleans when the evacuation order went out, I and my two kids. I have lost all of my clothes, my car, my friends. It has been a difficult year for us, being in a strange city with no family members present.
Current Living Arrangements: - Homeless.
Help: -Red Cross,Fema.church ministries,individuals.
Needs:
Foods – non-perishable only
Paper Products – Napkins, Toilet Paper, Paper Towels, etc.
School Supplies – notebooks, pens, pencils, folders, etc.
Computer Supplies – computer
Cleaning Supplies – Windex, Dishwashing liquid, Laundry detergent, etc.
Household Supplies – light bulbs, kitchen supplies (pans, pots, etc.)
Clothing – (Updated 12/12/07)
Tracie 39-I need new clothes,size 16 misses pants,Xl shirt.Size 9 shoe
camrie 13-size 4 pants,large shirt.Size 9 shoes
blade 11,wears 14 pants,14 shirt
maycie 1 2t{a }.

12/12/07 Christmas Wish List
We would like computers,games,baby educational toys.Music cd's,cd players.Thank you very much
We would like computers,games,baby educational toys.Music cd's,cd players.Thank you very much

Elizabeth + 4

2007-12-11T10:41:00.000-05:00

Elizabeth; Lionel, Caleb, Celina, Cristina

Email: eabroussard @ yahoo.com

Location We lived in gentilly, new orleans (8th ward/18th district), now in Jonesboro, GA. I don't know where we will be in a year.

Number in Household: Elizabeth-33 (self) , female; Lionel- 32, male; Caleb- 9, boy; Celina-2, girl; Cristina-1, girl

Situation I am searching for a Christmas Angel for our 3 kids. My boyfriend works full time but he makes just enough to cover the bills. I am trying to find work around but it is hard to find one around my kids' many doctor appointments.

My oldest is 9 and sees a psychiatrist about twice a month for depression and self esteem issues. He had been missing for about 22 days because of hurricane Katrina and was found by someone who saw his picture posted on CNN***. He had been in 5 different schools in 3 different states for 2005 first grade alone. Since that time he still has nightmares, wets the bed, and becomes very homesick for our family and his things. He has more doctors and medication than I do.

My middle child is 2. She was 3 weeks old when the hurricane struck. Every baby items I had for her I left behind except for a few days worth of clothes and diapers and formula. Everything else .. gone.

My youngest just turned 1 but she was born 10 weeks premature. She sees a physical therapist every week.

We had lost everything in 2005. Everything we have now is due to the kindness of strangers. However, recent events have led us to become in need of help.

Current Living Arrangements: Apartment

Needs: Baby Items

12/11 - I have finally gotten a list of the families needs and wishes for Christmas!
Caleb - 9 sizes – top: 14 ,bottom: 14 husky, shoes 6 youth
For Xmas Glasses, Anything Pokemon, video games

Celina -2 - sizes – clothes 3T, shoes 8 toddler, diapers size 5
For Xmas Clothes, Shoes, Diapers, anything Dora, anything Diego

Cristina -1 sizes – clothes 12 m, shoes 2 infant, diapers size 2
For Xmas - Hair accessories, Hello Kitty, Light up toys, Age Appropriate toys

11/17
The family is dealing with a death, has to borrow a friend's PC, so will be adding to the needs list as soon as she is able.

Thai C

2007-12-08T09:58:00.000-05:00

Thai C; Tuyet, Sumer, Sienna, Jasmin, Jayda
Picture of Jayda - born 11.27.07!
http://www.our365.com/webnursery/webnursery/Baby/BabyPageDirect.aspx?CID=0018019273
Email - truchoa97 @ aol.com

Location - Was in Bayou La Batre, am now in Theodore AL.

Situation - Home was destroyed, have moved in with my disabled mother to care for her as well as my 3 daughters and 2 nephews. I have a job, but being a single parent with so many mouths to feed and many medical conditions (1 has asthma, 1 has diabetes, 1 has thyroid, my mother has many issues), it just isn't enough to be able to get items we need as well as take care of existing bills and medical needs.

Number In House - 6: 31 y.o. female - Thai; 74 y.o. female - Tuyet, 10 y.o. female - Sumer, 4 y.o. female - Jasmin, 12 month old - Sienna 12/5/07 - Newest addition is Jayda! As of 11/27/07

Help - the children are all on medicaid, my mother gets SSI and we are on WIC. I received a small amount of LIHEAP (thank goodness!), but otherwise, nothing.

Needs:
Clothing -
*9 year old girl- (updated 11/1/07) 10 yrs old- girl
sizes clothes 14-16 youth
sizes shoes 6
Needs- Clothes, a light jacket, socks, shoes, comforter w/ bedding/ blanket for twin size bed.
Likes anything Hannah Montana, Naruto animation chapter books, stuff penguins/ animals, I-Pod/ I-Cy, Arts and craft stuff, SMS Text messenger data/organizer wireless, The Game of Life, Twist and Turn, tiny book bag, Naruto/ Pokemon movies, an electric guitar, any hand held games or Nintendo DS lite games, video now cds, cd player with cd's, chat now, MP3 Player, a big girls bike or anything age appropriate.

*3 year old girl-4 yrs old (updated 11/1/07)

size clothes- 4T or 5T size shoe- 12/13TNeeds- Clothes, socks, tennis shoes, comforter w/ bedding and blankets for twin size bed.

Likes anything Dora the explorer, Barbie, Bratz, a trike, 3 wheel scooter, a play Dora or any play kitchen, kitchen set toys, tea sets, Puzzles for kids, anything monkeys, Nintendo DS lite games/ puppy dog games, portable DVD player, any type of cartoon dvds, a flip open sofa, anything learning, blendy pens, cd player with children cd's or anything age appropriate.

Sienna 1 yr on Dec 21st (updated 11/1/07)

size clothes- 18-24 months
shoe- 4 or 5
Needs- Seasonal clothes of any type, especially winter clothes and sleepers, a good thermometer. Likes Playskool Busy Basic step start walk n ride, fisher price sit to stand giraff, any cartoon character flip open sofa , any riding things, any toys that makes noise or sings, pink push around buggy, a rocking pony or unicorn, anything learning, teethers, small book bag for a girl, anything Care Bears or anything age appropriate.

Jayda- Due Dec. 16th, 2007
anything for newborn baby, baby bassinet, baby beddings, a good ear thermometer, a girl diaper bag, a baby book, crib toys, a homecoming outfit, clothes for newborn, onesies, clothes for 3 -up months because they grow so quickly, baby bottles, shampoo, diapers, blankets, anything for newborn baby.

*15 year old boy-Phong- 11/1/07 - no longer taking care of nephew. His father now has both boys.
*8 year old boy-Calvin- 11/1/07 - No longer taking care of nephew. His father now has both boys.

*74 year old disabled mother-Tuyet- shirt size X-large, pants size medium adult, socks, shoes size 7

*31 year old woman - gift cards

Food - Any non-perishable foods would be wonderful - Similac Advanced for Sienna.
Paper Products - Toilet Paper! Diapers for a 2 mo. old (size 3) would be a godsend as well
School Supplies - school is almost over, so nothing yet
Computer Supplies - None for now
Cleaning Supplies - detergent - unscented anything is good; dish soap, any basic cleaning stuff
Household supplies - light bulbs, we need cookware and bakeware, complete bedrooms furnishing with beds for my 2 newphews (3/29 is hoping for Adopt My Room assistance -

Stores we shop at - Walmart, Target

12/08/07
I am just really so happy. She was born on Nov. 27th at 3:33am, 20 inches long. I stayed in the hospital for 5 days, but things are ok and hopefully things will get better with the baby. She was early and was not able to eat and had bili rueben. Jaundice. A new addition bundle of joy added to the house and Christmas just around the corner. Nothing but happiness and joy coming this way. I was really scared at first about how I am going to handle all the kids, but now I am just taking it a day at a time.

The kids love the new baby, especially Jasmin, my 4 yr old. She seems like she is more attached to Jayda. Sienna seems like she doesnt really know and Sumer, my 10 yr old, she is worn out, tired, but very helpful.

Jasmin told me the other day "mommy you dont love me anymore" I told her I do but I just had a baby and need to rest. I guess she is not use to me not giving her as much attention. I told all my girls I love them very much but sometimes can't show it because I am so busy with everything, especially the new baby.

10/26/07
A tornadoe came into Irvington, AL yesterday. It was so bad. It tore/destroyed houses down. A lady in the news cried and cried because she lost everything. Her mobile ome was in shambles. It was pretty sad. It rained all day and night yesterday. I live about 10 minutes from Irvington and was safe and ok on my end. No problems or damages. Thank God. It was said to head right through Tillman's Corner which I am between Tillman's Corner and Irvington but we all are safe and no damages. It was so scarey yesterday. People recorded debris flying everywhere. Ugh...not a good sight. Wow, blessed we are. Jasmin school called me early to pick her up early. There was two 18 wheelers that got into an accident with each other so traffic was backed up. But its better today.Its very cold now. Still sprinkling rain but very cool.

Keisha + 1

2007-12-07T10:06:00.000-05:00

Keisha, Keishell

email: keishaelizabeth @ Hotmail.com

Location: Baton Rouge, LA

Number in House - 2, Keisha - 28, Keishell - 10

Living Arrangements - Apartment

Help Received - FEMA, Churches for 1 Christmas, Churches for 1 month of utility bills.

Situation - Needing help in different areas, moved to B.R. after Katrina and recently moved a second time to new apt. I'm employed by a local temp agency making an extremely low amount an hour, but trying to stay hopeful. With my previous assignment ending July 31 st, it's been difficult to maintain stability for my daughter and me.

I'm currently waiting for my next job assignment, which I hope to be placed with before the end of Sept. I'm trying to stay focused and productive and hope to be stable, making a decent amount of money in order to provide for my daughter and myself soon.

9/21
Just saying Hi, testing has been pushed back to this coming Monday,I'll be glad when it's done - getting anxious. Also keep us in your prayers, Keishell hasn't been herself lately, I got a call from the school twice because of her talking etc. I do think I need to take her out more often,and do things we used to like go to the movies, window shopping, fairs, etc. Things are just not the same and times are hard. I have been taking her to ride her bike a few times a week and sometimes to activities at the library.
It's all I can do for now, until things get better. Keep us in your prayers. Keisha.

11/1 - Am going to school starting in January. Excited but scared. Have a part time job through the holidays. It's not enough, but it's a lot more than nothing!

12/6 - I have a job! It isn't much and it's through the Temp agency, but it's something! It's only through the holidays, and pays little, but it's cash flow and that's the most important thing at the moment. I'm also doing some online lessons for computer skills at the library, which is helping so much! I know it'll help with school - coming up fast!

Also - could you remove the uniform clothes for Keishell? She has enough and someone else might need them more than we. Also, we have a dryer! Life is so good! So thank you for removing that as well. (both removed)

Keishell is getting excited for Christmas. It's good to see her happy!

Needs -
Clothes -
Keisha - I'm in need of clothing and under garments. Type - everyday/work environment attire , button down blouses, bottoms etc. I wear M/L in blouses it differs,sometimes L will be to big in blouses and tops sometimes not, ,bottoms size 12

Keishel - everyday tops/bottoms, under garments. Keishell is growing up. I was in denial still trying to squeeze her into a 10/12 but she needs size 14 bottoms,and 14 tops to be safe

washer

Toiletries - all

Paper products - all

Gas for travel.

Christmas Wish Lists
Hi, just wanted to give you an idea of what we 'd like and needed.I asked Keishell what were some of the things she'd wanted for Christmas and she lit up and is obviously very excited now.Thanks again.
Keishell
bratz the moviez remote control corvette cruiser
bratz atm machine
bratz microphone
bratz styling head (mannequinn head)
bratz cyber style kids interactive laptop
camera
purse
kids watch
mp3 player
clothes or gift card to purchase
shoes or gift card to purchase

Keisha
laptop
clothes or giftcard to purchase
shoes or giftcard to purchase
purse

A poem Keishell wrote:

Debbie S

2007-12-04T16:13:00.000-05:00

Debbie S; Tommy, Ericka, Sandie Michael, Corie, Jamie; dogs, horses, goats.

Email: MommaDebbie7 @ aol.com
Location: DeRidder, LA
Number In Household: 7+; 2 adults, 5 children, dogs.
Situation: Road out Hurricane Rita and lost a lot to water damage. The singlewide that WAS our home got twisted so badly FEMA totalled it. We're trying to salvage it since, but even with professional realignments, the roof doesn't meet the walls like it should and continues to leak. I can't stay in the 2 FEMA trailers we have because my asthma is so bad.
Our livestock shelters were blown away, but we were able to rebuild them with storm debris from a friend's buildings that were destroyed.
We lost our garage, but not rebuilt yet.
The fencing for our dogs' area was lost as well, and no debris is left around here to rebuild it with.
We've tried to seal our roof - using what money we had. It still hasn't worked.
Tommy's job slowed down and I picked up a job to try and fill in the gaps to catch up, but it hasn't worked that way yet.
Current Living Situation: Still on our own property, thankfully! Trying to transition into our old home due to the fumes in the FEMA campers.
Help: FEMA, Friends
Needs: We're not asking for money.
Livestock: Hay, dirt, sand, feed for horses and goats.
Dogs: Food, material to build a new fence for their area, normal flea meds.
House: Materials to repair water damage in Kitchen, bathrooms; to seal roof properly. The household could also use towels, wash cloths, area rugs

Children: We really want Christmas for them this year...
Ericka: age 14(girl)...she wears sizes pants-15 1/2jr, shirt med-large jr's, shoe-10 women.
Her likes are: anything Winnie the pooh(lol), Scrapbook stuff, writing stuff(she writes great short stories), Hair stuff(ribbons, barrettes, ties, etc.), Stuffed animals.
Her needs - Sleep wear, coat, socks ( size 9 bootie), underwear(bikini's size 7), Clothing(pants, shirts, Bra's(38/DD)

Sadie: age 12 (girl)...pants-14 1/2-15 1/2 girls, shirts-16-18 girls, shoes- 7 1/2 women's.
Her likes are: cd player, volleyball set, stuffed animals(FROGS...lol), make-up, nail stuff
Her Needs: Sleep wear, pants, coat, socks, under wear(jr size 5), shoes(size 7 1/2),
Michael: age 15 (boy) has Autism, pants- 29 x 32 1/2, shirts- med/tall, shoe 10 1/2 men's
His needs - Clothing, socks, shoes, underwear and sleepwear.
His likes are: Glow in the dark stuff(for wall's and ceiling), Lego set's, Art stuff(marker's, color's, and color pencils), Race car stuff, He loves to draw houses...and does a really good job of it too...:)
Corie: age 11(girl twin).... Pants 14 1/2..,shirt- Large girls, Shoe- 7 1/2 women's
Her likes are: Make-up(Lt color's to play in.), Jewelry(any kind), Hair stuff( barrette's, hair ties, bows, etc.) Perfume, lotion.
Her Needs: Clothing( Pants, Shirts, coat, Shoes(size 7), Sleep wear, socks, underwear( 5 jrs)

Jamie: age 11( girl twin)....Pants- 15/16jr, shirt-large Jr., shoe- 7 women's.
Her likes are: Make-up, Jewelry(any kind), hair stuff (bows, barrett's, hair tie's, etc), a camera.
Her Needs: Jamie's Needs- coat, sleep wear, pants(size 15/16 jrs), shirts, socks, under wear( size 7 )

All kids could also use new sheets and blankies (twin Size)
12/4/07
We have had a VERY BAD YEAR this year..One of my twin daughter's came down with KIDNEY FAILURE...she has had 1 transplant that failed with in 3 days...they had to remove it. We have spent any money that we had set aside for Christmas on trips to New Orleans to the Tulane Hospital there..we have basically been there all year. I have been talking to Dayle at Citizans group Data Base....she knows we have been threw pure hell. My daughter is now on Hemo Dialysis and waiting for another transplant when one is found.

2/25
Thanks so much for the medical info...We just got one of my 11yr old twin daughters out of the hospital on Monday of last week. She spent 5 days in PICU and another 4 in a regular room. She had a stomach virus and apparently her immune system attacked her Kidneys. That sent her blood pressure up almost into the 300's on top and bottom..she is still not out of the woods yet...we are waiting on test results. She is on blood pressure meds now and will be till the doctors say she can get off of them. She had a kidney biopsy and it still didn't tell them what happened. She lost the use of her legs for some reason but is getting them back now...she is still very unsteady on her feet. They don't seem to know what happened. She had no temp, and all signs were of the virus. So this medical info that you sent might be necessary now. Thanks so much for all you do for your groups and others.
11/28 Update
Sorry It has been so long....We have more damage from October Storms and have yet been Considered a Disaster area again. Fema is again coming today for that. It is a separate disaster from the Hurricane. We have had torrential rain fall, with very strong winds that have caused flooding and more wind damage.

Jean

2007-12-01T21:05:00.000-05:00

Jean; Winnie, Dora
Email: - alleymarziacat @ yahoo.com

Location: - Back home in the suburbs of New Orleans.

Number in Household: - 1 human, 2 cats -- Jean, female, 47, two cats, Winnie, male, 15, Dora female, 5

Situation:
After Katrina my husband and I moved four times before coming back to New Orleans nine months after the storm. We had been lucky compared to many, but in order to return to New Orleans we had to sell or give away most of our possessions and we came back dead broke. We were both affected negatively by the instability and uncertainty brought on by Katrina, the repeated moves, my poor health, the inability to find work that could support us and extremely high stress all of this caused.
A week after we returned home, my husband walked out on me with no warning --leaving me disabled with no income, no insurance, no transportation, no place to live and no hope. He has refused any attempt to talk since then. I was very nearly committed to a mental hospital because I sunk so far into depression and desparation that I was unable to function.
Through the amazing kindness of others -- many of them people who never knew me and I have never met -- I recieved comfort, clothing, emotional support and more. I was also taken to a psychiatrist and a doctor to get the mental and physical help that I couldn't get for myself but so very desperately needed. I narrowly avoided eviction, homelessness, committment, loss of my foot to Diabetes and the horror of having to give up my precious cats.
Right now I am waiting to hear about the decision on my Social Security Disability claim -- the spousal support which I am receiving is barely enough to cover my bills and is only in effect until just after the first of the year -- after which I have no idea what will happen or where I will be.
I would love to have a Merry Christmas before I am plunged back into worry and uncertainty. The outpouring of help that was recieved is now gone since over a year has past since Katrina. I do not think that I am entitled to any help, but if someone is ABLE to assist me I would be forever in their debt.

Current Living Arrangements: - Apartment

Help: - Red Cross, FEMA; UU Church members in Hendersonville NC, Jefferson Parish Human Services Authority, Medical Center of LA at New Orleans.

Needs: PRAYERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Foods: Cat food both "wet" and dry -- they prefer Whiskas or Meow Mix Pouches and Purina One Dry but any kind is good! They also love Whiskas Cat Treats.

Human Foods: Soy Nut Butter, Oatmeal, Grits, Bread Crumbs, Cannned Squash, Canned Beets, Canned Turnip, Mustard or Collard Greens. Canned Okra with Tomatoes, Canned Tomatoes (stewed and plain), Raisins, Canned Fruits (low sugar), Splenda, Crackers, Spices -- Mrs Dash and others, Sugar Free Iced Tea Mixes or Sugar Free Drink Mixes, Coffee with Chicory, "Peanut Free" Almonds or other nuts.

Paper Products: Any type and brand, not picky.

Computer Supplies: HP 92 and 93 printer cartridges.

Cleaning Supplies: Again, anything, not particular about brands.

Household Supplies: A "medium" size pot with cover would be great -- somehow I wound up with a GIANT pot and a tiny pot, no nice medium sized one. I could also use a collander, a pair of kitchen shears, a set of knives, a blender, a small food processor, a crock pot and a toaster.

Clothing: I usually wear 6x tops, the brand "Personal Touch" fits very well in a 6x and in SOME 5x - Colors in any combination of black, blue, purple, green, red. For pants I usually take a 4x or 5x in a stretch or "slinky" material in black or navy - the Maggie Barnes brand fits well. For panties I wear a size 15 in a full panty. Bras can be a 54C or 54D depending on fullness of the cup. I could also use a pair of Diabetic Shoes -- I take a size nine in a SIX E width -- very hard to find and expensive. And very large no-elastic diabetic socks.

Stores you shop at: Wal Mart, Winn Dixie, Big Lots, Dollar Tree, and Catherines. I would love to be able to shop at Michael's, Borders, Barnes and Noble, and Amazon.com.

Other: Catholic Bible, Crucifix, small statue of St Gertrude of Nivelles or St Francis of Assisi, St Gertrude of Nivelles or St Francis of Assisi Medal, Weight Watchers Online Membership or membership in another online weight loss program, Sewing Machine, Sewing Light, Scented Candles, Spray Deoderant, Advil or Aleve. Gift Certificates....

I would be happy with ANY of these items "pre-owned" (used) -- [well maybe not the under garments]

11/30
I know that if the distance between us was not so great that we would be terrific friends. You have been a rock for so many people and I really am amazed that you are back helping again when you face such personal and familial challenges yourself!

I have had a few episodes of breathing problems with my O2 sats going down as low as 56 and 65 on different days with 87 or so being about average. But overall I have had more good times than bad.

I got a rollator walker that helps me be more steady on my feet when I have to stand and walk a little. It has a seat so I can flop down and catch my breath when I need to!

Also under the good news category is that I was cleared for and I have been doing a medically supervised Pulmonary rehab program which is allowing me to get moving and to begin building much needed stamina. I have been progressing well because I feel confident nothing will happen while I am being watched and monitored. (or if it does the hospital is connect to the building where I have the rehab workouts)

Unfortunately, I am about 1 month away from running out my coverage for Phase II and the Medicare Advantage plan I have does not cover Phase III at the rehab center where the respiratory therapists work. They feel that once one graduates from the Phase II that going to a regular gym/fitness center should be good. Alas, while I am on 3 lpm at home and 5 lpm when doing simple activities, when I exercise at the Pulmonary Rehab center I am on 8-10 lpm! Plus I am monitored at all times -- partially due to my need for such a high flow (I can still drop to 82 or so on 10 lpm while exercising!) . I am scared that all the good I have done with the Phase II program will be lost when I can no longer go there and work out under the conditions I need to have. They charge $176 quarterly for the Phase III if no insurance is picking it up. THAT would be the ULTIMATE assistance if someone could adopt my rehab!!!

If there is anyone who can help, I could still use a pair of diabetic shoes and some extra wide diabetic socks. Both are in the extreme extra large sizes so I would have to arrange for them to get them from an online source or directly from my podiatrist. He charges $140 for the shoes and the inserts that I need. I only have one pair of shoes -- the ones Medicare allows -- and well, having one pair of shoes is pretty darned sad! LOL The socks are not cheap either ---they are around $13 a pair! I have 4 pairs of socks but I only can wash clothes once every week or so... In between, the socks get a spritz with some dollar store fabric freshener and deodorant....I know, yucky huh?

Speaking of dollar stores, I don't even know if such a thing exists but I do a lot of shopping for cleaning supplies and some basic house items at Dollar Tree. A gift card or certificate for them would be terrific too! As would be a Wal Mart card...I get cat food, my food and almost anything else I need there too...they have the little motorized carts that I can use to get around.

I also would still love a Catholic Bible. The lady with whom I had brief contact last year never followed through. I still use my other Bible but being a Catholic having the special version for Catholics would ease my heart. A small statue or a medal of St Francis of Assisi would be much appreciated as well -- I have sorta adopted him as my Patron because of my affinity for animals.

An extremely lightweight vacuum cleaner would make my life easier and my house cleaner. My normal, heavy vac became too hard for me to use and the little stick vac/electric broom thing that I got from my dad bit the dust -- probably literally with having to pick up after cats. But I have to keep things clear even if it is hard because the lungs can't handle dust. (It takes me up to three hours to vacuum my 500 sq ft apt and the kitchen is not carpeted! LOL )

I know this is a long list and it's still a long shot that anyone will be able to help. As before I would ask that all families with children be adopted BEFORE my name is even considered. Kids have to have Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!

4/5
got the boxes -- thank you SO much...the pots are beautiful and I can't wait to try the sewing machine.

Right now I am not able to stay in my apartment because the AC is broken! It got to 100 degrees in there so me and the cats are temporarily by my parents.

PLEASE let me know if there is ANYTHING I can do to help you out. You've been so supportive and good to me, I really would love to be able to assist you in return!

Thinking of you and thanking God for sending you to me.

2/6
It's Pulmonary Hypertension and some sort of unspecified Obstructive Lung Disease. According to the doctors both are *PROBABLY* related to my Sleep Apnea which is related to my size. (Though hospital food helped me lose about 12 pounds in 2 weeks and I am at my lowest weight in 10 years! LOL Some side effect!)
Despite doing every test in the book (Haha, the resident that was taking care of me actually showed me his little pocket book of conditions and tests etc.) except a Lung Biopsy (apparently, they are 99% sure it is not cancer, so they did not want to risk a biposy where they have to knock me out considering all the other problems I have.) They actually did a couple of the tests twice!
And indcidentally, I was stuck for IVs, arterial blood gasses and other procedures 21 times...and they took 26 vials of blood!
I was the Mystery Diagnosis of the month -- I was even presented at a Lung Conference to see if anyone there had an idea of what else they could do to get a more specific diagnosis...but alas, I remain a mystery...*sigh* I know they say women should be a little mysterious but this is ridickerous...hehe. I am trying to keep my sense of humor since I find this hard to swallow.
1/25
I know you were trying to find me some help and I was totally unable to get back to you or get emails for two weeks...because I just got back from two weeks in the hospital --- I have lung problems and I am going to have to be on home oxygen. They also prescribed medicines that would cost about $1000.00 a month. Since my income is ZERO dollars a month....it bodes not so well for me.

Carol + 5

2007-12-01T13:58:00.000-05:00

Carol R, Ashli, William, Amber, Alexa, Connor

Email: crandall0523 @hotmail.com

Location: Pre-Katrina - I lived in St. Bernard Parish, just outside of New Orleans
Post-Katrina – Lived in California for a year.
Currently – Living in a Fema trailer in Picayune, MS

Number if Household: Six
Carol – 41 years old
Ashli – 21 years old
William – 19 years old
Amber – 13 years old
Alexa – 1 year old
Connor – 7 months old

Situation: I rented in St. Bernard prior to the hurricane. We lost everything except for a couple days worth of clothes. I had renters insurance which doesn’t cover flood, therefore they didn’t pay me anything. Because I had renters insurance, Fema did not pay me either other than rental assistance until I got into the Fema trailer.
After the storm hit and we were here and there for 3 weeks, we went to CA upon the request of some friends to stay with them. I was able to get my kids into a temporary stable environment and back into school (my son was a senior and my daughter in 6th grade). We finally found an apartment and ended up staying in CA for a year waiting to see if we could get a Fema trailer back home.
We got the Fema trailer in August 06 and moved back. My employer held my job for me, however now I am traveling 40 minutes each way. I used to be 10 minutes from work. I cannot afford the high rents so we are still in a Fema trailer.
I am trying to find a higher paying job so we can get an apartment, but right now all of my income is consumed by utilities, gas to travel to and from work, food and other bills. Our lives are still far from settled.
We applied for Fema, Red Cross and Salvation Army help.
Like others, we received a debit card from the Red Cross just after the storm and used that for clothing, etc. We received help from a church in CA of furniture, food gift cards, etc. but had to give the furniture away to other evacuees when we moved back to MS.
My husband lost his job in January 07 and with the stress of the hurricane and then that, our marriage didn’t survive. He and I have been separated for 4 months, so I am going this alone now. Trying to do all I can for my children, grandchildren and myself.
Any help would be greatly appreciated especially with the holidays coming.

Current living arrangements: Fema trailer in Picayune, MS

Help Rec’d: Rental assistance from Fema while renting (now in Fema trailer)
Food Stamps after storm (for 6 months)
Red Cross debit card in 9/05
$100 from Resurrection Life Church toward utility bills

Needs: Any food or household supplies

Clothing:
Amber - 12/14
Alexa – 24 months
Connor – 12 months

Gift Cards:
Walmart (for food or other items)
Winn-Dixie
Penney’s
Target
Aeorpostale

12/1

As I said before, I know that many people think that everyone who went through Katrina must be settled by now, but that is far from true. We struggle daily with the loss of our town, community of friends and just dealing with the fact that overnight our lives have been changed forever...but in the end through our own determination and the help and kindness of others, our lives will be repaired and hopefully we will be stronger human beings. We have learned that there are wonderful people in this world such as you, who can and will make a difference in many lives...and on behalf of myself and my family, I thank you for that.

Christie S + 2

2007-12-01T13:42:00.000-05:00

Christie, Husband and Son
Email: Sutfinmom @ bellsouth.net
Location: Hattiesburg,ms
Number in Household - 3 husband (disabled) 45; son(several learning disabilities)8; self(disabled)31
Situation - rented mobile home during storm it was ruined. Between my grandfather and me we got a small 3 bedroom trailer for our family. no fema help
Needs - I am in serious need of electric assistance
we live on disability and its hard just to make ends meet and now my husbands sister is dying of cancer they also need help. I worked until I was diagnosed with dysplasic hips on both legs.
***need electric and gas bill help all of or agencies are out of funds Please help!**
Any help would be a God send!

boy(9): electronic games and board games, army, eyeclopse--
mens med. shirt,
mens 40x30 pants,
mens 9 1/2 shoe, socks
mens large Underwear ( colored boxer briefs)

girl(12): make-up, lisa frank sets(stickers&stationary), music, purses--
ladies med. tops,
ladies 9 1/2 shoe, socks
jr. size 14/16 pants

self(32)
size 22/24 womens pants ,
xxl shirts,
10 shoe, socks
40D bra,
10 panties

Husband (46)
size 2 or 3 XL underwear (regular briefs colored) ,
socks have to be really stretchy feet swell bad!,
shirts 6XL,
pants 5XL

Family Needs
towels, wash clothes,
laundrey soap,
bath soap, shampoo
Dish Soap etc.

it is so hard just to catch up i dont think i ever will thank goodness for people who care!

Stores wal-mart. mostly at the discount stores to make money last a little longer

Thanks
Chris

Cheryl B

2007-11-26T20:44:00.000-05:00

Cheryl B; Terceira

Email: bluebiloxi20022001 @yahoo.com

Location: I lived in Long Beach MS before the storm and now I live in Biloxi I plan on staying in MS for a long time as long as I can survive

Number in Household: Terceira, Female, 4 Cheryl, Female, 39

Situation: My daughter and I have moved about 6 times since the storm I finally got an apartment but have truble paying my bills. My daughter has asthma and I suffer from Bipolar and I have no family and friends to help me with my daughter when she is sick so I have missed time at work plus I am having problems getting my meds so there are times it is really hard for me to function.

Current Living Arrangements: - Apartment

Help: FEMA, St Vincent

Needs:
Foods - non-perishable only
Paper Products - Napkins, Toilet Paper, Paper Towels
Household Supplies - Light Bulbs, Tall Kitchen Garbage Bags, Trash Bags, Cook Ware, BED, Assistance With Bills, PLUS if I can have anything in this world I would love a HOME of my own for my daughter can play and have a pet that we lost in the storm
Gas Cards
Stores You Shop At: Walmart

11/1/07
My name is Cheryl and I have a 4 1/2 yr old soon to be 5 on the 1 st of Jan and I don't have the means to get Christmas. My job has cut my hours down to 3 days a week, I am 3 car payments behind and I am in the hole in my checking account and I just dont know what to do. If you need a list of what she would like please let me know. God Bless Cheryl

11/26 - am waiting for her to check her mail again to get the list - L

Miriam

2007-11-26T08:00:00.000-05:00

Miriam W, Shanthenia, Alexis, Mia and 2 dogs
Email momov31@yahoo.com
Location: - Lived in Mobile, AL. Now in Prichard, AL not sure i would love to be settled working and at peace
Number in Household: - me-35, shanthenia -13, alexis-8, mia-7 all females 2 dogs rosie and sophia both females
Situation: Our house flooded and because I was a renter I didnt get as much help as the person who owned the house. And what I did get I used for rent until the house was cleaned and fixed. Once we got back in a few months later, my 13yr old girl was sexaully assaulted and we had to move. Well we didnt have to - I chose to move because the guy stayed around the corner and I didnt feel my child should suffer any more from him waiting on the police to do their investigation.
So I found a nice man who let us move into one of his houses and pay him rent in parts. I'm also in the hole so as you can see there really will not be a Christmas for my girls. I'm separated, no job, fighting a disability case in court, I get very little a month in child support.
I applied for a sub position at the school board and passed but I cant afford to pay for the background check and transcripts and sub certificates that I have to have before I can be placed on a job.
I just want to get Christmas help for my three girls.
Current Living Arrangements: - renting a house and i start receiving section 8 on the 15 of this month
Help: - I've gotten summer clothes and some household items
Needs:
Pet Supplies - Dry Dog Food, Flea control stuff
Paper Products - Napkins, Toilet Paper, Paper Towels, etc. all if its not asking to much
School Supplies - paper, pencils, crayons and long sleeve school shirts (red,dark blue or white)
Cleaning Supplies - bleach and pinesol
Household Supplies - drinking glasses or cups, spoons and forks
Clothing
shanthenia-13 size 18/20 xl, shoe size 10.5 adult
alexis-8 size 10/12 preteen girls, shoe size 2.5 girls
mia-7 size 7/8 girls. shoe size 12.5/1
Stores you shop at for possible gift cards or gift registry walmart,kmart, target

11/26/07
sorry it's taken awhile to get back to you, but we have moved. We were staying with someone who stole from us so we had to stay in a shelter and now we have been blessed with a home, so we are starting over again but we have a roof over our head.

12/22/06
i've gotten some help from some very lovely big hearted people and i'm so very thankful. but it seems a dark cloud follows my sun. i applied for a sub job with the school and was offered a job if i got the materials needed to work for the system you know background, diploma tb test and other things, well i didnt have it because right now i'm only getting 52.62 a week in child support.
i've been out of work fighting my disability case, it didnt work out but my dr found what may have been causing my problem all these years we hope i have surgery on 1-11-07.
ok i keep drifting off well the nice angel on here made it possible for me to get the stuff needed for the job but it took awhile to get the money so they had put someone else in the spot and now i'm waiting for a opening to come up. i thought that was gonna be my way to have a xmas and get winter clothes and things, oh let me say i got 75.00 from gbangels and i bought three packs of underwear, four long sleeve school shirts and a pair of school shoes for my baby girl.
i dont know if i was wrong to do that i know i was to buy toys but they really needed those things and i still wrapped them. they are very good kids so i pray they understand why mommy did it. but i'm trying to see if any one has any used boots or tights. i cant buy them because my light bill is 149. and my water bill is 64. so as you can see i have nothing to spare but i've asked for a raise on my child support and after my surgery i'll be back on the job hunt.
i know we are so blessed and are a lot better than we were a few months back so if we can be last on the list its ok.
if any winter clothes are availible my kids are size 8 girls, 12 girls, and 1x adult. they will need the winter clothes because i'm not sure the gas will be on next month i try to pay lights and water and put what i can on the gas bill.
thank you for letting me post.
i'm with other groups but if anyone helps i'll let you guys know. again thank you and God bless

Jessica L

2007-11-23T13:15:00.000-05:00

Jessica L; Johnathon

Email: jeessiiee_77 @ yahoo.com
Location: I was in Kenner. Am now in Metairie, LA. I hope to have ound a sense of stability that has not returned since more than a year ago.
Number in Household: Jessica (29), Johnathon (10)
Situation: I evacuated for about 2 months, moved to an apartment near family - it burned. Moved to another apartment with friends, lived in my car and in a FEMA for 2 weeks. Finally found an apartment to share with a roommate who left in September without giving notice or rent. I've been working 7 days a week at 2 jobs trying to catch up. We are still sleeping on air mattresses.
Current Living Arrangements: 800/mo 1 bedroom apartment (was 450 before storm
Help Received: FEMA, Red Cross, Miami FL TV station

Needs:
Food: - Anything would be greatly appreciated
Paper Products: paper towels, napkins, TP
School Supplies: My son has only 1 uniform and I don't have daily access to a washer/dryer.
Clothing:
Johnathon - age 10
Shoes - Men's size 10-10.5
Shirts - L or XL
Pants - 36x30
He loves button down shirts and dark colors. (I'll find out what the school uniform is as well)
Jessica - age 29
Shoes - size 11
Shirts L or XL
Pants - 16-18
I need jeans desparately, and also need clothes for casual business (slacks and dress blouses) "Tall" works best, but can wear "average".
Household Supplies: We still need cookware and bakeware.
Stores You Shop At: Target, WalMart, KMart, Bed Bath and Beyond, Linens and Things.

11/20/07
Johnathon and I are living in West Monroe, LA with my mom.
My dad has recently passed away.
We came up here in December after the business I was working for closed due to the landlord raising the rent.
After that I just decided to take a break from New Orleans and come and spend some time with my father who had cancer. So since his passing we have stayed to try to help.
Not too many employment opportunities up here so help this Christmas would be great. He is 11 and he loves video games, the Saints, football.

11/23
The Real List!
any WWE action figures or anything to do with WWE or wrestling
Jeans: 34 x 29; Shirts - men's medium or boys XL
any transformers
Ladder Match (WWE)
Modern Warfare (video game for xbox)
Call of Duty (video game for xbox)
The NOLA Saints
Football

Ginger, et al

2007-11-10T10:58:00.000-05:00

Ginger B, Christine, Valory, Sara, Robin, Brittany, Kodey, Nick

Email: ginbax@yahoo.com
Location: Lucedale, MS
In one year’s time, Ginger hopes to have a place of their own for herself, Sara and Valory.
Number in Household: 8
Pets:
Baby Girl: 5 y.o. female dog.
Sunny: Baby Girl’s pup - 6 months old.
Gypsy: 1 y.o. dog
Some times it is hard to feed them, they do not get as much as they need from table scraps.
Dogs needs: Flea & tick collars, shampoos, any kinda canned dog food, heart worm and worm medicine.
Situation: Three weeks prior to Katrina, Ginger, Sara & Valory moved in with Christine, out of necessity of needing housing. Robin and her children moved in with Christine February 06, as her home has mold
Crowded living arrangements causing ill feelings, affecting the children’s grades. Children had no Christmas or birthdays since Katrina.
Christine applied for FEMA right after Katrina 05, denied. Not enough damage, though the trailer leans & leaks.
Current Living Arrangements: All 8 of us living in Christine’s 14x80, 3-bedroom trailer. Christine & Robin share a room. Boys sleeping on living room couch & floor. Sometimes all the kids sleep on the living room floor.
Two older girls sleep on a mattress on the floor of one bedroom. Ginger and Valory share one bedroom.
Help Received: food stamps. All children are on Medicaid. A local church.
Needs: Ginger and her children need a home. Robin and her children need help cleaning their home.
Foods – (even with food stamps we do run low, or out before the next month)
Canned goods: whole kernel corn, sweet peas, pork & beans, tomato's, tomato paste, tuna, chicken, beef, pork, mixed fruit, peaches, pears, evaporated milk, mixed veggies, potted meats, beanie weenies, soups, spaghetti sauce, pasta.
Jell-o, puddings, coffee, tea (regular and herbal), coffee creamer, sugar, flour, spices, seeds to grow herbs.
Jellies would be good (any).
The children would be tickled over any type of sweet goodies, they say no licorice, please.
Paper Products – Napkins, Toilet Paper, Paper Towels, Paper plates, Wet wipes.
School Supplies – notebooks, pens, pencils, folders, loose notebook paper, binders, book bags, crayons, erasers, glue.
Computer Supplies – paper, ink Lexmark Z23 (black & color)
Cleaning Supplies – Windex, Dish washing liquid, Surf laundry detergent, dishwasher detergent, Dial liquid soap, 409, comet, latex gloves (size large), broom, rag mop, dust pan. Toilet brush.
Household Supplies – light bulbs, air fresheners, 13 gallon garbage bags, batteries (AAA-C), freezer bags (zip lock type, quart & gallon size), zip lock type sandwich bags, Lysol, coffee filters. Stores you shop at Wal-Mart & Local groceries.
Personal items - Deodorant, feminine products (pads), shampoo & conditioner, soaps, razors, baby oil, baby powder, hairspray, body wash/scrubs, body spray (guys and gals), lotions, Tylenol, Aleve, cough syrup, cold and sinus medicine

Clothing
Christine: 69
Pinks, Blues & earth tones.
size 24 pants/jeans and shirts (button ups or T-shirts).
Bra - 44D (no under wire please, white or beige) Panties - Size 13 any color (she likes the silky fabric, rather than the cotton).
Shoes - 10 wide. Socks - ankle socks size 10 women's (tennis & dress).
Mother says she would love an electrical drill with both forward and reverse.

Ginger: 46
Purples & earth tones.
size 3X-5X in t-shirts (Ginger is long waisted, so over-long shirts would be more appropriate than shorter shirts, this one is a girlie girl, likes frills...loves sweaters when cold weather.).
28 tall women's, in pants/jeans, 3X in stretch pants and shorts.
Bra - 44DD (no under wire please, any color) is allergic to fiberfill, no need of padded bras.
Socks - Size ladies 9/10 anklets and crew cut (any color).
Shoes – 8 1/2 Wide/Extra wide (hard to fit, as wide foot and high instep) (tennis & dress)

Robin: 32
Black (think subtle goth style)
Shirts/T's size S-M.
Skirts/pants/jeans size 0-4 women's.
Bra - 36A
Panties - Ladies size 6/7
Socks - Ladies size 9/912
Shoes - 9/10 (tennis & dress)
Would love to have hair accessories and scrunchies.

School uniforms for children: Khaki, navy for pants, skirts and jumpers. Navy, light blue & Maroon for shirts. Socks - white, navy, maroon.
Sizes as follows.
Also, Brittany had all our cosmetics with her during a sleep over, and left them in the car, her things were stolen, along with all of our make up. If anyone would like to send any make up, she would feel so much better about it. (email me for types)

Brittany: 15 years.
Camouflage, pinks, blues.
Shirts/T's size M-L ladies.
Skirts/pants/jeans size ladies 6/7
Bra - 36B
Panties - ladies 6/7 (any color)
Socks - ladies 9-91/2 anklet & crew (white for school, any color for home).
Shoes - women's size 9-10 (tennis & dress).
Would love to have hair accessories and scrunchies.
Brittany's Christmas Wish
Clothes and make up.CD's - Country & RapDVD's - Comedy & Horror

Kodey: 14 years.
Red, black, & green.
Shirts/T's - boys size L
Pants/shorts/jeans - size boys 18 regular
Boxers only - size 16/18 (any color).
Socks - 9-91/2 crew (white school and any color)
Shoes - men size 91/2 - 10 1/2 (tennis & dress).

Kodey's Christmas Wish
Model Cars & Airplanes
Playstation-II Games
DVD's - something 13 year old boys would like.

Sara: 13 years.
Pinks, blues.
Shirts/T's size M-L ladies.
Skirts/pants/jeans size ladies 6/7
Bra - 36B - 36C (any pastel color)
Panties - ladies 6/7 (any color)
Socks - ladies 9 - 91/2 anklet & crew (white for school, any color forhome)
Loves toe socks.
Shoes - women's size 9 - 9 1/2 (tennis & dress).
Would love to have hair accessories and scrunchies.

Sara's Christmas Wish
Jewelry or stuffed animals.
Something pretty to sit on her dresser or something she can use.
CD's Country (her favorites are Faith Hill, Carrie Underwood, Nelly and Kid's Pick)
She just had her ears pierced, and would love to have some earrings.Make up and finger nail polish.

Nick: 11 years.
Yellow, blue & orange.
Shirts/T's - boys size L.
Pants/shorts/jeans - size boys 16 husky.
Boxers only - size 14/16 (any color).
Socks - 9-9 1/2 crew (white school and any color)
Shoes - size 8 1/2 - 9 (tennis & dress).

Nick's Christmas Wish
X-Box Games
Playstation-II Games

Valory: 7 years.
Purples, reds/magenta, blues, (just any, she named off the rainbow)
Jumpers/dresses - size 12 -14 chubby.
Shirts/T's - child's size Large
Pants/shorts/jeans - size 12 - 14 chubby.
Socks - anklet & knee highs (white, navy maroon for school, and any color for home)
Loves toe socks.
Shoes - girls size 10 wide or 5 1/2 = actually better to fit her, than not.
Would love to have hair accessories and scrunchies.

Valory's Christmas Wish
Children's DVD's (she loves watching these!)
Mermaids
Brat dolls
Coloring Books
Hand computer like games such a a Game Boy and games.

Christine: 70 years.
Pinks, Blues & earth tones.
size 24 pants/jeans and shirts (button ups or T-shirts).
Bra - 44D (no under wire please, white or beige) Panties - Size 13
any color (she likes the silky fabric, rather than the cotton).
Shoes - 10 wide. Socks - ankle socks size 10 women's (tennis & dress).

* Mother-Christine says if you have an old ladies Christmas wish list, she would love an warm winter blanket, however her bed is a king.

Ginger: 47 years.
Purples & earth tones.
size 3X-5X in t-shirts (Ginger is long waisted, so over long shirts would be more appropriate than shorter shirts, this one is a girlie girl, likes frills...loves sweaters when cold weather.).
28 tall women's, in pants/jeans, 3X in stretch pants and shorts.
Bra - 44DD (no under wire please, any color), is allergic to fiberfill, no need of padded bras.
Socks - Size ladies 9/10 anklets and crew cut (any color).
Shoes - 81/2 Wide/Extra wide (hard to fit, as wide foot and high instep) ( tennis & dress)

A Christmas wish from me would include any item that is for crafting, as I do enjoy decoupage, crotchet, knitting, painting, drawing and other creative crafts.

Robin: 33 years.
Black (think subtle goth style with this one.)
Shirts/T's size S-M.
Skirts/pants/jeans size 0-4 women's.
Bra - 36A (any color & black)
Panties - Ladies size 6/7
Socks - Ladies size 9/912
Shoes - 9/10 (tennis & dress)

Would love to have hair accessories and scrunchies. Or a warm ski suit, since she freezes even down here.

11/1
I'm writing online articles for http://www.need-an-article.com/.
I've been asked to be one of their proofreaders as soon as they have the system set up, which will mean more money and a diversion from continually writing, so that will make a nice change.
They are also soon to begin a new Choose a Writer program and then clients will be able to choose the writer they want to work with, rather than sending a request and it being randomly picked by a first come first serve basis or the open bin.

This means that we will be able to charge our own rates, we also have an option to set our price, yet be able to negotiate with the client concerning the request and the amount they pay.

This will also mean more money. Thank goodness. :)

So, if you run into anyone who needs an article, send them on over and tell them to look for Ginger. :D

The kids are growing, Sara just had her 13th birthday. School is in, and they seems to be doing good, so that's great. Valory loves the first grade and her teacher and is progressing nicely with a B average for her age.

I decided to just go ahead and buy me a storage building when they were on sale at Lowe's. Hoping to have my stuff here at mom's while not having to continue with unit rental. However, I've not been fortunate enough to have someone help me build it yet, so it's still in the box. I'm hoping as it gets cooler that I will be able to round up some help, so I can stop having to pay a monthly storage fee. Then I'll put that money into the savings for a place to live.

5/3
It's wild how time flies, I hadn't realized how much time has past.

Well, the situation with my friend didn't work out, but it's ok...

I was personally invited to a work site for hiring writers.
Seems like real nice people and a real nice place.
No fees to join, plenty of work. However they are particular about their writers being quaility writers.

Actually, being on dial up slows me down a bit, but I have been able to catch some interesting subjects to write about.
It feels good!

I bought a bag of potting soil, but am gonna have to get another before it's all over with, for the container gardening.

I like to plant and transplant with the phases of the moon, I miss last months new moon, but plan to get some planting in during the next new moon.

Although, Valory came in with a poor dead plant that they had planted at school, so I did plant some mint seeds in that, so there would be something growing for her.
They are beginning to sprout out now.

Well, I just wanted to give a little update, since it's been awhile.

Ya'll all take care, and watch out for those scammers, their on this like hungry dogs. So before you just click them an email back, go to google or any search engine, type in their email address + spam and if they are frauds you should know fairly soon.

Do not give your info out to just anyone, cause there are folks out there just preying on anyone they feel they can.

Take care and keep smiling, before too much longer, it'll be better!
3/29 I'm thinking I might just see if I can find some pots and just make a container garden, and not worry about the ground, as far as planting goes.
The kids liked the candy. Thanks!
There's a church here that has a yard sale every so often, we went there this weekend and bought some things.
I'm talking with a friend, he works on a ship, but he wants to fix houses and sell them. He wants me to look into doing that and we'll partner up.
He'll foot the money, if I foot the brain work.
I'll have to research to learn how to do it, then fill him in on what's what.
He wants to buy a house.
He'll let me and the kids live there, so someone's there while he's on the sea.
He works 4 1/2 months, and is only home for 2 weeks, and he wants someone in the house so no one messes around while he's out.
We're just talking right now, so i don't really know to much more.
So, we'll see how this pans out.

2/8
I decided to put some of our things that are packed in storage up for auctions on ebay. I've sold 14 items so far. And have more up now.
We have some things that haven't been used in awhile, and I see that they might be better used in this way to help us, than to just sit in containers waiting for us to find a home of our own.
I plan to add as I am able to afford the fees, as I am not one to get in to far over my head with debt. So, I pay as I go, rather than let it build up to much owing the fees. And I'd rather pay that this way, than to let them collect from my small bank account.
I've talked with someone who is wanting to sell off her webstore inventory, and we've worked out a payment plan that helps both of us get what we want and need for this issue. It's not a great deal of things, but it does take money to make money they say, and I find this true.
I wish I knew how to fill out grant forms, and I'd apply for a grant to help build a business, so if anyone knows and would like to share any tips or links for learning how to apply for grants (single mother or business) please let me know. You can email me, but you'll have to make some reference to this in your subject line as I don't open emails from someone I don't know, or someone who uses a good reference that I know to look for in the emails.
We as a group have gone through many different winter illnesses, getting someone better and someone else getting ill with the same or something different. Thank goodness for Medicaid, as I have no idea how we would be able to get them in to see a Dr. when they need to go.
The kids have their days. Some days are good days. Being cooped up in the house because of cold weather hasn't helped much as they aren't able to just go outside and play. Being cramped up inside sometimes leads to short tempers with all the kids. We try to keep them busy, or just calmed down.
It'll get better as it warms up, so they can spend more time outdoors.
Things are about the same as before, their school grades have picked up a little, but not much. Being in such a small place makes it hard for them to get into finishing up their homework.
Sara has started biting her nails again.
Valory, bless her heart sometimes wets the bed now. I read somewhere, that there were many that have started doing this since Katrina. (which is very sad that all these little people, children are suffering so much because of the effects that it's had on families.)
Brittany's temper has gotten very short, and she finds it hard to just listen to adults, which may just be a teenage thing, but I think if she wasn't cooped up like this it wouldn't be so hard on her. Kodey has brought his grades back up some, but he can do so much better. I think he's bored, but I'm not really sure. Every once in awhile he will wet the bed, I'm not sure why this is, maybe he dreams he's at school. (I've heard other children tell this when they wet the bed and were bigger kids.)
Nick is just Nick, he keeps himself busy with computer games, sometimes he's so quite you'd not know he's around, but sometimes shew! He picks on Valory sometimes. I'm not sure why, maybe that he's not the little fellow in the house and there's someone smaller to pick on. She goes back at him most times, sometimes she just cries.
We try to make the best of whats going on here.
I'd leave if I had somewhere to go. If it were just me, I'd just live in my car or the tent, but I have to think about my children, and I really don't want to live in my car or the tent.
It's just hard being crammed into one small trailer with so many people.
We are always washing clothes and dishes, sometimes we can talk the kids into helping, but most of the time it's one big hassle to get some help. Valory seems to be more help than the bigger kids, and I hope that 'not wanting to help' does not rub off on her.
They are all good kids, they are just having a hard time right now, which is understandable, it's hard on us grown people. And we wish and do what we can to make it better for them.

1/8
Things are about the same here.It is a new year!I'm learning eBay in hopes that there might be a be of income for us, by selling a lot of stuff from our storage unit. I see no sense in our things just sitting in a unit, with no home to be loved in, so I figure I'll see what I can sell. Out with the old and in with the new I suppose. I'm waiting for some people to pay me for my writing.I only know to just keep trying, and somehow I'll come upon where I'm supposed to be.We just need a home of our own, and somehow, we'll have one once more.

12/15
Hello Leslie,I just received a phone call from one of my cousins, she and her family always adopt a Christmas angel off the Wal-Mart trees, since she is an associate. This year she happened to mention it to her mother, who had been talking with my mother, Christine, and found out that we were having a difficult time this season. She called to let me know that they would like to adopt Valory as their Christmas Angel.I wanted to let you know, now to find the kleenex.
12/12 Update
Things are about the same.Though, I was able to get Sara some makeup and Valory a Dora Explorer hand game, and a couple of stuffed monkeys, for Christmas. So far Robin hasn't come up with Christmas for hers though, but there's still a few more days. It may not be much, but hopefully they will have a little something.I feel a bit better now that I have the girls a few things.

Shannon W

2007-11-01T13:16:00.000-05:00

Shannon W; Trey; Champ

Email: Bamaladyal @aol.com

Location: Bayou La Batre AL

Situation: Lost everything in Katrina. Now my dad is dying of cancer. Lost my job trying to take care of my dad. No hospice or anything like that around here.

Number in Household: - 3, Shannon, Trey, Shannon's mother (13), Champ (dog)

Needs
Clothes - My size is large shirt size 9/10 paints, size 7 shoes.
Mother - same size
Trey's sizes is small man, size18 boys paints,
Food - all non-perishable please and dry dog food for Champ
Household Items - Cookware, Bakeware, Plates, Silverwhere, all cleaning supplies
Bathroom supplies - Pull-ups for her mother - ulcerative cholitis that is no longer operable
gas or gas cards for trips to doctor.

11/1 Shannon's dad passed away about 6 months ago. Since then, she has had to take care of her mother, who has had 4 surgeries in recent weeks for ulcerative cholitis. Hospice is back in the area and assisting, but there is still so much that is needed.

Christmas is weighing heavily on her. Please consider assisting.

3/24 Just heard from Shannon - through IM:
hi .how have you been. just got dad home from hospital. things have really been tough. it is just a matter of time before he is going to be with the lord. i have made peace with it but its still hard
I still need everything for my home. well got to run got a small job got to do thank the lord.

2/4
We need everything bedding, bath things, cookware, plates, silverware just anything to go in a house - the house is fixed, so all we need are the things to live in it some to move back in.
Daddy is doing the same. Better than worse, I suppose.

1/14
Dear Leslie I got a small job. Just 3 hours a day. I just hope Daddy keeps doing better. The job in real close to my father - maybe 2 min. You know we have to drive to Mobile to the docter's - its about 60 miles round trip. Gas is getting hard to make, and so is food. I could use some gas giftcards and some walmart, CVS ,or Target giftcard for meds. I use walmart more. It is cheaper, but CVS is just 5min from my house.

Gina

2007-09-05T10:01:00.000-05:00

Gina R., Matthew and Adrianne
Email: gvalence@bellsouth.net
Location: West bank of New Orleans pre-Katrina, Rent now in same are, plan to move above surge zone in Louisiana in 2008
Number in Household: 3 – Gina; Matthew M 17; Adrianne F 16
Situation: Health care worker on duty for Katrina, had to evacuate hospital Tuesday night after the storm. I did not receive FEMA displacement funding. My home was damaged, and I sold to a local couple. Was laid-off in September due to cut-backs. Have found PT work. Current Living Arrangements - rent in same neighborhood.
Help Received: FEMA reimbursement for refrigerator; Red Cross Food: Mostly non-perishables.
Needs
Personal Stuff: Shampoo, soap, baby powder, toothpaste and toothbrushes, Bath Towels
Paper Products: Zip lock bags, paper towels, Toilet paper, paper plates
School Supplies: Notebooks
Computer supplies: Ink Cartridges: HP 56 black, 57 color
Clothing:
Matthew - Men's large Hanes long/short sleeve T's; Converse size 9. Also Matt's pants size is 33/30.
Adrianne - Women's size 8 corduroy or hipster waist jeans; Women's large T's; Converse size 7 ½.
Cleaning Supplies: Dawn, Tide, Bounce, Lysol
Household supplies: baking pans, skillet, utensils
Stores you shop at: Target, Gas is huge expense, Shell, Wall Mart, Barnes and Nobles, Winn-Dixie, Old Navy, Gap, Best Buy

9/5
So much has changed since we have last written. I moved to another house in the same city! I moved on July 1st, 07. An opportunity to rent a smaller house to save a few dollars came around and I felt I needed the change.

Matt did make it to College, we came back for labor day, he looked a little older, litter wiser, till he opened his mouth and well, I'll be nice and just say, the maturation process is still unfolding. He likes the school and I am very comfortable with his choice, so hopefully all goes well.

Adrianne is well. She is a senior this year, and says things like, " my brother is in college", "I'm going to John's", (her boyfriend), "I'm going to apply to college in November"..............lol She is getting taller and prettier as I type.

3/24
Matt is slowly progressing his way to graduation. I think he feels he will miss home. When I left for LSU, I couldn't wait to bolt out of here. But kids these days are not like us..............lol.To change the subject, a ran into a co-worker I knew 15 years ago and she offered some help.She sponsored me with a web company.
Please understand, I am not trying to sell anything.I just feel blessed she believed in me and offered this opportunity.
Please visit: www.marketamerica.com/gvalence/ This company started out as a nutrition company and over the last ten years it grew into what you will see now. I don't know how this can be incorporated into fund raising, but I'm sure the sites can have a custom design where proceeds can go to a cause. I am just looking for feedback. Have fun.

2/15
Yes we are OK. But the tornado hit only 3 blocks away. Many from Westwego, like the other areas are temporarily homeless. Ouch, has Katrina flashbacks when the lights went out. I am off this Friday and planned to go to the shelter and help.

1/31
Well poor Matt must have been feeling a little overshadowed, because he reminded me that in less than 19 days he was going to turn 18. Of course I didn't forget, it's just that all the buzz is about Adrianne at the moment. His birthday is February 16 and yes he will be officially a man! He is researching which party he wants to join because he will rush in on his birthday to register to vote. I told him he can have some friends sleep over and I will probably give him a gift card, which he can use later this year when he settles into college. When he gets to Nicholl's he will need to shop for dorm stuff. Men never think of these things so us women do..........lol Also I have a friend that will get him a campus job. So he is fine. I will just pack him up later this year and send him with lots of love and a part-time job
1/14
I can assure you all I would have written sooner..........but the moral of the story is "be careful what you wish for"..........lol. About Jan 3, 07 the official notice arrived that I was now Full-Time. I am not complaining, but we have been working constantly due to 2 inspections due this month. Most Medical Labs are accountable to standards of testing and reporting. CAP and JAHCO are agencies that are both coming to the lab this month for inspections. Which translates to work, clean, work, clean, paperwork, clean.........I think the pattern keeps repeating till infinity. I found some free time and wanted to send ya'll a note and say all is good and things are working out

12/13
And great news, My manager got the news that a Full-Time position has been approved for me and another co-worker! Amen sister. The last hurdle is to exact the date this will go into effect. Maybe I am a fool, but I was so happy to hear the news, I volunteered to work the night before Christmas in exchange for having New Year's Eve off. No one likes to work Christmas Eve but between you and I, it is my way of giving thanks for this blessing. Hopefully soon, I will be able to aid your efforts. You may never know how much your friendship has had given me courage and support. You, Bonnie and Gary have helped, not only with the material gifts, but the combined moral support has truly moved me. Please take good care of yourself and your family. And never doubt how many lives you have touched with your pursuits.

12/1 I went to the pharmacy today and the discount card saved me at least 40%. This such a relief. I think last e-mail I told you I was working at little more, which is great. I stayed home 2 days when Adrianne was sick, and since I am PRN, I do not get paid. I am not complaining, just stating a fact. It is turning colder here, as it is all across the country. For us, the best part is a decrease in the humidity. Both of the kids read, a lot. Matthew reads Steven King, Adrianne likes Jane Austin, and I am hooked on Edith Wharton. I am sure I told you, Matt made the score for his college entrance. He may like books on spices and herbs. Adrianne also took the ACT and scored the same as Matt "21". She is junior and has not decided on any major, and wants to take the test again. So next year she will. She keeps journals, so a nice journal book is a nice idea. I hope I have given you some more information for the update. You have done so much already. Have a nice weekend.

11/5 Updated
I just finished working 2 nights shifts, 11p - 7a friday and 7p -7am saturday night. I feel quite loopy right now........lol. Just wanted to touch base with you. I check the "post" on real people relief from time to time. The blog is really interesting, and I hope the other families get some relief. I have been sorting though some of the multiple blog information and this organization has clothing for families. Anyway, I will try to call them tomorrow to see if they have any extra's for the kids. Well, I hope you and your family is good. We are hanging in there, and busy with the daily toils of school and studies. My work schedule has picked up to 3 days a week and there is still a GOOD chance of me going fulltime in the near future. Take care. Have a good weekend.

Beware of Scams

2007-03-24T20:23:00.000-05:00

3/26 I post this one day and the next, all of the families are getting emails.
I am posting every letter that has been sent to the families. It's an active email address since the person replies. I'm going to try to get with Yahoo to work on nailing whomever. I doubt it'll be successful since I'm guessing the person is not in this country, but we'll see.
First, if you get any of these emails, alert Yahoo at abuse@yahoo.com OK?

Just found out from Yahoo they can not investigate any real fraud or extorsion. I did a little more research and found you can report through an arm of the gov't. Please consider doing this.
https://complaint.ic3.gov/Default.aspx
Internet Crime Complaint Center
Even if you haven't become a victim, you can help others who HAVE.

#1 letter
From: Michelle Bill
Sent: Saturday, March 24, 2007 6:19:42 PM
Subject: Re; How May I Help In (HURRICANE KATRINA.)

I hope this letter may bring you some comfort in a moment where the circumstances of life are proving to be so cruel on you. You know, things not always go as well we would like them to, not always do we reach our destination by taking the easiest road. I know that stumbling on a stone along the way will not make you give up on your goals and aims. This letter is just to express something very simple: you¢re a great. I know that it¢s not a very pleasant experience the one you¢re going through right now and that¢s exactly why I¢m writing to you: to tell you¢ll always have my support, my affection and my friendship. And very shortly, you will smile upon the memory of such a difficult period of time in your life. Please let me know how I may help you.

Note: PLEASE I WANT A REPLY ONLY FROM THOSE WHO NEED HELP AND WHO LOST THEIR HOUSES IN A VICTIM OF HURRICANE KATRINA.

Michelle.

#2 Letter
From: Michelle Bill
Sent: Sunday, March 25, 2007 10:43:52 AM
Subject: How May I Help In (HURRICANE KATRINA.)

Hello

This suck me and i dont know what to say and what to do than to help but if i may ask you what exactly do you want to become in your life cause for me to help pay your bill cabt solve the whole of your problem......Please dont look at me like someone that talk too much which people call talkative and garulous but it just your words touch my heart and make me pissed off when i look at this world it will look like i shouldn't have come to this world but what are we going to do,are we going to blame god that created us into this earth or are we going to say why did he greated us.

Being the fact that you are looking for help why cant i introduce something better and something that can change your life totally for you than to look for people's help online and if you look at online contact,you will see that there are many people online who is using someone chance to gain one another by taken advantage of him or her but it is not their fault but poverty lead them to do what they are doing....LET FORGET ABOUT THAT IF I MAY ASK YOU? WHAT IS YOUR FULL NAME AND HOW COME THE WHOLE OF THE STORY HAPPEN TO YOU ONLY CAUSE IT IS TOO MUCH AND THAT IS WHY I DECIDED TO EMAIL YOU IN THE FIRST PLACE CAUSE WHEN I SAW YOUR POST AT THE WEBSITE,I READ IT AND READ IT ONCE AGAIN AND IT TOUCH MY HEART AND I DECIDED TO EMAIL YOU IF I COULD HELP THROHG FINANCIALLY BUT I WANTED TO DONATE THROUGH PAYPAL BUT I DONT USE THAT SINCE SOMEONE HACK MY BANK DETAILS AND GET SOME LOTS OF MONEY FROM MY ACCOUNT,I LATER CLOSED THE ACCOUNT.

I still need to give some orphanage home their needs and they have been emailing me but i told them that i cant help them this week only if they can wait till next week so that i can know whar to fo then.

Glad to read and hearing from you back as soon as possible.
Happy Weekend.

Michelle.

#3 Letter

Hmmmmm,........i go through your last email and i understand what you need and how you want your life to be changed totally not that you need any handout from anybody but if i get you well,is that you are looking for monetary term or if i get you better you need financial help as money itself....Anyway,it is a good idea from you and it help people to know your heart and what you need.Well i am ready to donate money to you but if will be by check cause i cant send money in cash to you and i will need your contact details to do this cause i still need to send money to the orphanage hone cause i always donate to them interms of their needs.
Get back with your full name,address and phone number for me to send out the check to you asap.

Michelle.

#4 Letter - Language changed....
i want you to know right now that when i saw your post at the website it really bit my heart but if i may ask you onething what exactly happen to you cause when i go through your message i really felt to help you out but there many people online who are not honest and trusthworthy cause later on when i help people online they later one **** me up because i use to donate to the orphanage home too and i always explained to those who i help out as a matter of fact i work for god and also clean the house of god that is the way god's bless me....What about you? did you normally go to chuech? and what is your belive in god?

I will be looking forward to read from you and more about your life history if you don't mind telling me alot about you and your family?

Michelle.

Be Alerted About Scams

It is a sad truth that sites like these are a hunting ground for scammers. There is nothing that can be done to prevent it as far as we know. If people who want to help you are to be able to contact you, then your information must be public and you become a target for others as well.

Postings as fairly desperate makes you a good target. Scammers are looking for people who may be desperate enough to not think things through or to take a chance thinking they have nothing left to lose. You need to be on your guard to make sure you aren't scammed.

Beware of anyone sending you a certified or cashier's check from which you are to send some money and keep the rest. Usually, this scam requires you to wire them money or to cut them a cashier's check too. When there's turns out to be a forgery, you'll be out the money. Your bank may tell you the check is good and make the money available but they won't fix it. This scam is also used to purchase items.

Third Parties.
Any time the person who wants to help you wants to have some third party mixed in the transaction, be nervous. Usually this will be someone who will give you a check that you will cash and forward for them to the scammer, but there are other variations.

Titles:
Many scammers claim to be Doctors, Lawyers, Attornies, Barristers, Professors, Reverends or Pastors. They use these titles to help convince you to trust them.

*I know we can't live in protective shell and be scared all the time. But we can be informed and have open eyes to the reality*.

God Bless You All.
Sweet_granny (who mostly lives in The Library!)

About The Moderator

2007-03-07T18:54:00.000-05:00

Condensing 40 years into 1 page is going to be a challenge. If I can do this, I should work for Reader's Digest.

Anyway, I'm 41, divorced, no kids.

Born and raised in NYS (NOT NYC) with a gypsy nature, moving every 14 months since I was 20.

I've worked in construction, healthcare, about 3 different service sectors, management and self-employment.

I have degrees in Paramedic, Health Science and Herbalism.

I prefer reading professional journals and resource type items to fiction or "joy" reading.

I have roots back to the Mayflower and the American Revolution (different sides of the family). I'm a 4th generation (at least 4th) quilter, 3rd Gen volunteer, 3rd Gen entrepreneur (on both sides) and a 5th Gen (at least) gardner.

I've lived in my car and in a 2000 sq foot house and everything in between.

I am a problem solver, a researcher and a networker.

I am also disabled. 5 years ago, I was fighting chronic sinusitis, awaiting surgery, when a virus attacked the nerves in my right ear. I can still hear, but my balance is forever screwed up. Both rehab and experts agree that either my brain will rewire or it won't.

So I live with my parents, unable to support myself financially, or even physically. Daily life is a challenge. I've improved so much, but am still so far from being able to work again. It's frustrating beyond words.

However, even if I can't recover, that doesn't mean others shouldn't be able to. So ever since The Storms of '05, I have worked every day at finding ways to help both individuals and volunteers get the help they need to speed the recovery efforts. I may not be able to come down and get my hands dirty, but I can make it so more people can.

I focused my efforts on Hancock County, MS to begin with, and remain dedicated to their rebuilding. But, as things flow more smoothly for the volunteer groups, I am now focusing my attention on the individuals who have fallen through the cracks of "organized relief".

And that, is it. That's my story.

How To Help

2007-03-07T16:23:00.000-05:00

Contact Leslie at: KatrinaCoalition@aol.com

Thank you for finding Real People Relief. It is a site that accepts nothing on behalf of those whos information is listed here. It is not an organization with not-for-profit status, but the efforts of a few people to make available help to those who have fallen through the cracks of hurricane relief.

1/23 Another option:
One thing that seems to be working with several of us - pick an item that you wish to give, and give that to one family per month. One gives bakeware. I give general items that I can make or already have. Another gives gift cards. Yet another gives dishes. If you would like to become part of this effort, please let me know. It seems to be working incredibly well.
L

Both the recipients and the givers must be discerning in who they choose to communicate with. The recipients are vetted as much as possible, but nothing is ever certain. Since no real contact with the givers is expected, there is no way to vet them.

A trend that is anecdotal only shows it takes 20-50 people to help 1 fully recover. This is true on any level - be it family, church, municipality, office, business, etc. And while this may sound overwhelming, it is a situation where just 1 person can make the whole difference for another person's life.

Consistency is the key with helping. Even if you can only help a little each month, that's fine. $5 is toilet paper! A one-time-only gift is always welcomed, but the emotional and spiritual benefit from establishing a longer term arrangement will reward all of those involved equally. I speak from experience!

I strongly urge you to get a group of people together and assist as a group. But if you'd rather remain singular in the effort, that's wonderful too. However best fits your style.
I also urge you to print this post during the shopping season and post it everywhere they let you! Right click to save the poster and then print out on your color printer. It's sized to fit normal pages.

If you give used items, please make sure the items are clean, stain free, undamaged and fully working. The last thing these folks need is to get items that need discarding. And why waste the postage on something that doesn't work?

When you do send items on their lists, please try to work within the preferences they have listed. It helps them return to some sense of normalcy.

You will need to contact the person by email in order to send them anything. Absolutely no addresses will be put on this site unless the family/person/couple is working with and through a volunteer agency.

Again, thank you for choosing to help. Relief work is incredibly rewarding and is so needed, both locally and abroad. I've chosen to help those in my country. Others choose to help in other parts of the world. What you choose will help someone no matter what. You will never know the full impact of your generosity - for it will reach further than you can ever imagine.

Terry G

2007-01-05T17:33:00.000-05:00

Terry & Hamilton G

Email: terry_guenard@co.hancock.ms.us

Reside: - Waveland MS

Situation: My husband and I stayed home in Waveland for Hurricane Katrina. We felt we were in a safe place, is the reason we stayed. We were supposed to have my mother and a couple from our Church stay with us, but they changed their minds on Sunday (thank goodness) and stayed elsewhere. I was drinking coffee very early Monday morning (Aug.29th) and looking out the window at the wind, as it was unbelievable.
All of a sudden I saw water coming down the road very fast. I yelled at my husband that water was coming down the road, and we frantically started putting things up off the floor, up on the snack bar. I kept running to the window to look out, and I couldn't believe what I saw, 3 to 4 feet of water all around our house, but no water in the house.
We just finished a 3 year project building our home ourselves, and finished it only months before the storm. He ran into the hallway and pulled down the attic ladder. I (who suffers with claustrophobia) said no way-I can't go in the attic.
He yelled at me to get away from the back door, as it started to bulge in around the bottom half. Just as I ran into the hall, the back door blew off completely and the water (which was about 4 to 5 feet now) slammed into the house, knocking the refrigerator (full of food) across the room like it was a toothpick.
As I was running up the attic ladder the water was hitting me in the back. I couldn't believe my eyes as we got up in the attic, the water was already in the opening of the attic and coming in. The sounds of our entire home coming apart was a sound I will never forget.
We could hear the kitchen cabinets falling down with all the dishes, and all the shelves tearing away from the walls. Everything was floating by, as we were now in over 8 feet of water and black mud. I started to cry uncontrollably and we started to pray. We were trapped in, and the water was still coming. The sounds of the wind and trees falling, and large objects hitting the house, I just knew the house was going to collapse on us. I prayed with all my heart and soul for God to be with us, and help protect us, and save us from drowning.
I wanted to get out of the attic so bad, but knew we could not. This lasted 5 to 6 hours before the water even started to go down. By the Grace of God we did not drown and the house did not collapse.It took 20 minutes to crawl out of our home over piles of stuff covered with mud - we didn't even know what we were crawling over. I didn't even have any shoes on when I ran up to the attic.
So, coming down I realized I could not walk through 2 feet of mud, glass, broken everything. I tied cloths around my feet and got outside. We just stood there looking around, but the wind was still so strong it would knock you down.
Then came the hardest part, trying to survive outside with no water, no food, no clothes, no place to lay down, and it was going to be dark soon. My husband said we had to go back in the attic when it got dark, because there was no other place, and I said I cannot go back in the attic.
I laid outside in the driveway, with complete darkness everywhere. No sounds, no bugs, no crickets, no birds, no sound at all from anywhere. I thought everybody has to know this happened, and someone has to be coming soon. Both our cars were gone, everything was gone, and nobody came.
Day after day in 100 degrees, nobody came, and we couldn't get out. We caught rainwater in anything we could find to drink. We went to the bathroom in the woods, and we were both full of sweat and mud from head to toe. After about 6 days, a friend of ours walked from Highway 90 down Waveland Avenue to our home (about ¼ of a mile). It took her almost 2 hours to walk that far, but she did because she knew we stayed home. She brought 4 bottles of water and some potato chips with her. We didn't even say hello, just grabbed the water from her and drank it in 5 seconds.
After another week, and after they cleared the road enough to get 4 wheelers in, we had other friends show up with ice chest, water and some food. The heat was unbearable at that time.We couldn't even try to save anything, as we had no running water, and no way to try to clean off anything. Everything was caked with black mud all over it, and then mold on top of that. The odor was unbearable.
Eventually some people came to help start pulling things out of the house. This was probably 2 to 3 months afterwards, and nothing could be saved. It was heartbreaking to see everything you ever owned thrown out in a pile, and the house torn apart, and the cars gone. We had a studio my husband built behind our house, and it was his art studio. He lost all his tools, which took a lifetime to acquire, and the studio (workshop) had 9 feet of water and mud.
We got a FEMA trailer, and it was put in our driveway. We are still in a FEMA trailer. We got help to gut our home, but the work is never ending it seems. We tried to do all the work ourselves, but it has been so hard. My husband was sick to his stomach every time we started working on the house, as we were tearing down everything that was left, everything he had just finished building with love and care. It just about killed him, and depression has seemed to take him over.
We have tried to get more help. We only want to get our home back livable.We just want some type of normal. My work place was destroyed also, so everything in our lives has changed completely. After we gutted our home, we had some help from a Lutheran Church in Texas. They brought us some sheetrock, and help put most of it up, but not all of it. We still have to put in a bathtub and finish the sheetrock in the bathroom. But, we ran out of money. We need sheetrock finishing/taping, painting, bathroom sinks and cabinets, floor molding, and kitchen cabinets. I believe that would get most of our home back in some type of order (and livable).
We also had a wood privacy fence around our home that my husband put up by himself one board at a time, and it took him months. The fence was all broken and on the ground, and we took it apart piece by piece, and took out the nails, and stacked the wood trying to save what pieces we could.
Any help you could give us to get our home livable, we would appreciate more than you will ever know. It is just me and my husband, as our son is in college in Indiana.

Help received so far: FEMA, Foodstamps, (SBA turned us down), Lutheran Church of the Pines-Waveland, Salvation Army

Any help you could give us to help us get our home back livable, would be a BLESSING to us. We just want to have our home again and be able to live in it.

Thanks be to people who care about and help people they don’t even know

Julie S

2006-12-23T22:16:00.000-05:00

Julie S; Angelina
Email - JULIEAS644@YAHOO.COM
Location- was in Violet LA, Now in Picayune MS, hope to be back in Violet.
Number in Household - 2- Julie, 42, Angelina, 67
Situation: We have been through so much because we lost my baby brother to The Storm as well as our beloved pets, home, belongings.
Current Living Arrangement - FEMA Trailer for last year.
Help Thus Far - small donations from people of clothes, items, etc.

Needs
Food - any nonperishable would be great
Clothes - anything in Large or XL is fine.
Household Items: Blankets, Quilts, appliances (small obviously), furniture for when we get another place to stay.
Housing: Information on lower cost rental places in Picayune, St Bernards, Jerfferson Parishes, Westbank - but will consider anywhere along the coast in LA and MS.

Barbara V

2006-12-23T22:02:00.000-05:00

Barbara V; Terry, Stacy, Misty, TJ, Amber, Brianna, Brooklyn

Email: - bgvis115@yahoo.com

Location: - Petal MS

Number in Household: 8 - myself 54, Terry my son 35, Stacy my daughter 19, Misty my daughter 13, TJ my grandson 4, Amber my granddaughter 12, Brianna my granddaughter 3, Brooklyn my granddaughter 1 month

Situation: My son had a car wreck after Katrina and shattered his femur in 8 places. He is unable to work and has no income so he and his two children moved in with me.
Then my daughter Stacy had a high risk pregnacy and moved in with me with her two children. She has since had the baby but has not been able to go back to work.
So I am the only one able to work. This has caused me to have severe problems trying to maintain everything and keep basics in the house.

Current Living Arrangements: -House

Help: - Katrinas Angels, FEMA, Salvation Army when my daughter was in the hospital.

Needs:
Foods - Any non-perishable - baby food. We're not too fussy
Paper Products - Any of these things - and Diapers!
School Supplies: notebooks, pens, pencils,
Cleaning Supplies - Laundry soap (powder), Dishwashing liquid, ammonia
Household Supplies - light bulbs, Trash Bags, baby wipes
Clothing - Infant Clothing on up.
Stores you shop at- I shop at walmart, county market

12/28
I want to thank everyone who helped make christmas special for the following families
barbara v
francis p
margaret w
joann h
Because of the many generous angels all the children had a wonderful christmas.
thank you and may you all have a wonderful new year
barbara

Anna

2006-12-12T11:59:00.000-05:00

Anna Hatch; Brittany L, Austin L

Email: annahatch@bellsouth.net

Location: - Vancleave MS before Katrina and now.

Number in Household: Anna, Female, 32; Brittany, Female, 14; Austin, Male, 12
Gucci, Female, (my little chihuahua); Milenko, Male, (the Ball Python) and Sasha, Female, (My BIG Golden Retriever who was left here after Katrina - and her owner never came back for her! So, I took her in!)
Situation: – We evacuated right before Katrina. They brought us a FEMA trailer last winter right before the first real cold spell.. and it was nice to have heat... but they took it several months ago.. so now we are back in our home.. and back to extra blankets and really quick showers!! brrr In a year I hope to be 1/2 way to a degree in Biotechnology and have the repairs we need taken care of!

I am a single mother of 2 who has never been able to collect child support.. so you can imagine how i struggle in even the most normal circumstances! I live on the Mississippi Gulf Coast - We evacuated right before Katrina - to my Dad's house in Alabama.. not knowing for weeks if I even had a home to go back to! Luckily, I did.. along with the damages Katrina brought! I STILL don't have heat.. and have bad electrical problems!

We came home 6 weeks after Katrina - and started trying to put our lives back together.. but it's been one thing or another ever since!!
I have Fibromyalgia and Rheumatoid Arthritis... even at the age of 32 - which it makes it even harder!
I lost my job... and had to get another with MUCH lower pay and NO benefits.. have had car problems.. had our home phone shut off several times in the past year... and ALMOST had electricity turned off a couple of months! Bill collectors calling and all I can do is tell everyone I need more time! Not to mention the kids had to deal with whatever I was able to afford when their birthdays came around.. (which wasn't much, but they didn't ever show their disappointment! They know what I have been going through!)
2 months ago I found out my Dad had cancer again (for the 3rd time) and there was nothing else to do because it had spread all over! So I borrowed the money to get there... and he passed away less than a week after I got there! When I came home, I had to deal with the loss of my father as well as the bills and things (which I was now another week behind on due to leaving town.. and the money I borrowed to go up there!)
About 5 weeks later, I got the call that My Brother died while he was working offshore... and when my Mother heard the news.. she had to be rushed to the ER with chest pains! They said it was a minor heart attack! So we buried him last weekend and now - here I am again in an even worse situation... Grieving... with bill collectors down my throat!
And struggling just to keep the lights on and the necessities taken care of for the kids! I don't like asking for help... but maybe that's what it will take to chase away my Personal little Black Cloud that's been hanging around! Now it's Xmas.. and there aren't any presents under the tree! And I have already talked to the kids about not expecting much! They are great kids! Never hear them complain! Even though I know it has to bother them!!
I have applied for assistance through FEMA and Red Cross... I got the kids "adopted" on a website last Christmas.. which was very nice for that family to do for us!
Thank you for your time reading this.. and Merry Christmas to you all!
~ Anna, Britt & Austin
Current Living Arrangements: Living back in our damaged house, with no heat, since they took our FEMA trailer!
Help: The FEMA payments they gave to everyone else and a trailer until spring. I accepted food and basic household items from a couple of local churches in my area!
Needs:
Foods – canned or boxed foods (ex. hamburger helper, rice, cake mix, mac and cheese, potatoes etc.)
Paper Products – Napkins, Toilet Paper, Paper Towels, Paper Plates etc.
School Supplies – notebooks, pens, pencils, folders, calculators etc.
Computer Supplies – Paper, Printer, maybe a spare used computer that I could use for my Online Classes coming up!
Cleaning Supplies – All Cleaning Supplies, Dishwashing liquid, Laundry detergent, Sponges etc.
Household Supplies – light bulbs, trash bags, utensils, kitchen supplies (pans, pots, etc.)

Clothing –
Anna (32) <> Pants - Size 9/10 or Medium..<> Shirts - Medium..<> Jacket - Medium..<> Shoes - 7 {My favorite color is White.. and I dress in about the same style as my daughter.. fun and casual.. not very dressy unless it's a special occassion!)

Brittany (14) <> Pants - Size 1/ 2 or Small <> Shirts - Small <> Jacket - Small <> Shoes 6 to 6 1/2 (Britt's favorite color is probably blue. She likes what she calls "PREPPY" stuff {American Eagle & Aeropostale}And LOVES anything to do with music)
Austin (12) <> Pants - Size 14 Husky (Some 16's fit too) <> Shirts - Large/ XL Youth or Adult Small <> Jacket - L/XL Youth or Adult Small <> Shoes - Men's 6 1/2
(Austin's favorite color is Green.. He likes the whole "Skater" look! and he LOVES Video and computer games)

(The kids have to wear uniforms to school - Khaki or Navy Blue Pants, Any Shade of Blue Polo or Button Up Shirts, White, or Gold/ Yellow Shirts.. Black or brown belts, any shoes and any jackets they choose)

Stores you shop at – Old Navy, Aeropostale, American Eagle, Walmart, Best Buy, Fashion Bug, Body Central, Wet Seal,

Jerry

2006-12-11T19:33:00.000-05:00

Jerry; Carol, David, Aaron, Devin, Dalton, Samantha; A Puppy

email: emsjunkie2001@yahoo.com
Location: - before the storm we were in biloxi , ms...now we are the next town over in ocean springs, ms...its the only place we could could find a house to rent so that we could bring our kids back here in time for the opening of the schools. this time next year??? it was day by day...now its month by month....we'll see about next year when it gets here. we hope to be back in biloxi somewhere on high ground.

Number in Household: 8 - jerry 42, carol 35, david 19, aaron 16, devin 14, dalton 11, samantha 7, and 1 puppy.
Situation: – we lost our house and everything in it. my wife took the kids and went to north mississippi the day before and i stayed untill i had to swim out. fema has helped some and the red cross. with that we were able to put together this hosehold and clothes, school supplies and things and get back to living.
Current Living Arrangements: - we are in a rental house that is costing us about 3.5 times more than what we were paying before.

Help: - fema
Needs:
christmas help for gifts for kids: ps2 games, bratz dolls, cd's, dvd's, fishing stuff
Foods – non-perishable only
Paper Products – Napkins, Toilet Paper, Paper Towels, etc.
School Supplies – notebooks, pens, pencils, folders, etc.
Cleaning Supplies – Windex, Dishwashing liquid, Laundry detergent, etc.
Stores you shop at wal-mart, kmart, sears, pennys

Linda M

2006-12-11T18:44:00.000-05:00

Linda M; Zecharia, Zenea, Julion, Jared, Anthony, Aryanna

email: justmeandmykidsnva@yahoo.com or lookinatascreen@aol.com .
Location: Virginia Beach VA

Situation: I am currently staying in VA Beach VA. I moved here from Long Beach MS after Katrina and March of 06 my husband divorced me making it even harder. I am currently staying with my sister in a 3 bedroom house with 6 children. I have not recieved any help from FEMA since Feb and this is why I'm with my sister. I cannot afford rent here, but her husband told me I have to be out by Jan 15.
If someone could please help me with a house ANYWHERE!!! I just dont want to risk losing my kids if he really does kick us out. I have tried to get help from all over up here there is nothing anyone will do. My church helps the little they can but I go to a small church and they do the best they can.
NEEDS:
I would also like help with Christmas for the kids. They arent picky anything will do. They are ages 12 (zechariah) clothes size 20 husky in boys, girl age 9 (Zenea) size 10 in girls, boy age 7 (Julion) size 7 in clothes, boy age 5 (Jared) size 5 in clothes, boy age 2 (Anthony) size 3t in clothes, and a girl age 4 mths (Aryanna)size 6-9 mths in clothes.

ANYTHING would help. But all they ask for is a house everyday. My 5 yr old sees the signs for the lottery and is like mommy when i win a million dollars I'm buying us a house. They tell me everyday they just want thier own house. We share 2 bedrooms between the 7 of us. PLEASE PLEASE someone help them get a house we can call home again. Some days I feel like a failure as a mom because I dont have my own house. I can afford rent not much but I can some. Thank you very much for listening to me

Metairie DRC Closing 12/22

2006-12-09T17:30:00.000-05:00

Disaster Recovery Center in Metairie Closes December 22
Release Date: December 8, 2006
Release Number: 1603-581 http://www.fema.gov/news/event.fema?id=4808
NEW ORLEANS, La. -- One of the three remaining Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in the New Orleans (Metairie) area will close on Friday, December 22, 2006, the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency announced today. The DRC will not re-open.
Those area residents who have been visiting the Metairie DRC location can secure assistance at the New Orleans Library DRC location at 219 Loyola or the Jefferson Parish DRC at 15 Westbank Shopping Center, Gretna, La. 70053. Representatives of state, federal and voluntary agencies and customer service representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration have been on hand to answer questions and provide recovery information to DRC visitors. Written materials about various state and federal programs were available to individuals and business owners.
FEMA's temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, an applicant must complete an SBA loan application to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

Christine

2006-12-09T17:05:00.000-05:00

Christine B; Daughter
Email: - house_mouses_mom_1996@yahoo.com
Location: - now Illionis to be ahead for once
Situation: – left abusive relation ship, just struggling single mom looking for my daughter to have a nice christmas
Current Living Arrangements: - trailer not FEMA
Help: - just food stamps and medical - missed all the deadlines for christmas help due to work and counceling apts
Needs:
winter clothes - jeans size 10 junior for my daughter and medium tops
Paper Products – Napkins, Toilet Paper, Paper Towels, etc.
School Supplies – notebooks, pens, pencils, folders, etc.
Cleaning Supplies – Windex, Dishwashing liquid, Laundry detergent, etc.
Household Supplies – towels for bathing, light bulbs,
Stores you shop at – walmart, target

12/14
my daughter has still not been adopted for christmas. but we are stillhopping for an angel to come. we finally found out why our gas billswere so high we had a gas leak and so now our bills should go down i hope.hugs chris

Pat

2006-12-09T13:27:00.000-05:00

PAT W-F
Email: - RITSARTIST@AOL.COM
Location: - where you were; Waveland, Bay St. Louis
where you are; Bay St. Louis
where you plan to be in a year: Bay St. Louis, Waveland
Number in Household: - 1
Situation: I lost my home and my studio.
Current Living Arrangements: - Have been in an RV for a year+, but hope to be in the a house soon.
Help: - I have had help with art supplies, and a grant from Joan Mitchell?
Photos: http://patwalker-fields.com
Needs: New gallery markets...
2200 Epson Printer

Melissa

2006-12-09T13:04:00.000-05:00

Melissa H; Emiley
Email: mhc5477@yahoo.com
Location: I was in Louisiana and am now in Florida. I'm not sure where I will be in a year. I'm hoping that the rent will go down in Louisiana so that I can return and be closer to my family instead of being here in Florida where I'm a stranger and know nobody.
Number in Household: Melissa - 29, Emiley - 12

Situation: Right after the hurricane, my daughter and I lived in a shelter for a month unable to return to Louisiana. The shelter closed and we moved into a hotel and lived there for 2 and a half months. I finally found the place that I am in now (in FL).
Since being here, have been unable to find steady employment. The first job I had was temporary and then I was out of work for 2 months while trying to find another job. Money got tight because I don't live in town and I couldn't afford to keep running to town everyday to look for a job and going to interviews. I have since bounced from job to job.
My car isn't all that reliable and I don't live close to town. The tires aren't good on it either and so I'm often buying used tires as replacements. When it comes to my bills, I get an extention on one bill so I can pay another and this is how it is every month, but I always make sure my rent is paid. I'm currently working part-time for 2 reasons, one because it's money and two because at the time it was all I could find.
My daughter receives SSI and we use that to help make ends meet when I can't. I'm still fighting with FEMA for my personal property loss - that's a joke! Trying to get any help from them for rental assistance is like getting teeth pulled because they want things from me that I cannot provide to them, so that's a lost cause. They found me inelligible for assistance - I give up! I will look elsewhere for help.
Current Living Arrangement: I'm currently renting a mobile home about 16+ miles from town.
Help: none, i didn't know there was any out there really.
Needs:
Foods: not picky, whatever
Paper Products: Quilted Nothern TP, Scott Paper Towels
Cleaning Supplies: Palmolive Dishwashing liquid, Tide Cold laundry detergent
Household Supplies: I would like a nice set of kitchen knives, something that actually cuts instead of having to use scissors, lol.
Clothing: I would prefer giftcards to shop for clothing, shoes, etc.
Stores you shop at: We have a walmart and a kmart

Last year my daughter and I didn't celebrate her birthday or Christmas due to our circumstances. I would like to be able to celebrate this year. I used to be able to take her to the mall to go shopping and since the hurricane haven't been able to do that. I'd love to be able to take her to the stores she used to shop in such as American Eagle, Old Navy, Bath & Body Works, etc.
I used to work fulltime, I had a good job and went to school. But since losing everything and having to move I haven't been back to school and certainly haven't been able to find a job, not a job making what I was before. I would just like for this birthday and Christmas to feel "normal" and not be as depressing and disappointing as it was last year.
If I could sit here and make a list off the top my head of the things I need the most it would be a giftcard to walmart for gas in my car so I can go find a better job, tires for my car so i don't have to worry about getting back and forth and stop wasting money buying used ones, giftcards so we can get some new clothes, shoes, coats and things of that nature, giftcards to buy bedding - cause I would love to go buy bedding for the both of us that actually matches, isn't faded and doesn't have holes in it somewhere.

Chanda L

2006-12-03T22:22:00.000-05:00

Chanda LaVigne; David, Blake, Elijah
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smyCZhL4BRU
http://www.realitycharity.com/Chanda/
http://www.rousekennels.com/
Email: - lavignechanda@yahoo.com
Location: - Our destroyed address was Longbeach,Ms. We are now at Picayune,MS. In a year we hope to have a home built on our land which is in Picayune

We have lots of plans for the future but lack of money has got us at a stand still
Number in Household: - Chanda 31 female,David age 57 male, Blake age 12 male,Elijah age 3 male.

We raise American Pit Bull dogs and have too many to list,that is one thing I have recently started doing to make money and just had our first litter,which will be ready for sale in time for Christmas.
If we can sell the pups we want to put the money towards lumber.
Situation: nearly 2 weeks after Katrina we were finally allowed south of the tracks to see what we had left - there was nothing and it went on for miles and miles.We slept in the back of my fiance's truck whereever we could find to park and bathed in the creek and when we went back to the apt. for the first time, a friend told us of a school/redcross shelter where we could sleep in the truck and be safe, get plenty of food and ice. We slept in our truck on their grounds for a week or so and they got us a huge tent and then we moved into a fema camper park, where we lived until a few months ago.
We are now in another fema camper in my grandpa's yard.
Current Living Arrangements: - FEMA camper
Help: - FEMA, Red Cross
My fiance is disabled and I am self employed selling at fleamarkets and online but lost thousands of dollars wurth of inventory in the apartment that fema wouldn't even reconize and had just bought a new computer a few weeks before,this time I bought a laptop so it can go with me if we have to evacuate,I just got internet service a few months ago for the first time since the storm and most people here still dont have it.
I have not gotten any help this year but I just met a lady from Atlanta who is going to bring me all things to cook Christmas dinner.
Needs:
To be honest the most important thing that we need is building materials but you dont have to post that, I know that is a little much to ask for but we do need some cloths and bedding sheets and blankets
School Supplies - My 12 year old needs some uniforms,tan pants and white or navy shirts.Size 30x28 pants and large 18/20 shirts
Household Supplies Queen and Twin Sheets and blankets and some pillows, our pillows are old handmedowns
Clothing
ELI age 3 wears size 4t pants and 5t shirts and 10 shoes
BLAKE age 12 wears 30x28 or 30x29 pants and large shirts and 71/2 shoes. He needs some school tan pants and white or navy shirts and some boxer underwear and socks.
DAVID age 57 wears nothing but jeans and tshirts 40x30 jeans and XLshirts
CHANDA age 31 wears nothing but jeans and tshirts size 14 jeans & Lg shirts
(Side Note - Chanda is also surveying the FEMAville she just moved from for needs - I don't have what she wrote, but their situation is extremely dire. Very little heat - no one can afford propane, many elderly and small children - I think it's incredible that she thinks of them before herself - I met her when she wrote for help for THEM)

6/17 http://www.realitycharity.com/Chanda/
Blueberries For Sale
Hello All,
I Hope everyone is doing good and getting by Ok.I know things get tough sometimes for Katrina volunteers and survivors but just hang in there,things will get better in time.I will keep all of you guys in my prayers.God Bless You & your famlies....
I would like to tell everyone that I have fresh picked Blueberries for sale,please see the attached picture of them.Im going to pick again in the morning and dont have any orders to fill.Any orders will be picked fresh from the tree.Please call or email me if you would like to place an order.
I can deliver them to some places if needed for a few extra bucks.I can also ship them,email me the address for shipping price.
They are $5.50 per 1/2 gallon or $10.00 per gallon.
They are big and so sweet and we have not used any chemicals on the trees since we bought the farm a few months ago.It has not been farmed in at least 5 years.So I guess they are organic berries.

Pit Bull Pups For Sale
Please see our website for pictures http://www.rousekennels.com/.
We have them marked down to $250.00 OBO 5 left

2/23
We are actually considering going ahead and moving to the land we bought without the utilities or having it cleared. We are having a hard time making it in this FEMA park (the manager hates fema residents and harrases us). I'm seperated from my 12 year old son because his school district is in Hancock and FEMA moved us to Pearl River, he is staying with my mother. We have an old RV and a few generators and think we can make do until we can afford to get the utilities and get it cleared. Wish us luck!

1/14
Our fema camper is leaky and very moldy, it's getting worse everyday.There is black mold around almost every window and who knows whats behind the walls.Our family has a headache everyday and our eyes are burning and other sinus and breathing problems,it is the travel trailer,so its a little space anyways.
The day we found it leaking, our inspector happened to come by, we reported it to her a few days after Christmas, they never came so I then called them 3 times since monday the first time they said someone would come in 6-48 hours, the second time she said all she can do is call the contractor and the last time I finally got a lady that said she would put in on emergency status.
I then called a different FEMA number to ask about rental assistance, they said the only way is if we have medical documentation that the camper is making us sick, so I can take my 12 year old to the doctor on medicaid but that will be next week.
But then there's not too many rentals in this area. So until they come out here and see for themselves,we dont know what to do except wait. We can't afford a hotel room and just don't have anywhere to go.
I'm really concerned about the long term effects this may have on our health.I'm hoping FEMA will show up soon. I can't believe people are having to live like this. This is crazy,they should have this mess more organized by now.

1/8
Our fema camper has started leaking and its tricky,it comes from behind the walls and under the floors and cabinets,not to mention the windows. After the last few days of bad weather,I have found all kind of things soaking wet,I mean its 8 x 30 and theres 2 adults and 2 kids so things are packed in here pretty tight, against some of the windows on the bunks and on the floors next the wall.Well theres no telling what kind of mold is behind the walls, I moved everything that I thought would get wet but it leaked in totally different places this time than it did last time,I can smell mold it in the cabinets.

We are buying a piece of property and will be moving an old 6x15 motor home there.The land needs a lot of clearing and doesent have the electric,water or septic.We are also in need of building materials. My fiance is disabled but says he can do the work himself but I would really love to get us some help. He is retired/disabled fireman of 18 years.

1/4 - A video narration of her story:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smyCZhL4BRU

Yvonne T

2006-12-02T20:57:00.000-05:00

Yvonne T; Tim; Abbey

Email: yvonnemtillman@yahoo.com

Location: Bay St Louis, MS

Number in Household: 3 Yvonne, Tim and our dog Abbey

Situation: Timmy is/was a shrimper, so we decided to go upriver on the boat to ride the storm out. Little did we know it changed course and we were right in the middle of it. Our house is on a bayou that has never taken on water before. The house had water up to the roofline - and it's already elevated!
It took over 6 months to get someone to assist with the gutting and rebuilding, but we are ever so slowly getting there. I am disabled with back troubles and now hereditary knee troubles, so can't work or help with the house.
Timmy is working in a ship yard now as fuel costs are too high, no ice companies are available and no packers around anymore to make shrimping anything more than a hobby. The gov't hasn't come through for non-immigrant shrimpers, so we have no recovery money there.

Current Living Arrangements: FEMA Trailer

Help: Very little from FEMA, a whole lot from Lagniappe Presbyterian Church!

Needs:
Wheel Chair Lift - it is getting increasingly difficult to get up the stairs to the living area of the house. I use a wheel chair more as time goes on (until surgery is a must), and would like to have the lift for when I can't make it up the stairs anymore.
Tools: Tim lost all of his tools, and would like to have new ones to keep working on the house as well as to be more useful at work.
Furniture: - We lost it all and will have nothing to move into the house with once the house is complete because all our money has been going to building supplies - and that's a slow go due to prices down here! 12/9 The address of Rooms To Go is 429 Pass Rd. Gulfport, Ms. 39507. Phone # (228)864-2462 (if you want to help furnish the house)
Cabinet Hardware - We got new cabinets, but they didn't come with the hardware and WOW that stuff is expensive! Just normal pulls and hinges. Nothing fancy.

Sweater for Abbey - We're getting frosts now and it's just too cold for such a little girl.

Stores you shop at: Walmart is about the only thing in town.

3/25 We finally moved into the house and it looks great! Still alot of work to do, but it can be done living in it. I'm going to get the pictures developed next week and will try to download them so you all can enjoy the fruits of your hard labor. We just can't thank all of you for your work you helped us with and invite everyone one of you to come visit whenever you can or want.
Again, thank you, Love, Tim, Yvonne and Abbey Tillman

2/13
The hard work finally paid off, and 2 days ago we moved back in. There's still odds and ends to do and fix, but at least I'M HOME. It's been such a long haul, and without the volunteers, God only knows how far we'd be. I'm trying to find the disc to download pictures from my camera, and when I do, I'll send them on to you. We're going to get a TV and bedroom set tomorrow, everything is still in a turmoil but I'll be able to organize as soon as I get some dressers, closet poles, etc. Can 't wait to send out the pictures to everyone who has helped and been there emotionally .

1/17
Sooooooo sorry that I haven't been in contact for awhile, but we've been really busy with the house. All the siding is up except for the roof of the deck. The flooring is all in except for the carpet in the 2 bedrooms. I have all the appliances except for a washer/dryer and microwave. I don't have any furniture, except for a table and chairs and box spring and mattress. Most of the doors are up in the house, except for 1 closet door which is an odd size and needed to be ordered. Lagniappe stepped up to the plate with labor to help us get this far. I ran into Pastor Bonnie a couple weeks ago and she said if I needed furniture to call her, so I did and left 3 messages and went up there 2 times, but never got a response. Hope she hasn't had a relapse. I'm waiting for the counter-tops to come in, which should have been in last Mon. but now says it will be today or tomorrow. Hope so, because then Tim can hook up the sinks, shower, and tub.

Angel Y

2006-11-29T14:16:00.000-05:00

Angel Y; Willard, Misty, Shalee, Katlyn, Christopher; Pepper, BabyGirl

Email: luvcub@earthlink.net

Location: I was in Gulfport Ms,1 mile from the ocean front, I am now in Apache Junction,Az. Hope to be living out of Az with in the next year.

Number in Household: Willard 44, Angel 43, Misty 27, Shalee 10, Katlyn 8, Christopher 5
PETS Pepper,7 yr old pekingese; Baby Girl cat 4 yrs old

Situation - Lost everything in Katrina,uprooted and moved 2000 miles away,suffered thru 2 suicides, Husband still suffering thru illnesses from Katrina.

Living Arrangements: we live with my daughter, all of us in a 2 bedroom apt.

Help Received: FEMA, I get Medicaid.

Needs:
Foods – Holiday Food For Christmas
Paper Products – Napkins, Toilet Paper, Paper Towels.
School Supplies –2 girls school back packs ,notebooks,crayons,folders.
Clothing – Listed below
Cleaning Supplies – Windex, Dishwashing liquid, Laundry detergent, etc.
Household Supplies –queen sized fitted sheets (flannel if possible) , glasses, silverware, bath towels-dish towels, dishcloths, pots, pans, mixing bowls, throw rugs
Stores I shop at: Frys grocery store,and walmart.

Angel-size 18 in elastic waist jeans,1X in tee shirts-xlg in long night gowns,size 9 in tennis shoes. Need socks.

Willard-size 34x33 in jeans,xlg in tee shirts,needs work boots size 10-needs socks.

Misty - Needs jeans size 10-11,size med in tops, size 6 1/2 in tennis shoe. Likes necklaces also-sterling silver. Sand and sable perfume and Liz Claiborne

Shalee , age 9 will be 10 in Jan
Needs all kinds of clothing, jeans size 8 or small 10,likes designs on the jeans, wears 10 in tops, loves bratz, Dr. Suess, adores jewelry. Needs nightgowns, panties, socks, and tennis shoes size 1 1/2 or 2. Loves board games, play makeup. Likes perfumes also.

Katlyn age 8-Katy needs all kinds of clothing, outfits, jeans, tops, all in a size 5,she needs cute little belts to hold her britches up, she likes bratz and care bears, strawberry shortcake, loves necklaces and perfume, loves baby dolls and stuffed teddy bears, wears size 11 1/2 in tennis shoes, doesnt like pink in color, needs panties, socks, and night gowns.

Little Christopher age 5 yrs.
He wears a 4 T in all clothing, needs outfits, jeans, underware, and shirts, and needs Pjs.
Loves all monster trucks that make sounds, and adores super man, batman, hulk, shrek, all those super hero guys, and loves sponge bob.
His favorite color is red.

Update 12/4
Sorry I havent emailed you, but I have had terrible toothache in 2 teeth, nasty infection, getting them pulled on Thurs.
You did a nice job on the blog sheet with our information,but I have a question,what is the chances of anyone reading our blog? I have been on blogs before,and no one ever viewed it or helped in any way. Im worried about christmas,and wonder about the chances of our family finding anyone to adopt us.

12/9

Dear Mr.Santa
We lived threw a terrible storm,but then we had to move 2000 ,miles away,just to have a bed to sleep in,I hope you recieve this letter so you wont forget where my family of 6 live,the storm took all we had,our family is having a real rough time,cant get back on our feet,before the storm hit my dad commited suicide,leaving my mom and my sister and brother to live with grandma and grandpa,we all lived in a trailor in Gulfport,Ms,and now most of the town is gone. Once we moved 2000 miles away-we stayed with my other grandparents,and in June my other grandpa commited suicide,the grandparents I live with are trying to get us adopted for Christmas,our family was in Sept adopted by Scrooge,he adopted us and then this week,he decided he didnt like us anymore,and that we would not be remembered after all,my grandma cryed,Santa,how can scrooge do this to our family so late in the season? We have a christmas tree,but grandma wont put it up if santa doesnt remember us. She says we will cry even more if were forgot about and nothing comes for under the tree.
We have been thru 2 suicides and the hurricane Katrina,so santa,will you remember our family,we need help with goodies to eat-food for christmas,and toys and clothing.
Santa please remember all the little kids and families back in Gulfport,I miss them.
Thank you santa.
Shalee Habel--and grandmas help.
Santa you may email our family at: luvcub@earthlink.net

Robert W and Family

2006-11-28T13:38:00.000-05:00

Robert W.; Karen, Eileen, Victoria

email - Daddywolf38@cableone.net
Location: - was in east biloxi with my wife 7 mths pregnant - the house was a total loss nothing left, then mother in laws living room, then the holiday cruise ship. Now in a moldy FEMA trailer in desparate need of repair. Where I want to be is in a safe home of our own with a yard for our girls to play in.

Number in Household: - 4 people my wife Karen 33,Eileen 1,Victoria 7 mths (Premmie) and myself Robert 38
Situation: we lost the house we were renting and belongings to Katrina. Eileen was born while we were on the cruise ship. We were moved to a FEMA mobile home 1 week before Thanksgiving 2005. On may 12th of this year our second daughter was born 3 and a half months premature she weighted 1.3 oz. Sept of this year she came home. We spent 4 months in Mobile AL. While in Mobile I had to give up my job at the IP Hotel and Casino and find one over in Mobile until Victoria came home. We can never seem to catch the bills up or find a place to decent place to live
Current Living Arrangements: -moldy FEMA mobile home with weakening floor
Help: - some money from FEMA and a FEMA mobile home, money from Red Cross, TANF 1 time payment, emergency food stamps, various clothes and food from different individuals and friends and family and churches
Needs: Help with getting a home or rental assistance
Foods any but especially fruits and vegetables and baby food, juice for the babies, speghettio's, spam, tuna
Paper Products Paper Towels, toilet paper, sanitary napkins, napkins, diapers size 5 and size 2, baby wipes
School Supplies notebooks, pens, pencils, folders, etc.
Computer Supplies Lexmark #1 ink cartridge, computer paper
Cleaning Supplies Windex, Dishwashing liquid, Laundry detergent, fabric softener, disinfectant spray, mop, pinesol
Household Supplies light bulbs, kitchen supplies (pans, pots, etc.), pot holders

Clothing
men's size 36/30 pants (prefer wrangler jeans), men's large shirts,
women's size 18-20 pants or skirts prefer black or purple, XL or large women's shirts,
3-6 months girls clothing
12-18 months girls clothing
Stores you shop at: Walmart, WinnDixie, Target

3/4 We are unpacking and putting stuff away little by little. It's getting quite fun because the trailer we have is smaller than the FEMA one but this one has more useable space. We turned one bedroom into a storage room beacuse it was too small for really anything else.
We have some stuff put away and working on more. We had our first party here at our new house - Karen and I invited 2 friends of ours and broke in my new grill - it was a hit. There was not that much food left and we all left the table stuffed.
We are still looking for another rocker for the living room and a love seat.
I'm enjoying my new job at The Island View. They seem to like me and started me in one of the hardest stations - its called the island where you are in charge of all the salad, fruit and eggs made to order. I enjoy going to work now - LOL where as when I worked At IP and didnt like it at all - I was always stressed out and crabby
The trailer is older but more sturdy than the FEMA one. I have to give them the keys tomorrow - I will be so happy to do that! hehehe well just wanted to let you know whats going on

2/21 GOOD NEWS!
The good news is we found a house - its an older trailor and we are renting but hey! - it beats here and we don't have to deal with FEMA. It's a 2 bedroom 1 bath. We will be out of here by Saturday and we can't wait. It's not the same power company - the one the new trailor is on Mississippi Power. They are much cheaper besides the power company we have now tried to double charge me for something. Did I tell you I quit the IP and am going to work at the Island View - I start the 1st of March. The rent on the new trailor is 500 a month - you can't find hardly anything for under 700 a month and as far as buying goes - I kept getting the turn down saying you dont have enough or you got bad credit. Well we have a long day tomorrow - talk to you soon to let you know what happens.

1/30
We had no water pressure earlier now we have no water what so ever. I called F.E.M.A. - it's an emergency work order. They have 6 hours to respond but who can wait 6 hours without water and what I mean by no water is no bathing no toilet no nothing. I'm just so tired of fighting for every little crumb.
We get should get my W-2 sometime this week - after we file it's 2 weeks before we get it back. We have planned to use half of it as a down payment to get a house and get the heck out of here.
Eileen and Vickie are good. Karen still has a little trouble getting around some days. I'm looking for another job - last week was the last straw at IP. But we are making it and hope to get a place in the country to raise the girls.
Sorry for such a sour letter - LOL - but like I said I'm tired - but I'm happy. I have Karen and the girls.

1/12
Little Victoria is sick with 2 ear infections and a nasty cough. She's been to the Dr and he prescribed some meds for her, but they dont seem to be doing the trick - it sounds like its getting worse. Also Eileen is sick too but she's just got a cough and runny nose. Karen's still not feeling good but she's getting a little better. Me, I'm just tired - lol sleep deprivation is great! I'mlucky to get 2 hours sleep then go to work. We are working on getting a house and still fighting with FEMA. Then again why bother - Feb 28 we have to be out anyway

12/27
We had a really good Christmas thanks to some caring individuals that sent us some stuff and a Sunday school class full of elves who stopped by with presents galore including a grocery card and gas card (which made it possible for us to go to my mother-in-laws for Christmas). Karen's follow up visit with the doctor is January 3rd and she can't do much of anything until then. Everything is going ok though.

Happy New Year,

Robert

12/22
Karen's surgery went fine. She won't be able to lift anymore than 5 lbs until after the 3rd and needs help with the girls, cooking, and housework. We could sure use a couple meals or gift certificates to a take out restaurant if you know anyone who can help.

12/11 its 1:39 in the morning and I'm really tired but I have a chance to do this because everyone is asleep ok. Now for the update - my wife karen found out she has a hernia and is going to need surgery very soon the hernia is the size of a softball and is hard as a rock she can't eat hardly eat anything much less pick up our two kids. The light bill is in disconnect, there is no gas in the propane tank for the furnace and it's getting below freezing here as of late. My wife and I can put on extra clothes and the cold won't bother us that much but we have 2 infant girls one is 3 months and one is one year any help will be greatly welcomed.

Schonda S

2006-11-21T16:47:00.000-05:00

Schonda S; Steven, Daniella, Holly; Chester

Email: GrpGirl4@msn.com, ssweeney@mcleancopy.com

Location:
I’m from Waveland, Mississippi and lived there for over 13 years prior to Hurricane Katrina, our home is about two city blocks from the Gulf of Mexico.

My youngest daughter and step- son and I were in Tallahassee, Florida when Hurricane Katrina hit. It took us two days to return to Mississippi after the storm due to flooding and road outages and bridges blocked or destroyed.

Currently living in Virginia for the past year (while our home is being rebuilt).

We are not selling it - we have decided to stay on the Gulf Coast. We are letting it run the course of wait and see.

Number in Household:
There are four plus our dog in our household, Steven my husband (with dog Chester by his side); Daniella, our 17 year old who lives on campus at MS School of Math and Science; Myself and Holly (13 years old) living in Northern Virginia.

Situation:
Although we left the Mississippi Gulf Coast and headed east prior to Katrina coming ashore, my husband Steve choose to stay further in land at our other property on Easterbrook Street in Bay St. Louis with the family dog in tow. Our home actually survived the storm and was the only home still standing after the hurricane hit. The bottom half of our home and all our possessions flooded out, but the frame of our home and most of the windows survived.
After the storm and a week of waiting for assistance, my husband told me to leave Mississippi with our youngest daughter Holly and go to Northern Virginia where I have family. Our oldest child Daniella is living on the college campus in Columbus, MS so she already had a place where she was safe. I am currently in Arlington, Virginia and continuing to paint fulltime, while freelancing as a Graphic Designer on the side. I’m trying desperately to find galleries or art studios that will showcase my artwork, I m having no luck with that. I tried hiring an agent only to find I was paying way too much and had to release that agent. I am spending money I don’t have for supplies and travel time trying to locate places to show my work. I could use some studio space but the cost of that is as much as I pay in rent. I’m looking for Grant money or assistance with purchasing art supplies and a space to work at what I love. We may even be home by spring 2007 in time for my oldest daughters’ graduation from MSMS

Needs
Art Supplies
I do a variety of art styles but my biggest request at this time are acrylics brushes, clear gloss varnish (Liquitex brand). I m looking to continue painting and showcasing my work but am finding it hard to get supplies at reasonable prices. I m not choosey about the canvas but I do prefer the gallery style they are easier to frame and look good if I do not frame them
Store I shop at:Online at Dick Blick - http://www.dickblick.com/

We are pretty well set with the home items, we currently have an apartment - G H and Associates have provided that for us. We have furniture, clothing and food items, again thanks to the generousity of the community we live in.

4/17 http://www.schweeney.com/Home.html
my site is currently under construciton, I will have it up I hope by this weekend, I am also sending out my services as a web designer and graphic designer. I have a few sites under my belt such as The Arts, Hancock county, Mombo Graphix and a few here in Northern VA. my site address is http://www.schweeney.com and I will have it finished by this weekend.

Thanks for that,Schonda

12/28
Thanks for the end of the year letter, having those blogs keeps me informed on the goings on down south.
I see we are no longer the focal point for Washington, D.C news we are a thing of the past to date 12/28.
This natural disaster was all the thing in 2005 to early 2006, now we are lucky if the Washington Post puts a story in the papers Metro section. I'm trying to sell artwork to get back on track and am finding it difficult with no real connections in the area, but with lots of leg work and networking I pray 2006 will bring better days.

Lee Ann M

2006-11-18T22:14:00.000-05:00

Lee Ann M.; Kenny, Beverly, Bevie Ann

Email: - leemarcum@bellsouth.net, or leeannlaswolf@aol.com

Location: - were-waveland ms, are-west point ms, want to be in a year-waveland ms again

Number in Household: Pets and my husband Kenny 41, my mom Beverly 53, my daughter Bevie Ann 2, and myself Lee Ann 26

Situation: right now we don't have enough income to pay all our bills and support ourselves my husband hasn't been able to find work here and we are waiting on a fema trailer or our house to be rebuilt whichever comes first we rode out the hurricane and we had to leave behind all our pets and everything so soon after losing our home we have struggled with our health both mental and physical since we have been here and we just want to make due till we get home

Current Living Arrangements: apartment for the time being but hoping a FEMA trailer soon

Help: - one rent check from fema and one gas bill and one electric bill from the red cross

Needs:
We need help mostly right now with finances rent utilities etc. We are strapped for things like food, clothing, household cleaners, and toiletries. I have a 2 year old so diapers and things like that for her are hard to keep on hand sometimes.

Foods – Any non-perishable would be great.
Paper Products – Napkins, Toilet Paper, Paper Towels, etc.
Clothing – For 2 y.o. Girl, Diapers
Cleaning Supplies – Windex, Dishwashing liquid, Laundry detergent, etc.
Household Supplies – light bulbs, garbage bags,
Stores you shop at – Wal Mart

1/4 - A video narration of Leeann's story...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLEixJjjydo

Penny G

2006-11-14T17:39:00.000-05:00

Penny G; Gabe, Alyssa, Alba; Fuzzyface and Spaz (cats)

email: psbesson@cox.net

Location: We evacuated from St Bernard parish before the hurricane, and have been in several states since then. We are currently back in Louisiana, but hope to relocate to Raleigh area, NC

NUMBER IN HOUSEHOLD: 6 Penny (38F), Gabe (36M), alyssa (8F), Alba (64F), Fuzzyface (2yo cat) and Spaz (2 yo cat)

SITUATION: We lived in St Bernard Parish before the storm, and lost everything. We have been in MS, AL, AR and NV since Katrina and are now back in LA. There are many people we've never met that have helped us with clothes and necessities. But we've found that as time passes, more and more people in other places treat those of us from the Storm with disdain and sometimes downright cruelty. We spent the longest amount of time in Nevada, and left when we couldn't take it anymore. People scrawled messages on our car, threw things at our door, taunted my daughter whenever she was outside....and as qualified as my husband and I both are, we were always "not right for the job" when it was known we were from LA. Haven't quite figured out what it is that makes so many look down on us Katrina victims, but many I have spoken with have had similar experiences.

CURRENT LIVING ARRANGEMENT: All 4 of us and the 2 cats are presently living in a 1 BR loft. Not much room, not too comfortable and no privacy....but with the present rental market in LA, it's all we can afford.

HELP:
We had some help from FEMA in the beginning, but they stopped helping with rent because we didn't have "a realistic housing plan". We have been qualified for an SBA relocation loan and would like to buy a new home in NC, but have no place to stay there, so we try to make the trip back and forth as often as we can to search for a new home.

NEEDS: If anyone has a place that isn't being used in Raleigh area of NC, even if just for a few days, it would certainly help in housing search.
FOOD: We manage
COMPUTER SUPPLIES: Dell 924 printer Ink is always needed
SCHOOL SUPPLIES: Navy blue pants, skirts in size 10 plus could be used (my daughter rotates 2 skirts)
CLOTHING: Shoes seem to be what we needmost. Ladies size 10, men's size 10 or girl's 3.5

Christmas List
The one we are concerned about for Christmas is our daughter. She likes anything to do with science/nature, arts and crafts and of course, Bratz. Her biggest wish for months has been any type of portable game device (we travel a lot in our housing search and she gets bored in the car).

As for us, some new pillows would be great....ours have definitely seen better days!

12/14
We have just had to move into a 2BR apt. It is more comfortable, but a lot more expensive as well. They let us live together in a 1BR when there were no 2 BR available and now that 2BR have been rebuilt, we had to move into a larger unit.

The person who adopted us for Christmas has contacted me and I gave her the new address as well.

THanks for all your efforts....and still caring.
It really took a load off my mind to know that my daughter would have something for Christmas

Roxanne D

2006-11-14T17:33:00.000-05:00

Roxanne D and Family with 2 cats
Email: - rhsdorsey@aol.com
Location: - Houston Tx

Number in Household: - 7 including pets. 3 children ages 6yrs, 2yrs, 16yrs 2 adults ages 24 & 27. 1 cat & her baby
Situation: I have been living in Houston since Katrina. It's been an ongoing struggle since Katrina.
Current Living Arrangements: - In an apartment in Houston
Help: - I recieved help from Fema, and Katrinas Angels
Photos: - a link to one of our stories is on the 20/20 website. http://abcnews.go.com/2020/HurricaneKatrina/story?id=1431034
Needs: Need help with Christmas gifts for the kids, warm clothing, shoes and food
Foods: non-perishable only
Paper Products: Napkins, Toilet Paper, Paper Towels,
Computer Supplies: dell ink for a 962 all-in-one copier printer fax
Cleaning Supplies: Windex, Dishwashing liquid, Laundry detergent, floor cleaner
Household Supplies: light bulbs, kitchen supplies forks & spoons
Clothing: my size is 28w jeans, 30-32 shirt, 12ww shoes.

Girl age 6 Raina is my niece. I have had her since she was 2yrs old. 14-16 clothing, sz 1 girl shoe. Raina loves Dora the Explorer! Anything associated with Dora she'd love it. She also loves to watch movies and "That's So Raven". She likes to color and draw. Raina likes to play dress up. Raina has big dreams for her future. She wants to be a doctor. She likes to play with toys that resembles doctor tools.

Boy age 2 Jareal is my nephew. I have had Jareal since he was 9months and a half, size 4T-5T clothes, 7 in shoe and 4 in diapers. Jareal loves Sponge Bob. He loves to watch the cartoons and play with Spongebob stuffed animals. One thing that he truly loves is wearing Spongebob on his clothing. I also noticed that he likes to play with legos and build things
Boy age 16 Calver is my cousin. We could not locate his mother after Katrina, so I took him in. sz 36 in pants 2x in shirts and mens 11 in shoes. I'd love to get him a TV so he can play video games.
Man sz 44 in pants sz 4x in shirts and sz 13 in shoes
Myself - I just want the kids to be happy and cared for. I'm in school and recieve SSI for a work related injury in the New Orleans Convention Center. I was a Security Guard. The money I recieve monthly all goes on bills. Not a dollar left and still fall short of funds. I'm in school trying to better myself to provide a decent life for my family.
Can food for cats.
Stores you shop at: Shop mostly at walmart and payless

Christa H

2006-11-13T18:25:00.000-05:00

Christa H; Aldo, Eva, Josephine; 2 cats and 1 dog

Email: - spictistic@yahoo.com
Location: - where you were: New Orleans went to Jackson MS and then Michigan during hurricane
where you are: Back inNew Orleans
where you plan to be in a year: I plan to stay here until New Orleans is no more

Number in Household: - Aldo Male 35, Christa Female 34, Eva Female 11, Josephine Female 3, Cats-Shadow and Minou Dog-Cita

Situation: When the hurricane was coming, my neighbor offered to take my daughters, my cats and myself to JacksonMississippi. Their father decided to stay behind with the dog and watch his job's vehicles. When we went to Jackson the power was out for a week and my fiance was unreachablethe whole week. My aunt from Michigan came down and got us and brought us up there to be with family.

After 2 months my fiance came up from Texas and brought us back to New Orleans. Our apartment did not flood but the roof was destroyed. A lot of our belongings were wet and moldy. Our landlord got the roof fixed and we cleaned most of the nastiness inside. The walls and ceilings still have holes but it is better than not having anywhere to live. We applied with fema and received enough to get beds, a futon, some clothes, etc...Red Cross gave us the initial amount (they were really nice) they also gave us essentials, Foodstamps, WIC.

Current Living Arrangements: - Apartment with lots of holes

Help: Fema, Red Cross

Needs:
Foods: Soups (but not Tomato) Canned veggies, canned broth; dog food, cat food, flea meds
Paper Products Who can't use toilet paper with 3 girls it can get costly
Clothing: Blue school pants for 3t girl
Cleaning Supplies: Bleach, X14
Household Supplies: Pots
Stores you shop at for possible gift cards or gift registry:WalMart, SavACenter, Sears, JCPenney,Walgreens

1/9
I was wondering if anyone that can, please pray for my sister's 9month son. He was diagnosed with RSV which is a respiratory disease. She was told today that if he isn't breathing better by tomorrow he will have to be hospitilized. They finally came back to Metairie in October and now they all keep getting sick like the rest of us around here. Please keep Antonio in your prayers. Thank you very much,Christa
11/26 Update
Josie just finished celebrating her birthday. She turned 3 years old. My younger sister finally got to come back down here from Tennessee and we combined her son and Josie's birthday parties together. They had a ton of fun.
Eva is doing great as usual in school. Straight A's on her report card. She is growing up so fast.
The cool weather is coming back so I can start working outside on myfurniture that was ruined. It's alot of work but worth it.
I refused to give my chairs up and promised Aldo I will finish them this winter. What a job!
I won volunteer of the year for my daughter's Head Start school which is part of Catholic Charities.
Well that is all that has been going ondown here in my neck of the woods.

Christmas wish list: The only real things my girls need are clothes for cold and warm weather. Eva is in a size 10 and Josie is in a size 3T. They both LOVE books. Eva reads with a 12th grade comprehension.
Josie loves to paint. She could use a smock so the paint stays off of her clothes. Eva loves science related toys.
Josie's favorite color is Pink and she likes TheBackyardigan's and Cinderella. Eva's favorite color is Dark purple and she likes HelloKitty.
Household wise we really could use twin sheet sets for the girls and towels.

I really appreciate everything you and everyone is doing for us down here. I don't know how most of us down here could have made it as far as we are without the help from people like all of you.

Health Information

2006-11-13T14:04:00.000-05:00

11/14 - Sent by Hancock County VOA

Dates and times for flu shots - November Schedule:

November 17 Prime Outlet Mall, South Side

November 20 Big Lots, Pass Road

November 21 Steinmart, Pass Road

November 27 Academy Sports, Highway 49

November 28 Americans Thrift Store, Pass Road

these shots are free - the times are from 8:30AM till Noon and 1:00PM till 3:30 PM

Look for the HCA Van - Memorial Hospital at Gulfport

Adult Screenings Offered:

Cholesterol
Blood Pressure
Glucose(for those adults who have fasted)
Adult screening are offered once a month for Foot Sensation and Stroke screening

IMMUNIZATIONS FOR CHILDREN UP TO AND INCLUDING AGE 18:

DTP
Hepatitis B
Hib
MMR
Polio
Meningitis
Varicella*
Pediatric DT
Influenza (seasonal)
Prevnar
Tetanus

* We administer the Varicella (chicken pox) vaccine at the hospital due to the necessity of refrigeration limitations.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

228-867-4246
228-867-5210

Thanks
Dianna
Case Coordinator
HCLTRC

All found on AOL

ASK FOR A DEAL The rate that your doctor charges isn't set in stone. According to a 2005 Harris Interactive poll, about two-thirds of adults who negotiated for lower prices with a hospital or dentist succeeded, as did three out of five adults who bargained with their doctor. If you're paying out of pocket or face a high deductible, call your insurer's customer service number and ask about the rates it pays physicians in your area, which are typically lower than the sticker price set by providers. Then ask your doctor if he'll accept a similar amount.
I know this one to be true. If you have cash in hand, it's more than 30% less.

GET THE FACTS The more you know about the real cost of your care, the better you'll be able to negotiate discounts. Costs for 30 common hospital procedures can be found at www.cms.hhs.gov/HealthCareConInit, the website of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

LOOK FOR MISTAKES As many as eight out of 10 hospital bills contain errors, increasing the tab by 25% on average. Keep a log of every test and medication you get, and check it against your medical file, which you can order from the hospital's billing office. If you spot an error, send a certified letter requesting a corrected bill, and a copy of all documentation to your insurer.

The Insurance Maze
CHECK UP BEFORE YOU CHECK IN Radiologists, anesthesiologists and other specialists don't always accept the same insurance as the doctor who admits you to the hospital. Call your doctor to get the names of the medical providers who will be involved in your treatment, and verify with your insurer that they're in the network

TRACK YOUR SPENDING Do you know when you've met your deductibles or how much money is left in your health FSA? Programs such as Quicken's Medical Expense Manager ($50 at quicken.com) can tell you and also alert you to potential savings such as overlooked tax deductions and possible billing errors.
Tax deductions - if your medical bills exceed 7.5% of your income, you can deduct it on Federal Tax Returns. That's a high bar, but the list of eligible expenses is extensive, including insurance premiums, dental X-rays, fertility treatments, prescribed weight-loss and stop-smoking programs and even LASIK eye surgery. See www.irs.gov/publications/p502 for the details.

BE FLEXIBLE Add up your co-pays, deductibles and other out-of-pocket medical expenses from last year to figure out how much to put into your flexible spending account (FSA) (your benefits department can tell you what's eligible). For every $1,000 you put in, you'll slash about $300 in taxes.

DON'T LOSE IT You'll forfeit any funds in your FSA that you don't use by the end of the year or by March of the following year (depending on your company). Need to get rid of some bucks? Stock up on over-the-counter medical supplies like Band-Aids, cold and flu tablets and aspirin; order a six-month supply of contact lenses and solution; or schedule an extra session with your shrink, if you've exceeded the number of therapist visits covered by your health plan.

CONSIDER AN HSA If you have a high-deductible health plan (at least $1,050 for individuals; $2,100 for families), you are eligible to fund a health savings account (HSA), which you can tap to pay medical expenses. You'll save about $1,500 in taxes for every $5,000 you put into an HSA. Any funds you don't use will grow tax-free and can be rolled over from year to year.

CHOOSE WISELY Don't just take the easy way out during open enrollment and sign up for the same health plan as you had last year. These days the difference in premiums is small, ranging from an average of $590 a year for an HMO to $637 for a PPO; the real differences lie in the plans' co-pays and deductibles. To figure out which option is best for you, estimate what your total annual costs are likely to be under each plan, depending on your family's medical needs (many companies have online calculator tools to help figure this out). If you have kids, you'll likely want a plan with low co-pays for doctor visits and good coverage for preventive care; if you're young and healthy, a plan with higher deductibles and lower monthly premiums may be a better bet.Or, take one with a higher deductible and put the extra money into a sock for when you do go to the doctor.

GET WHAT YOU DESERVE Are you paying the tab for acupuncture or chiropractic care? Check your insurer's website or call the help line to see if your plan covers alternative medicine treatments. Some 87% now do. Many also offer discounts on preventive measures like vitamins and bike helmets.

DON'T BE DENIED Your insurer refused your claim? Fight back. Begin with a phone call to customer service, and if that doesn't work, put your appeal in writing. Document everything, including the times of calls and the names of the reps you spoke with. "Every plan has an appeals process that you must follow to the letter," says Robert Bland of http://www.insure.com/, a consumer information website. For more information, download the Kaiser Family Foundation's guide to handling disputes with your employer or private health plan (www.kff.org).

HIRE EXPERT HELP Buried under thousands of dollars in bills and claim denials you can't resolve? Consider hiring a professional billing and claims specialist to help you resolve disputes. You'll pay $50 to $250 an hour, but you may save up to 40% on your bills. To find specialists in your area, go to http://www.billadvocates.com/ and www.claims.org

FOLLOW THE RULES Read the fine print on your plan to find out your insurer's requirements for referrals and pre-certification. You're likely to need them for expensive procedures like an MRI, which can cost you more than a thousand dollars if your insurer refuses to pick up the bill.

CHECK YOURSELF OUT If you're in the market for a new policy and you've applied for individual health, life, disability or long-term-care insurance in the past seven years, go to http://www.mib.com/ to see whether this insurance industry antifraud group has a file on you. Request a copy (it's free) to make sure the information provided about your health status is right. If you find a mistake, ask for a correction in writing ASAP. Errors can drive up your premiums by hundreds of dollars a year.

STAY INSURED Leaving your job next year? Switch to the lowest-cost plan during this year's open enrollment. Then, after you quit, federal rules (known as COBRA) will let you stay on your employer's health plan for up to 18 months, although you'll usually have to pay the full cost, plus 2%. Once you've tapped out COBRA, you must sign up for a new policy within 63 days or insurers can legally turn you down or refuse to cover pre-existing conditions.

FOLLOW DOCTOR'S ORDERS Roughly half of all patients don't follow instructions about taking medicine, which results in 10% of hospital visits a year, according to the Merck Manual of Medical Information. Simply doing what you're told can save you your out-of-pocket share of the average $8,200 cost of a hospital stay.

EQUIP YOURSELF Hospitals charge a significant markup on equipment like crutches or braces, so you're almost always better off buying them on your own.
Emotional Counsel If you're seeing a mental-health therapist every week, you're probably footing much of the bill: Most health plans limit coverage to 30 visits a year. You can cut the cost by going to a certified counselor or clinical social worker (average fee: $90 an hour) instead of a psychologist (around $120). A recent survey found no difference in effectiveness.

Medication Game
ASK FOR SAMPLES Drug companies give away tons of samples to physicians, so your doctor may be able to supply you with several weeks' worth of medication at no charge. Bonus: If you discover after a few days that the cream for your rash isn't working, you won't be left with an expensive tube of goo you can't use.

GRAB GENERICS Whenever you can, opt for generic drugs, which on average cost less than a third as much as their brand-name counterparts, according to the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. If you're paying retail for one prescription a month, you'll save $863 a year by going with the generic version instead of the brand name. Got drug coverage? You'll still save $13 on the average prescription co-pay, or $156 for a year's supply. And don't forget about over-the-counter medications: By sticking to the no-name store brand, you'll save $100 of the $400 that the average American spends annually on over-the-counter drugs.

FIND A CHEAPER ALTERNATIVE... If there is no generic version of a brand-name drug you're taking, ask your doctor about a therapeutic substitute or an older drug in the same category. A drug that has been on the market for more than 10 years will almost always have a generic version available.

GO POSTAL Call your drug insurer, a.k.a. your pharmacy benefits manager, and ask if you can order your prescriptions directly from the plan. Typically you will save 15% to 35% on your monthly co-payments at the pharmacy, or nearly $90 a year on the average prescription.

OR BUY ONLINE You may find the best deal of all at an online drugstore, particularly if you order more than one prescription at a time. Recently, for example, you could order a 90-day supply of Lipitor, a popular cholesterol-lowering drug, for $306, or as much as 30% off typical retail prices, at http://www.drugstore.com/. To make sure a site is legit, check to see that it carries the seal of the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (VIPPS), a quality-control program sponsored by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (http://www.nabp.net/).SPLIT 'EM UP High-dose pills are generally priced the same as their low-dose counterparts, so ask your doctor if you can safely split a higher-dosage pill in half. You'll save about $179 to $610 a year per prescription if you don't have drug coverage or 50% on your co-pays if you do.

SHOP MOM AND POP The federal government doesn't regulate prices on drugs sold at pharmacies, so your costs can vary widely depending on where you buy. In New York City, for example, the price for 30 tablets of the widely prescribed antidepressant Paxil recently ranged from $97 to $180 at various stores.

SIGN UP FOR MEDICARE PART D Open enrollment for the government's drug plan for seniors runs from Nov. 15 to Dec. 31. If you're 65 or older and don't currently have drug coverage, sign up as soon as you can. Average savings on drug costs: 28%. If you delay and need coverage in the future, you'll get hit with a permanent penalty of 1% of your premium for every month you were eligible and didn't enroll. If you're in good health now, simply choose the lowest-cost plan in your area; you should be able to find one with premiums of less than $10 a month. Already enrolled? Now is your opportunity to switch to a different plan if you're not satisfied with the one you have. Compare plans in your area at www.medicare.gov.

GO FOR THE DISCOUNT No drug coverage? Visit the Partnership for Prescription Assistance website (http://www.pparx.org/), which has links to more than 400 patient-assistance programs offering discounts on more than 2,500 medications. Most programs require you to demonstrate financial need. But some, such as Merck's discount card, are open to all income levels.

Dental
STICK WITH THE PLAN These days most dental insurance works much like the typical health insurance plan, in which you pay a lot less if you use providers in the insurer's network than if you go outside the plan. If you haven't yet switched from your out-of-network family dentist to a practitioner who's on your plan, what are you waiting for? Your savings: 15% to 35% on the cost of most routine dental procedures, according to Mercer, a human-resources consulting firm.

JOIN A DISCOUNT CLUB No dental coverage? Enroll in a discount dental plan, offered through major insurance companies like Aetna, Cigna and WellPoint. You'll pay about $100 a year ($150 for families) and save 20% to 30% on the cost of treatment by participating dentists. Just make sure that the network has practitioners in your area before you enroll and that the plan itself is legit (there have been a few cases of fraud) by checking to see if it's registered with your state insurance commissioner (www.naic.org).

GO TO DENTAL SCHOOL If you're looking for bigger savings than the discount plans offer, try going to a clinic at a major dental school, staffed by closely supervised students in their final two years of training. (For a school near you, search for DDS/DMD programs at http://www.ada.org/.) These clinics charge about 50% less than dentists in private practice. One caveat: You could end up spending twice as long in the dentist's chair (hey, they're still learning).

CHOOSE CHEAPER FILLINGS Many consumers opt for the aesthetic appeal of resin-based fillings, which are tooth-colored, instead of the old metallic (a.k.a. amalgam) variety. But amalgam fillings are 20% cheaper, and they last longer too.

Prevention
TAKE AN ASPIRIN...and maybe you won't have to call any doctor in the morning. If you're a man over 40, a woman past menopause or a smoker or have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or a family history of heart disease, you can sharply lower your risk of a heart attack by taking an aspirin every day or every other day (consult your doctor first). The cost of aspirin: about 20¢ a day. The average cost of treating a heart attack: $25,000, including hospital, doctor and drug bills.

STRESS LESS Between 60% and 90% of doctor visits stem from stress-related factors, says Dr. Herbert Benson, founder of the Mind/Body Medical Institute. So chill out: Take a yoga class, listen to music and exercise for at least 30 minutes a day.

STUB YOUR BUTT $4.35 a pack on average or more than $1,500 a year if you smoke a pack a day. But consider the extra costs of lighting up: $1,600 more a year in health-care costs than for nonsmokers, plus a 10% surcharge on homeowners insurance and up to 300% on individual life policies, not to mention higher dry-cleaning and dental bills. And you may soon be paying more for health insurance at work too. By 2008, 25% of companies expect to impose penalties for bad health behavior, such as higher deductibles and premiums for smokers.

PUT A CORK IN IT If you're a binge drinker (routinely imbibing a minimum of four to five drinks at a sitting), you'll average $900 a year more in medical expenses compared with a teetotaler, according to the Lewin Group. To avoid these costs and stay healthy, have no more than one drink a day if you're a woman, two if you're a man. Plus, that $40 bottle of your favorite Bordeaux will last twice as long.

GET MOVING Obese people pay about 26% more in medical costs than those who are in shape. So joining a gym or taking a dance class is a smart investment in your health. Or buy a pedometer (about $20) and aim to walk at least 10,000 steps each day.

GET A LUNCHBOX Brown-bagging your lunch can help you lose weight since home-cooked eats contain 20% less fat on average than restaurant meals, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Bonus: Skipping the $6 deli sandwich could save you about $1,000 a year.

WASH UP Americans pay about $200 a year on flu treatments and countless more for colds but routinely neglect the best preventive treatment: soap and water. So get into the habit of scrubbing your hands for about 15 seconds, especially around the nails, before eating or handling food and after contact with any potential contaminants. Turns out Mom really did know best.

LET THE BOSS HELP Take advantage of any wellness benefits that your company offers. About six out of 10 large companies now offer benefits like smoking-cessation classes, discounts on gym memberships and health risk assessments.

ADULT-PROOF YOUR HOME Home accidents rank among the top reasons for visits to the emergency room. Some easy ways to make your home safer and avoid the $560 average tab of a trip to the ER: Install handrails along both sides of the stairs, use nightlights, put nonslick strips in tubs, check smoke alarm batteries every month and keep candles at least three feet from anything that can burn. (For more tips, go to www.homesafetycouncil.org

FLOSS DAILY It's the best way to prevent periodontal disease (cost of treatment: from $200 for minor problems to $2,000 or more to replace a tooth).

QUESTION YOUR TESTS You could spend thousands a year on cutting-edge medical tests, which usually aren't covered by insurance. Or you could hold on to that cash by sticking mostly with the baseline tests recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (www.ahrq.gov/clinic/uspstfix.htm), which makes recommendations for patients based on recent research.

Nehemiah J

2006-11-12T12:19:00.000-05:00

Nehemiah J; Michael, Destiny

Email: nehemiah_353@hotmail.com
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Number in Household: Nehemiah, Destiny (4), Michael (3)
Situation: We lived in the Eastern part of New Orleans. We lost our home, my car, my job, my school and all of our personal property. It was one of the most horrible experienses. We couldn't fit all of our family membersin the car - that hurt the most. We evacuated to MS first because of all the traffic heading to TX. We woke up to trees on cars, power lines down, phone lines down - for a week and a half.
Current Living Arrangements: We registered with FEMA and are now in Atlanta GA.
I have a part time job that barely pays the rent and struggle just to eat because food stamps haven't come through during that time.
Help: FEMA
Needs:
Food
Help with utilities
Help with Rent
Full Time Job!
Clothes for the children
Christmas presents for the children:
For Destiny - Bratz dolls and Disney's Cheetah Girls stuff
For Michael - Anything Tonka!

Toni L-M

2006-11-12T12:05:00.000-05:00

Toni L-M.; Craig, Clarence, Ciara, Bubba & Antonio; 2 dogs

Email: mooretonitc@yahoo.com
Situation: We lived in Metairie,La pre Katrina, we lost our house & everything in it.(5feet of water &a tornado took the roof off) We evacuated to Texas, then ended up in Lebanon, TN. We just recently moved back to Metairie, La in October. We plan on staying here.
Number in Household: We are a family of 6, my hubby Craig 47, Clarence 15(son), Ciara8(daughter), Bubba 6(son) & Antonio 6 1/2mos (son), we also have 2 German Shepard's, Tupac & Diamond. And of course myself Toni!
Situation: The past year has been very challenging since the hurricane. We lost everything, including our jobs & everything we owned. We also found out I was pregnant 2 weeks after the hurricane. We had been trying for 3 months prior to the hurricane. We kept our faith & by the GRACE of GOD we have made it. The people in TN were very king, but after I had the baby I got very depressed & everything kind of hit me at once. My family was all back home in New Orleans & I was missing them. My husband did not have the great job, I wasn't working because of post partum depression. We made a decision & moved back home. We are both working now, but it is still a struggle. The rent is so high here. We did not have insurance & but were grateful to get the few dollars we received from FEMA.
We have never struggled like this before living check to check, it is real hard.
I just hope & pray the kids can have a CHRISTmas this year. They really don't understand what has happened. I don't know if that is a good thing or bad??
We are living in a house in Metairie, La.
We need the following:
Paper products: paper towels, paper plates, toilet paper,
Cleaning supplies: ANY KIND
Household supplies: spoons, light bulbs, garbage can, kitchen table & chairs
Clothing:
size 5-6 boys ;
size 14 girls;
34 waist mens, XL shirt mens;
any baby boy clothes 9-12 months.
We mainly shop at WALMART or KMART

1/13
Thank you & everyone for all the prayers. We are still here in the hospital, Ocshner Hospital in Metairie, La. Antonio was diagnosed Monday with RSV, they sent him home with an Albuterol inhaler, but by him being 8 months old, he did not respond well to the treatment. I brought him to the doctor on Tuesday morning & he gave him a nebulizer to do breathing treatments with Albuterol every 2 hours. By Tuesday night he was lethargic & could barley breathe. I brought him to the ER & they kept trying to get his oxygen levels up because they were very low. The treatments would not work, they then put him on an oxygen tank & continued the breathing treatments every 2 hours. They admitted him & we have been here ever since. He is eating & drinking now, but still having trouble breathing on his own. He is still on the oxygen & breathing treatments, but now every 3 hours. His oxygen levels go up & down & he still retracts when breathing. We are at a stand still right now! Please pray for him & our family to stay strong.

Thank you & GOD bless,

Toni Labat- Moore

Katie

2006-11-08T09:40:00.000-05:00

Katie, Caleb, and Mauricio
Email: - Kluv2prty@yahoo.com
Location: - Hastings, NebraskaNumber in Household: - Katie, 23, Caleb, 2, Mauricio, 24
Situation: Hi, My name is Katie and I am the mother of the best 2 year old little boy. We went through soo much last year. Mauricio and I decided to was best to give our 2nd son up for adoption in June. It was what is best for him and we dont regret doing it. I lost my grandfather in July - he raised me. The hurricanes hit in August. We spent last Thanksgiving and Christmas in a hotel. Caleb got No presents last year for Christmas.
It has been hard for us to get on our feet.
Current Living Arrangements: - an apartment we are renting
Help: - FEMA
Needs: We need help getting Caleb toys that will help with his reading and speaking skills. He has a speech delay that we are getting help for him, but any toys that enhance his speech skills are so important.
Mauricio and I want to get married, Christmas or March - and any kind of help with wedding stuff would be appreciated. We also need help with the rent for December and January. Mauricio cooks for the college here and when they have off so does he. So we are nervous about rent and electricity!!
Christmas decorations for the house to make it seem more festive.

11/25
I'm really worried. Rent is coming due, we don't have the money and Mauricio will be laid off from the university for Winter Break. I don't know what we'll be doing for money during that time! Can anyone help?

I sent Katie information on TANF, LIHEAP, and single parent resources to hopefully find a steady source of assistance. But anything anyone can help with would be greatly appreciated. Email her if you can help her.
Leslie

Alysia

2006-11-08T09:29:00.000-05:00

Alysia C; Michael, Tyson, Vada; 3 Dogs, 2 Cats and Some Fish

Email: - mikeyslily@yahoo.com, achapoy@cox.net
Location: - We were in (St. Charles Parish) about to move into New Orleans. We are now in the Broadmoor neighborhood of New Orleans in a rental. In a year, we would still like to be in New Orleans in a house of our own and I, hopefully, starting med. school.
Number in Household: - myself: 28; Michael: my spouse, 30; Tyson: our son, 3 1/2; Vada: our daughter, her 1st. birthday is on the 7th; Rufus: our 9 yr. old male rescue dog; Beaux: our 9 yr. old male rescue lab mix; Shadow: our 1 yr. old male rescue shepherd mix; Chewey: our 4 yr. old male rescue cat; Sage: our 7 yr. old female rescue cat; and some fish.

Situation: For the past year, our life has been one really big roller coaster ride. Every time we think we're finally about to get out of this really big hole, something else knocks us back down. Before Katrina, my husband and I had just finished school and we were expecting our 2nd child. We were just starting to get settled as a family and in our professions. I was going to apply to med school and Michael had started his career. Katrina came, we had no place to stay, and no jobs. We applied for help with Catholic Charities and the Salvation Army for rental assistance and both said they were going to, then they ran out of funding. I started working about a month ago after I managed to get the kids enrolled in Head Start. I've applied for assistance with Modest Needs, but we have not been granted anything. Every time someone says they're going to help, something happens and they can't. Our landlord has been really patient and understanding, but he needs his money too. We're trying to catch up, but it's difficult. We also applied for a house with Habitat, but we were denied because our credit has gotten so bad since Katrina. We got behind in all of our bills and still have not been able to catch up. I didn't even know you could get denied by Habitat. We don't make enough money to survive in this city since the cost of rent and utilities has gone up. Also, our kids have elevated levels of lead in their blood and we're concerned about where the exposure is coming from. They will be retested this month.

Current Living Arrangements: - We are in 1/2 of a double in the Broadmoor neighborhood in New Orleans. It is a rental.
Help: - We received the $2000 from Fema, and $975 from the Salvation Army. All of it went to car notes and car insurance and a couch.
Needs: We recently found out that we need a new set of tires. We have gotten so many nails in our tires that they are now bad. We are driving on our spare right now since our last tire was deemed irreparable. If we lose our transportation, then I won't be able to work. I rely on the car to get the kids to school. If they aren't in school then I can't work.
Paper Products toilet paper, paper towels, clorox kitchen wipes.
Diapers size 3
Cleaning Supplies laundry detergent, sponges, broom, dust pan
Household Supplies light bulbs

Clothing
Tyson is size 4T and wears shoe size 10T.
Vada needs size 18M and size 4T shoes.
We don't have much winter clothes or pajamas for her.
Stores you shop at: We shop at Old Navy, Wal-Mart, Target

12/1 The gas company finally came out and blew out our lines, so we have hot water and heat again. Tyson's starting to get excited about Christmas. Beau is getting chubby b/c I haven't been able to take the dogs running in a couple of weeks. Vada is walking pretty good now. She's still a little slow, but she'll be chasing Tyson in no time. I'm sending some recent pictures.

You heard the good news about the tires, so some stress has been relieved. Unfortunatley, the forbearance period on my husband's loans has ended, so now we have another bill to add to our monthly struggles. I just wish that we had the credit to get a home loan, then maybe it wouldn't be so difficult. That is my Christmas "Wish" that somehow we would be able to get a house of our own. I daydream about it a lot. We would have a yard to play in, and a dishwasher, and central heat to keep warm. I would love to have a closet so I could actually put my clothes away instead of on the floor. I could keep going, but eventually it just makes me sad and I get depressed. Maybe one day.
11/23 Good News!
Okay, I have to take back my pessimism b/c we got the grant from modest needs. i'm sorry for being so negative, but I really thought we were going to be denied again. We were approved and we already got the check in the mail. It actually showed up! They said they were sending it and they really did. It was great. We've got our new tires and they come with a warranty so we don't have to worry about future flats. Thank you so much for the suggestion and the prayers. Alysia

Stephanie

2006-11-06T11:53:00.000-05:00

Stephanie S, Shane, Collin, Abigail
Email: - sca_lbg@yahoo.com.
Location: Were in Lacombe, LA now Benton, AR. A year from now Benton, AR
Number in Household: - myself age 24 female; Shane age 26 male; Collin age 4 male; Abigail age 2 female; 2 female dogs
Situation: We left the Saturday before the hurricane and came to Little Rock. We have been here ever since. We have received some help through FEMA but right now they are over a month late on paying my rent. We must stay here in Arkansas for a while as we can't afford rent back home. Shane lost his job for about a month, and has just started working again, making it difficult to keep the house running. My insurance on my car is going to be cancelled this month if I dont come up with the money. We do like it here in Arkansas. I just really miss my family. We know not one person here which makes it hard but we are surviving I guess.
Current Living Arrangements: - renting a house
Help: - FEMA, Red Cross
Needs:
Foods: Non-Perishable Only; Dry Dog Food Thanksgiving for sure. A food basket or something would be nice
Paper Products: Toilet Paper, Paper Towels
Cleaning Supplies: Dishwashing liquid, Laundry detergent, etc.
Clothing:
girl age 2 size 3t winter clothing
boy age 4 size 5 winter clothing
female age 24 pants size 14 shirts large winter clothing
male age 26 pants size 42-32 shirts size 3X winter clothing
Stores you shop at: Wal-Mart, Target, Old Navy, Kohls, Goodys

1/19
My husband went back to work Nov. 2 and we started to make some money again. In the mean time though I had tried to call catholic charties and see if they coud help us out. Get us caught up on our bills so that maybe just maybe we would have a chance to start over yet again. Well I never heard back from them. I have called themseveral times since and they still say they are waiting on the goahead to help.
Ok so back to FEMA. In Oct we also found out that fema was paying our old landlord rent plus paying us rent. well we talked to fraud and all and know this has come to bite us in the butt. The money we recieved in nov was for Oct, Nov, and Dec. But since fema was paying the landlord also up untill OCT. they are saying that rent money is for Nov, Dec and Jan. so now I dont have the money to pay Jan rent.We ended up paying it but for the last week my husband has been out of a job b/c he is switching jobs and going to a better paying job with more hours. But it is putting us further in the hole to begin with.Our electricity is about to be cut off, along with my car insurance. My phone is the same way. every bill that we have is at least amonth past due. My garbage is way way overdue.
I feel like I am in this never ending circle. Everytime things lookgood something happens to pull us back under. I cant wait for myhusbands W2 to come. We were supposed to get a nice used car with it but i guess we are going to pray that we can get everything paid off with it instead. That is if we even have anything by then.
If anyone knows any place, person, or thing that can help us. we are so despreate at this point.
These are the places that we have gone: CJOHN( a local place)- we got a box of food from them and can only do so every six months; Catholic charties seems to be no help; Salvation Army has a list a mile long and we applied to modest needs a lil over a year ago for a new set of tires so I am not sure if we can apply again.
12/1
We are starting to get back on track again. All we need is just that little bit of help to get back even with our bills and such. Catholic Charties has let us down yet again. We have been trying to receive help from them for almost 2 months. We are in need of the basics so that all of our money can go toward rent and bills. things such as diapers, wipes, toilet paper, dish soap, laudry detergent, and garbage bags. stuff like that. things that food stamps doesnt pay for.

I am not asking for any toys for my children this christmas. I would like though to get a tree or some decorations. This is not really needed just wanted. My children have been given some clothing so they are really doing ok. Yes they could use toys but they dont need them.

Also if anyone is willing to adopt of two dogs that would be a blessing. We really just can't afford to take care of them. They are both females and have been fixed.

My husband is in desperate need of black pants size 42X32. He ripped his last good pair last night. He needs these to work in at work. Today he wwent to work in ones that have been torn at the feet. He really really needs at least one pair.
Thanks Stephanie

Debbie

2006-11-04T21:22:00.000-05:00

Debbie C; Bill
Email: - dsc0827@yahoo.com
Location: - I lived in Waveland, MS. Currently living in a FEMA camper in Kiln, MS. I don't know where I will be in a year, but would like to be in a home of my own.
Number in Household: - Currently because of limited space there is just my husband, Bill, age 60 and myself, age 48. My daughter Melissa, age 20 is staying with my brother in WV and my oldest daughter Samantha, age 23 and her two children Cassie, age 5 and Christopher, age 3 are staying with a friend in another camper in Waveland, MS.

Situation: My husband, my daughter, and myself were in an apartment in Waveland, MS when the hurricane hit. My husband had just gotten out of the hospital the day before after having triple by-pass surgery. We swam out of the apartment when the water was up to our necks. My husband broke the wires holding his breastbone together and lost all his postsurgery meds. He had to be evacuated to Jackson on Wednesday and my daughter and I were taken to West Point on Friday by a church group working with the Red Cross. From there my husband's son came from Kansas City, MO and took us to their home. We finally got a FEMA camper in the last part of March so that I could go back to work.
Current Living Arrangements: - FEMA Trailer
Help: We have received rental assistance from FEMA while in Missouri, also money to replace some things that we lost from FEMA and Red Cross.
Needs:
Computer Supplies: paper and ink HP92 and 93
Cleaning Supplies: Windex, Dishwashing liquid, Laundry detergent, etc.
Household Supplies: sheets-queen size, towels, garbage bags
Clothing mens size 42x30 pants 2X shirts
womens size 14 pants size L shirts mostly jeans and dark colors
Stores you shop at: Walmart and Kmart

3/7
I was reading about the insurance hikes and how it seems that they are taking advantage of everyone. I have another one for you. I contacted the Public Service Commission about this and they say they are not over this particular utility. We moved to a Fema trailer in March 2006 after having been in Missouri for a little over 6 months due to losing our residence in Katrina.
When we finally got them to place a camper on property so that I could go back to my job, we went to get water connected along with electric, etc. The water company made us sign a contract saying that even if we moved we would pay for water for 2 years. Fema moved us to a mobile home in January 2007. I paid the water that was owed when we moved. But now they are billing me for months that I didn't live there.
Yes I signed a contract but the situation was if you didn't sign the contract, you didn't get your water turned on and Fema wouldn't have left the camper there with no water turned on. That was one of the things you have to do before they turn the camper over to you to live in.
How fair is this? It is another way to take advantage of those that are trying to piece their life back together. I may get sued over this or have it put against my credit but I am not paying for 14 months of water which I am not using.
Hopefully they don't put it against me because I am trying to buy a house so that I can get out of Fema assisted living. But regardless I don't think you should have to pay for something that you are not using.

1/26
Sorry I didn't answer sooner, but have been sick. I thought it was a cold but it settled into my chest and had to get antibiotics. I think it was pnuemonia again. Didn't have an xray. Can't afford it. But this is like the third time since Katrina. And I never had respiratory problems before. Makes me wonder.
These mobile homes come furnished so I really don't need anything furniture wise. I have been trying to find some sheets, queen size, and full. I have one for each bed but when you have to constantly take them off, wash them, and put them back they wear out pretty fast. And they weren't new to begin with.
My husband takes medicine for high blood pressure, which they just doubled his dosage right before we moved because he was very stressed out over the situation we were in and it caused his blood pressure to soar. He also takes lasix(don't know if I spelled that right). To prevent fluid build up. And aspirin. But he is on MS medicaid so he doesn't have a problem getting his meds. He just is constantly in pain because when we swam out he broke wires holding his breast bone in place and they didn't mend and are loose.
Thanks for being happy for me. That is what I want. Most people think you want their pity, but they are totally wrong. I just want someone to help me celebrate every little victory because that is another step to a normal life that seemed to disappear after Katrina.

1/15
Hey Leslie,
Just wanted to send out a few lines to let you know what is going on with us. They finally moved us to a 3 bedroom mobile home. It is in a different county and not where I am familiar with but I am learning and I feel like I am in a mansion after being in that camper for 9 months. I am a little closer to work and that helps with the gas. And I can actually sit in a real chair now. Not a booth. It feels WONDERFUL. I never thought that would be that important to me. But then a lot of things have changed. All in all we are a lot happier to be in something that is bigger and has actual rooms. So for now that is what is going on with us.
Thanks for being a good listener and a caring person. It means the world to us.
Debbie
12/12
Well still hanging in. Haven't heard anything about help in moving even though we've called them practically every day. They keep saying I'm forwarding it to my supervisor. I am not ready for Christmas. I really feel like crawling in bed and staying there. But I can't. If it weren't for the kids I don't know what my life would be. Thanks for listening.
Debbie
12/5
It is 20 days til Christmas. It has been 15+ months since things were forever changed by Katrina. I keep hoping and praying that things will get better, that life will once again regain some normalcy. I would love to sit on a real couch or chair, take a bubble bath in a bathtub, have a family dinner at a real table, and a million other things that once I took for granted. But never again will I just assume that these things will just be there. Because in the blink of an eye they can all be snatched away. I think that everyone thinks because so much time has passed that everything is normal now and they are tired of hearing about Katrina. And all the kindness has run out. This morning I received from my "friend" that had allowed us to put a FEMA camper on their property, a letter informing me that I have until December 15th at 8:00 p.m. to vacate the premises or a padlock would be placed on the gate thru which we enter and exit. I called my housing advisor and was told by them there was nothing they could do. I called the 800 FEMA number and was told to call trailer maintenance, which I did and they are trying to find somewhere to put us. Hopefully that will happen before we are evicted. But this is definitely not normal. When will it end?
11/25
As I told you we have been working with a housing advisor from FEMA and in the last 5 or 6 months I have talked to numerous offices within FEMA. Every time I call to find out if anything is happening they give me another number to call so I repeat the information to someone new because nobody knows anything about us from one number to the next. It is really getting frustrating. I know they are supposed to be helping people with disabilities because of a lawsuit, but I applied for a bigger and ADA compliant mobile home in November of 2005 and am still in a camper. My husband is having a lot of health issues right now. He is in a lot of pain from his breastbone wiggling around all the time. The dr. told him the operation to fix it is VERY risky, even more so than the original surgery. My vehicle is starting to need this and need that and requiring money I don't have. But I have to have it to get back and forth to work because we cannot make it without my income. But driving 220+ miles a week will take their toll. I know that it is hard for people who have not been there to understand, but I really sometimes feel that we are being punished for surviving.
As for Christmas I really only wish the children to have a few things to replace everything they lost. Cassie is 5 and wears size 6 clothes(pants and shirts) and she loves Dora the Explorer and anything pink. Christopher is 3 and wears 5T or 5/6 clothes and loves Sponge Bob. When we were all together, I had a double rocking chair that I used to rock both of them in. Now Christopher asks me if we are working on getting a rocking chair house. That is his idea of a place big enough for us all.

11/9 Update:
We have been working with a housing advisor from FEMA for about 4 or 5 months and as of yet nothing. They were going to see about putting us in a mobile home rather than a camper so that my family could get back together. It's bad enough losing everything and now my family is part of the healing process that can't be started because we are not together. We are on the property of a friend that I work with and it was ok to start but they have started in the last few months showing that they obviously don't want us here. I have tried to find something to rent but the prices here (if you can find anything) are outrageous. If I had one wish it would be for a home of my own where I have room for my family and my husband could be at peace and not constantly have the stress which is very bad for his heart. I am sinking in depression and trying very hard not to. I am very grateful that we survived and I know we were being looked after, but it seems with as much time that has passed something could resemble normal life.

MS Crack Fillers

2006-11-03T16:50:00.000-05:00

Found on Katrina's Angels Newsgroup.

6. Rebuilding Assistance in Mississippi Posted by: "Janet Arp"
Tue Oct 31, 2006 5:35 am (PST)
For Pearlington, MS
Laurie Spaschak
Pearlingotn Recovery Center
6098 First Street
Pearlington, MS 39572

For Biloxi
BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH
The Rev Gerald Bultman
2521 Pass RoadBiloxi, MS 39531-2727
Office (228) 267-0008
Coordinator Judy Bultman
(228) 239-8882 or (228) 617-4781
bethelkat@gmail. com

Hancock County
AmeriCorps NCCC
nccchancock@gmail.com

Waveland
Camp Gulfside
Donna Fairchild, Host Site Coordinator
950 South Beach Blvd.
Waveland, MS
campgulfside@bellsouth.net

Robert S. Renfroe
Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service
Special Projects Coordinator
Mobile #: 601.214.9653

Katie Rose
NASCC Field Director
Gulf Coast Recovery Corps
1-228-229-0803

Bay St Louis
Bonnie P. Ringdahl
CityTeam Ministries, Inc.
498 Ulman St.
Bay St. Louis MS 39520
www.cityteam.org
cell: 408.857.5059
bringdahl@gmail. com

Crisis Counselor
Marian Brown
Project Recovery Crisis Counselor/Outreach Worker
(228) 363-1994

ACORN Neighborhoods only
ACORN
Call 800-790-2290 or go to their website at: http://www.acorn.org
Cleaning up trash, ripping out drywall, and putting tarps on roofs to stabilize homes in ACORN neighborhoods.

Entire MS Gulf Coast
Bay Vista Baptist Church
2485 Pass Road
Biloxi, Mississippi 39531-2122
Phone: (228) 388-1166 Fax: (228) 388-9850
This church has an ongoing program of volunteers helping MS Gulf Coast residents with rebuilding, mudouts, clean ups, debris removal, tree removal work. Anyone needing nelp with these things should contact the church.

Operation Helping Hands/Catholic Charities
Denise Chetta, volunteer coordinator
Debbie Koehler (504) 371-7747
Program pairs groups of volunteers with homeowners to help the elderly, the disabled, and those without financial means to reoccupy their homes after the hurricane.

Entire MS Gulf Coast
Mississippi Conference of the United Methodist Church
Hurricane Katrina Recovery
Contact the Mississippi Conference Disaster Response Center toll-free at 1.866.435.7091 or disastercenter@ meridianumc.org to schedule a work team or send a gift to help with hurricane recovery.

Rebuilding Together
Request aid through Rebuild 1000! If your home was damaged by one of these hurricanes, you can get help here, too! We're dedicated to making this happen - we want to help rebuild homes and lives. Please join in this effort today!
For more information go to: http://www.rebuildingtogether.org/
For the application to request assistance:
http://www.kintera.org/autogen/home/default.asp?ievent=134715

Relief Spark Purpose Mission: Relief Spark's purpose is to provide immediate disaster relief, rebuilding assistance and ongoing civic and community support to families in the United States that have lost their homes and/or businesses due to natural disasters such as a hurricane, earthquake, flood, fire, or tornado. Relief Spark will provide teams of trained volunteers that will assess and clean damaged homes, churches and community buildings. We will develop relationships with all aspects of the community; therefore creating information channels between local government and community. We will work with and support local business owners who wish to return, rebuild and reopen by providing marketing and business support. Relief http://reliefspark.org/

Southern Mutual Aid smha@southernmutalhelp.org
Tree clearing, house cleaning, tarping, home repairs

Gulfport Only
If you are a homeowner in Gulfport, MS and were either uninsured or underinsured, they will come to your home, repair your roof, clean up debris, replace sheetrock and paint all at no cost to you!
All you need to do is contact Linda Bates at 228-604-2424. They are also gearing up for a big cleanup and repair effort coming in March! I don't know their specific area(s) that they will work in, but you could call and ask where they work.

Bonnie

2006-10-31T17:08:00.000-05:00

Bonnie S and Loretta J

Email: bellereb@yahoo.com

Location: I left my home in new orleans and went to my parents in mississippi. We got hit with the full brunt of katrina there. I now live in Phoenix Arizona. Not sure where I will be in a year.

Household: Bonnie (49) Loretta (32) and my dog Andouille

Situation: I moved to Phoenix after Katrina. I drove myswelf out of MS after I got my $2000 from FEMA and found an apt here. The first 3 months were rent free and the second 3 months were half price. We now pay the full price of $975.00. Loretta is trying to find a decent job. I am on disability.

Living situation: Condo

Help: Rental assistance from FEMA

Needs: Any cleaning supplies. We get food stamps but they don't cover the cleaning supplies or paper products.
Winter clothes
There are 2 women. One is a 24 to 26 size and the other is a 20 to 22Shop at target and walmart.
We could use some baking pans and a roaster.
Casserole dishes.
We could use feminine supplies.

12/9
Hey Yall,YEAH!!!!! Loretta and I were adopted today. What is so amazing is she is also a Katrina survivor. It makes us feel even more blessed. There is hope out there for us all. Thanks are not enough all we can do now is thank everyone on our behalf,Bonnie and Loretta
Note from Leslie - One person can make all the difference in the world! But it does take more than 1 to make sure a family or couple truly recovers and isn't just surviving. Great news - with more needed!

William

2006-10-31T17:03:00.000-05:00

William W

email: llennox@satx.rr.com

location: Pearlington, MS for the rest of my days.

Number in household: Bill, mid eighties and lots of dogs

Situation: Lost everything including transportation, home and dogs. Was in the house alone for the hurricane and was lucky to be in a two story house because the water came in at least four feet into the second floor. The water rose so fast furniture was floating, doors coming off of hinges barely made it up the stairs. Some of my dogs weren't so lucky.
I have been to the school and registered with different groups and have had some help.

This past year I have had the house gutted, roof replaced. Trying to make several rooms livable so that I can move out of the FEMA trailer. Working on kitchen, bath and living room. Have been robbed of supplies such as insulation.

Current Living Arrangements: Back in my house - still gutted. Got sick of FEMA trailer living. No heat or hot water yet, but better than a trailer.

Help: Insurance company says flood damage won't help. Salvation Army comes once a week with a box of various goods. Volunteers gutted the house and helped clean the yard.

Needs:
I don't have much secure storage space so I only get what I can use fairly quickly.
Removal of debris from gutting of upstairs.
Dog food, Have acquired lots of dogs since the hurricane. Dry food is best. Simple medications for the dogs like heartworm and worming meds. A Vet check of them would get good too.
Paneling installed. It's been bought for a couple of months now, but no volunteers come my way (Leslie continues to look for assistance, but no one seems interested in helping)

3/15 Well I spoke with my dad yesterday, I was inquiring about his needs and he said he was not feeling well enough to talk. Of course I sent my brother there today, he said dad was ready to move out of that house. He wants a smaller house, he just can't take trying to fix that house any more. I guess you could say he has finally cracked. I have just found this info, so I don't know what we are going to do. Maybe this is just a down day. However he was like this yesterday and the day before from what I am told. Bottom line is he has had enough.

3/10 - from his daughter:
Spoke with him yesterday. He was not feeling good, his legs bothering him. He still has debris in his yard. " His house is coming along", that is what he says when I ask. I have been trying to reach him by phone to no avail. Will keep trying and let you know as soon as I reach him.

1/8
My dad was a captain on a merchant vessel. Before that he was in the Navy. By the way he just received his medals from the Korean War. I don't know if they were replacements, I guess they were.

Dad loves to read, when his eyes can stand it,crossword puzzles, garden, and watch sports on TV. You know he likes his dogs, too much for me. He goes to the VA Hall in Waveland everyday, since he is the treasurer. I think he goes just to give himself something to do.

Update 11/27
Visited with my father this past week. I could not stop crying. His health is nothing like it was last year. He is barely able to walk, he says his legs give out on him. He was very happy to receive a TV , thanks to a family in San Antonio. He can now see the picture.

His house is coming along. He is still in need of the ceiling taped, floated and finished. The interior walls have yet to be finished in parts of the house(Waiting on the ceiling). The bathroom closest to the finished part of the house has not been touched, the tub and tiled shower enclosure was not torn out, however there is some tile work to be done above lavatory once replaced and toilet.

I think my real concern for him right now is his drinking water. Do you know of anyone who can inspect his well to see is there is a leak? His water has been tested several time and is still not drinkable. Sent information regarding sanitizing a well and the info to get it retested.

All of the broken window have been fixed. The beading around the panes still has to be installed. Says he can't find it in Mississippi. This is a real skill - does anyone out there have this skill that is willing to do for him?

He met with Diane from Georgia, he said she was a very nice woman. She brought him some coffee, just like he asked.

Thank you for all of your help.

Updated 11.17
1. Light fixtures for all rooms (Ceiling fixtures)
2. Bathroom fixtures
3. Paneling for all rooms (He thinks that would be easier than sheetrock)
4. Still has lots of debris to be removed, including a house. (It was washed off of its foundation, he has now come to terms that is can't be saved. Only took him a year and a half.)

Shop at Wal-Mart and Lowes (closest in driving distance and less traffic than Slidell).

Shelley and Family

2006-10-30T21:51:00.000-05:00

Shelley K, 4 children, 2 dogs, 2 cats.
Email: Semisweet_zero@yahoo.com

Location: - I am in Gulfport, MS. Stayed for the Hurricane and took in people who lost everything. Now I am losing my house and my electricity will be disconnected Wednesday 11/1. (see update below)

Number in Household: - 2 dogs and 2 cats, 1 cat and 1 dog acquired after the storm.
I have a pregnant 16 yo who has been having difficulties with her pregnancy and is on bedrest; a 13 yo boy who will be 14 in Nov., a 6 and 4 yo girls. Then there is me, a 36 yo that has been making it by hard work and detemination.

Situation: I have managed to do it on my own since the Hurricane. My husband left me in Jan. 2006 and took all our savings with him. I have managed by myself since then. Now I am trying to stop a foreclosure and keep my electricity on, but that doesn't seen to be happening. I had to give up a decent job, in order to be home with the kids at night. I have managed to get $348 from FEMA and finally got Food Stamps about 2 weeks ago (my husband helped with that when he turned me in, before I was not eligible because he would not pay child support), and my children have Medicaid. Other than that I have not recieved any assistance. I plan on having a daytime job soon, but not soon enough.
11/6 I have found a job working part time now, and I did manage to get the money through a friend and the St. Vincent de Paul society in Biloxi. Other than that everything is still the same way as it has been.

Current Living Arrangements: - I am living in my house, but they are going to start foreclosure on Nov 18.

Help: - I really need assistance just to pay my electric bill, before the Nov. 1, 3 month's bill is a little over $600

Stores you shop at:
Really the only stores around here are Winn Dixie, Wal-Mart, and KMart

12/22
Hello, sorry for not contacting you sooner. I have been so busy with work and trying to get everything taken care of for Christmas. But let me give you an update on everything.
All my children have been adopted. The last 2 got adopted today through a local relief organization, thank you Tami. The 3 little girls got adopted by a nice lady and her family, their adoption sort of snowballed to her office decided to pitch in and help. Receive a large box full of toys, clothing and even something for the older children.
Thank you Shellie and all who helped her, the Playstation 1 and all the games were great, they are all fighting over who is going to play first...No one until Christmas...LOL And of course I cannot forget to mention Janna, I am so excited to see my daughter's face when she gets the MK cosmetics, of course I can't wait to get mine either.
On to the other things, I have finally caught up on all my bills except the mortgage, but my wonderful boss has actually volunteered to front me the money and take it out of my paycheck a little at a time. He has also decided to keep me full time after the new year. When I first started it was full time just until New Years then to part time, but business has picked up and I have proven to him that I will work and not goof off.
That has made my life a lot easier, I was concerned that I would get everything caught up then end up falling back into a hole again.
Also, to let you know, that everything that has happened to me through this site and another site has helped me in more ways than one. My older children have realized that no matter what happens that there are people worse off than we are. So we have found a family that has fallen through the cracks and really needed help and we have adopted them (not for Christmas, as an ongoing effort). When I went to visit them a few weeks ago, they had mattresses on the floor, no dressers, no kitchen furniture or what not, and the couch they had had broken springs and holes.
We have been doing the freecycle thing and now they have bedroom furniture, living room furniture, and cookware, we have also gotten the children clothing and toys for Christmas (they did not put up a tree this year, because they could not afford to buy anything for the children). We are still working on a dining room set and a few other things for their kitchen. As I said thanks for letting me know about freecycle, I didn't need to pay for anything but gas to help this family.
Well, I guess this pretty much covers everything. And if you are the one that was talking to Tami, thank you.
I hope you and everyone around you has a very MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A WONDERFUL NEW YEAR.
I know I will, because I have made wonderful friends through this website and the ones on yahoo.
Thanks,Shelley

Help LA Transitional Home Communities

2006-10-30T19:07:00.000-05:00

There are currently over 12,000 occupied FEMA trailers located in several hundred clusters around the state with an estimated 25,000+ people living in them. While this was an immediate answer to a catastrophic situation, reality is that many of these temporary FEMA trailer sites were placed on available land found in remote areas, far away from accessible services such as grocery stores, medical facilities, jobs and childcare. Many of them do not have transportation to gain access to the nearest services. Unless a church or community group has taken the site under its wing, many displaced citizens are virtually isolated from services and information. Still in shock a year after being uprooted overnight, many people have ended up in unfamiliar territory, isolated and alone, with the overwhelming task of integrating into established communities they did not choose as their homes.
The goal of the Louisiana Family Recovery Corps is to empower these residents to move into more permanent housing situations as quickly as possible.
There are many short term goals that must be accomplished in order to achieve the goal of more permanent housing.
Some Common Critical Issues Facing these Residents:
Lack of Transportation
Employment
Access to Primary and Behavioral Health Care
School Registration and Attendance
Substance Abuse Counseling
Child Care programs
After-school youth programs
Elderly Services
Services for Disabled residents
Help in Completing & filing documents/applications for FEMA, Social Security/Medicaid, etc.
To accomplish our goal we need YOUR help…
We need church groups and community organizations to formally adopt a site in their communities – an incredible step in helping many of our neighbors affected by the hurricanes to resume a quality life, but also a serious responsibility to empower new members of your communities.
There are two main types of sites:
Group sites have security and management and service providers need permission to gain access.
Commercial sites are already existing trailer parks in which FEMA has leased lots. There is usually no management on site.
Sites range in size from one or two trailers to 573 and they are in urban, rural, and suburban areas.
If you are interested in adopting a site or partnering with another organization, please contact me at kim@recoverycorps.org.
Empowering these residents through communication and access to resources is vital to the recovery of Louisiana.
If a group has already informally adopted a site, that’s fantastic. Please send me their contact information at kim@recoverycorps.org, so that we can work together to access more resources.
There are reintegration specialists from the Department of Labor working diligently around the state.
If you have a job opening, please go to their website and make the opening available.
Phone Numbers
Non-emergency medical transportation phone numbers – 1-800-864-6034

NOLA Road Home Experience

2006-10-29T22:20:00.000-05:00

11/17 Article
Grant requests by phone now OK
Administrators seek to reduce worries Thursday, November 09, 2006 By Coleman Warner
Facing intense pressure from Gov. Kathleen Blanco to speed the processing of Road Home rebuilding grants, administrators of the high-profile assistance program announced Wednesday that homeowners can complete their applications by phone. The change takes effect immediately.
"We want to ensure that all eligible homeowners are able to apply, regardless of their comfort in accessing the Internet or filling out a paper application, " said Mike Byrne, the program's chief administrator. The new procedure resulted from a suggestion Sen. Ann Duplessis, D-New Orleans, made during a recent legislative hearing and is intended to help homeowners overcome their anxiety about providing information on a form that alludes to harsh penalties against anyone found guilty of fraud, said Louisiana Recovery Authority Executive Director Andy Kopplin. The LRA sets policy for the Road Home program and urged the procedural change, which had to be carried out by the contractor ICF International.
"People are very cautious about what information they put down on an application because they're nervous," Kopplin said.
With the change, homeowners can complete an application by calling 1 (888) ROAD-2-LA. Program staff members will fill out applications for the homeowners and help set up appointments with advisers at one of 11 centers in Louisiana or at a 12th scheduled to open Nov. 16 in Houston. The phone lines will be open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week.
Officials reported during a Louisiana Recovery Authority meeting on Monday that Blanco has ordered administrators of the Road Home effort to approve rebuilding money for 10,000 storm-damaged families by the close of November. The program has a backlog of nearly 79,000 applications.
Officials said that as of Monday, they have held 19,356 application appointments and calculated 1,721 grant awards, with a total of $110.3 million in benefits calculated. The average award was $67,908. Financed with $7.5 million in federal money, the program compensates homeowners damaged by Hurricanes Katrina or Rita last year for uninsured losses of up to $150,000.
But gearing up the program has taken months, and many homeowners have complained about long waits for an appointment.
A news release said the Road Home program is adding hundreds of appointment slots in coming days at assistance centers and that homeowners who already have scheduled meetings in December or later may be able to get the appointment moved up by calling the toll-free number. In a previous move to expedite the filing of applications for the grant assistance, officials dropped a requirement that homeowners list the cash value of other assets, including checking and savings accounts, stocks and life insurance.

11/2
Letters From the Road Home
We’re looking for Road Home stories here at Think New Orleans.
Michael Homan has been blogging about his Road Home experience. The math has been confusing, but answers have been a phone call away. The rough bits are all owning to Allstate.
What are your experiences with the Road Home? Good, bad?
Sincerely, Alan Gutierrez alan@thinknola.com

The LRA process: One applicant's experience
02:23 PM CST on Sunday, October 29, 2006
Mikel Schaefer / Executive Producer WWL-TV
If you're one of the thousands waiting to meet face to face with representatives from the Road Home Program and you're wondering just what you're in for, here it is.

Like many of you, I suffered damage from Katrina and signed up for the Road Home Program. I filled out my application online and recently received a letter to make an appointment to come to one of their 10 registration offices in the state. One very important note, if you registered, that's not the same as applying, so make sure you fill out an application either online or on paper and send it in.

They offered an October 31 appointment in Kenner but anxious to get the process moving, I asked them if there was something sooner at another location and they offered me a 2pm appointment on October 19 at their office on Poydras Street downtown. I saved two weeks by being flexible about the location.

Here's a timeline about how the process went for me.

1:40pm - I arrived at 1555 Poydras Street and inside the downstairs lobby there was a table with literature on the program. I introduced myself and they checked the list of appointments and after finding my name, someone escorted me to the 9th floor. I asked if they had been busy and the representative said the day before they saw about 100 people but around 25 had postponed their meeting.

After getting off of the elevator there was an NOPD officer at a desk outside the office and he checked my license against the appointments before letting me inside.

I walked to the reception desk just steps from the officer and they again checked my I.D. with the appointments. They gave me some documents to sign explaining their privacy policy and an authorization to release some information. The room had about 37 people in it with a steady stream of people moving in and out of the reception room.

There was a plastic play table with puzzles and blocks for children. I realized I didn't bring anything to read so I just casually looked over the shoulder of a woman reading a magazine from New York. I was thinking of asking her if she had something I could borrow to read, but decided not to.

2:13pm - A man periodically comes out and calls someone's name who walks into another room and sits in front of a cubicle before he/she returns to their seat. I'm not sure what is done inside of there because I really can't see what's taking place, but I figure that's my first stop.

2:15pm - The man calls my name and after walking into the room I sat down and they took my picture and scanned my thumbprint.

The one thing that struck me is how cordial everyone had been up to then, very polite and businesslike. I told the woman sitting next to me, "people are pleasant."

She said, "you don't mind waiting if people don't have an attitude."

2:23pm - The New Orleans Police Officer opens the door for a man coming in with a walker, right then my counselor comes in behind them and calls my name, introduces herself and said she's going to make this as "painless as possible."

2:37pm - We walked out of the reception area past the elevators and down a hall to her office. My counselor asked for my username and password that you get when you apply online and she used it to call up my application making sure I answered all the questions correctly.
2:44pm - She printed up and I signed the home evaluation work sheet. This is to have someone come to my home to inspect my home. She says to call her back if I don't hear from someone in two weeks.

2:58pm - She explains that the process to get any money will take 60-to-90 days. She can't give me any idea of how much money I could qualify for, that will be done after the home inspection and they take into consideration money I've received from sources like FEMA and insurance.

She also explained that if I do qualify for some assistance that when I return the most money I will get at that time will be 10-20% of the award and will get the rest later. She also said when they evaluate how much money to give out against your losses they estimate on basic needs and won't calculate a number based on high priced items such as granite countertops or expensive kitchen or bath accessories. She then took some of the documents I brought like insurance payments and a recent appraisal of my home to be scanned onto a disk so the evaluator will have the information he/she needs to come up with a dollar figure.

3:11pm - Since my wife couldn't be with me for this visit, I have to call my counselor back in a week and let her know when she can come in to get her picture and thumbprint taken.

3:20pm - The meeting was done and she gave me all of my documents and a copy of the CD they scanned all of my documents onto. She said the next step in the process would be hearing from someone to check out the damage on my house.

The process was relatively painless. I would make sure to bring as many documents you have on your home so in the event they need them, then the process doesn't get delayed any longer than it has to. Do not forget your I.D. since they checked mine just three times before the process began.

Wednesday October 25th:

I received a call around 9:25am from the home evaluator saying he could be at my house this morning to take pictures and take notes. I agreed to meet him around 10:15am so he could get the information he needs. I was lucky to have the time to meet him on such short notice. Flexibility again can work in your favor to get through this process.

When he showed up at my house the first thing he did was take a picture of me in front of my house as a way of identifying the house with me like having my thumbprint on file. He explained he would take pictures and take notes on the damage at my home. He will then send the information to a Road Home evaluator who will use the information in conjunction with all the money I've received for the house so far. That evaluator will come up with an answer to whether I qualify for any assistance.

He said if I don't hear from anyone in two weeks to check back with my counselor to see what's the latest.

Recovery and Relief Resources

2006-10-28T12:31:00.000-05:00

Please read ALL of these links. Some of the items are fully within your ability to do by yourself with no paperwork - it's little stuff to help yourself.
Then there are others that are just ideas to keep in the back of your head. And then the rest are multiple links to assistance. I know there's no way to go through all of these in a day or even a week. But if you work all of the ideas, just a few at a time, you'll get through them all AND you'll get more help than you thought was ever available. It doesn't mean I'll take you off the site, but it means life will be a little less stressful. OK?

As I am able, I will be adding state-specific resources as well. Please be patient as all my contacts are in MS. It takes a long time to build the information.

Weekly Updates From Leslie Just an overview of what I do in a week.
12/3 www.PostSanta.com - A woman in LA, CA is hoping to help some of you through her site. Please look and write to her.
11/28 Free Eye Glasses...
Lenscrafters will be sponsoring a community day on December 5th.
Anyone who needs new glasses and has a financial need can go to anyLenscrafters (nationwide) that day, bring their prescription and a letterfrom their organization with the organization' s tax ID # on it and get theirprescriptions filled for free. - many of you are associated with registered non-profits. Talk to your case manager for the letter...
11/24 Single Parent Help Resource Page
http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/11/single-parent-grandfamily-resources_24.html
11/24 LA Assistance Resource Page
http://katrinanetworking.blogspot.com/2006/11/la-assistance.html
11/18 - Shared Housing Information
11/18 - Education Assistance for Both Teens and Adults
11/18 Help for Caregivers and Elderly
11/12 Extending Thanksgiving Bounty
11/12 Snail Mail Scam Also applies to email. Don't get suckered! A bunch in my area have.
11/13 Staying Healthy and Paying Less To Do it Updated 11/14
Temporary Assistance For Needy Families - This program allows you to work while receiving assistance from the gov't. It also opens up many other funding sources.
General Assistance - utilities, medical, grants, etc. Lots updated 11/18
Home Repair Assistance
Preparing For A Disaster
FEMA Trailer Specific Preparations
Avoiding The Flu

11/2 Total Community Action is taking applications to assist with home repairs. The assistance is limited to only a few zip codes: 70119, 70125, 70126 and maybe more.
Call to find out what other areas: 309-6707. 309-6708, 309-6709, 309-6713
Best wishes!
From FreeCycleNewOrleans

11/4 MS Assistance Agencies

Cheryl

2006-10-28T12:06:00.000-05:00

Cheryl V., Luis, Javier and Chloe; Zeus and Hera

Email: - catlover7731@yahoo.com
Location: We were in Terrytown, La( Jefferson Parish), and relocated to N.C and plan on staying in N.C. it is a beautiful state.
Number in Household: Cheryl, 38, Luis, 48, Javier(M) 16, Chloe ( F) soon to be 9, Zeus and Hera (4 y.o. cats)
Situation: Sometimes I feel guilty because I am not as bad as others, I didn't lose my life, and only lost things that one-day will be replaced. We restarted in NC due to my daughter’s asthma. It has been hard, My husband couldn't find a job here that would pay all the bills and car payments, food, clothes, cat supplies ect. So he went back to Louisiana last week to help pay off bills, car and get us out of this black hole. FEMA approved my declaration of loss of all my things in the apartment and only gave me $2500 - for 2 computers, furniture, toys electronic games, memories ect. We are not eligible for rental asst. because we live in a HUD home. We pay rent of $450 but according to FEMA we are receiving help from HUD
Current Living Arrangements: rental house
Help: Red Cross, FEMA
Needs
Foods We are good
Paper Products Good..
School Supplies Pens and pencils would be great - the kids have gone through my supply.
Computer Supplies Cartridges would be great HP 94/95

Clothing
Chloe has grown so much and is going through clothes like crazy, she is a size 6 1/2 - 7 in women’s sneakers and only has 1 pair
She is tall and needs long XL (16) pants and XL shirts.. Winter is coming so it needs to be winter clothes, and she is in need of PJ’s (she can wear a women’s small- medium and any color is ok with her.)

Cheryl needs shirts (long sleeve( 2XL or 22), and pants 22-24( 2x) tall. I like brown, gray, black, blue pants, and shirts any color are ok.
Cleaning Supplies We are good.
Household Supplies I need some speciality cookware because I am a vegetarian and make my own things, so if anyone has a food processor and fruit/veggie juicer they need to get rid of please let me know.
Stores you shop at Wal-Mart, Target, JC Penny

3/8 We are doing ok. not great, not bad. Haven't won the lotto, if we did we would be great :) . My husband has been working for a month and a half. We are catching up on over due bills, and paying off money a person lent him to pay for the car insurance. Once we catch up on the bills, and pay off this loan we will be better. My kids are growing like weeds. My son took his SAT'S and did ok, and also took a test to get certified in Microsoft , which he passed and now is certified in Microsoft office, he is taking another certification in June, and is participating in a state wide test for computers, so I am saving money for some dress clothes. My daughter is growing like a weed, she is 5'1" at 9 yrs old. sheesh. We are settling in to life ok here, and are going to try and move out of where we are living this summer with our tax refund money. New Orleans seems so long ago. I still have days when I remember something I left behind, it will take me about 10 yrs to get everything I need at this rate, oh well. I hope you are doing ok, and that winter is being good to you. take care.

2/8
Kitchen needs are long
these are the necessities I need: Pyrex bowls, Corningware bakeware, mashed potato thingy(the thing you mash potatoes with). 2 pots one for soup, and one that is 1.5 qt( the ones I have are so bad that they have holes in the side ( not all the way through but on the paint, these are red pots and are made with some material that chips away mine have big chips in them). toaster, the toaster I have sparks coming out of the toaster, when the toast pops up, and am worried about starting a fire.
Not a necessity: food processor, food dehydrator, and food juicer- if you come along these, they would be appreciated, but it is not a real big need right now. thanks Cheryl

1/12
I just wanted to give you the heads up that Gary( dot, maryland) sent me a set of baking things( cookie sheet, bread pan, muffin pan)... It made my day. I had some bananas and made some banana bread. Thanks for sending him in my direction, he has purked me up on bad days.
The job I applied for called today, they picked someone esle for the job, wasn't surprised, but what the heck. life is life . cheryl

1/26
We went from wonderful 60's and 70's to 30's . A big change. I don't remember when we spoke last so I am doing my update. My husband got his first paycheck!! yeh. We are behind in bills, ect.
But it was nice to be able to buy food - the closets where down to a few cans of beans and pack of pasta. Right now I am not going to be on track for 2 months at least. My husband uses the car for work, so I am almost home bound all the time, which has gotten me feeling real down, but what can I do. I have been baking more with the baking stuff I was sent, thanks to you! I am waiting for my husband's W-2s to come in so I can file taxes and buy some things I need. The kids are in deseperate need of clothes. Chloe is growing out of children's clothes, and needs a whole new wardrobe,and my son's clothes are down to a few pants, and shirts. This money will be a great help.

1/8
My update... A person from a cat board I am on, is a lawyer in NYC , and on behalf of my husband she wrote a letter to the company that fired him. We are looking at a wrongful termination lawsuit.
I am still job looking, Teusday I am attending a session at a local job center to help find me a job. The good news is my husband got called in for a job. Friday he goes for orientation. We won't have any money for a few weeks( he gets payed bi-weekly), but at least money will be coming in. I got emergency food stamps for this month, but with this job, they will not be renewed, oh well.
I am hoping that I will be able to get medicaid re instated for my kids, this job only has health insurance for my husband, and it would be too expensive for us to purchase insurance. My daughter is asthmatic, and I need to see doctors monthly.
I don't do any other hoping, because everytime I do, I seem to slide backwards. The kids are growing so much. Chloe is growing out of her clothes like a weed. As soon as i have some money I will be shopping for clothes. We have a great Goodwill over here, so I can pick up alot of clothes for her for $20. My son is going to take his SAT's this month, and live is going on. FEMA is a forgotten thing, and I know things will get better.
I have discovered frugal living, lol. I hope , out of my tax refund, to buy a small freezer, and some canning equipment , grow some tomatoes, and save money. One day I will have a nice little house with lots of veggies growing in the back, with a cow, some chickens and a horse. That is my dream. It is not a big one. Once I am out of this hole, I plan on helping others by purchasing Angelfood ministries food boxes and donating one , when I can. There have been alot of people who have helped me, and maybe by doing this I can pay them back.
I know one day I will write you with good news, and I can finally say Thank you for all the help you have given, but now I don't need it.
For now take care, Cheryl
12/28
Our xmas was so so. As you know I almost burned the kitchen, and after cleaning the stove, discovered my heating element was loose, causing a short. I have called twice the office for the housing authority here, , the short caused a hole in the bottom, but the laborors who came out said it is ok to use. We didn't have any money to buy special food, so we just dined on rice, canned corn and some chicken thighs. Paula H. in N.C. sent the kids a few gifts, which helped make the day a little special, but in general it was a let down, I really don't feel like celebrating any more xmas's again.
Chloe picked out a nice pair of sneakers and had 4 dollars left so she picked out a Hello Kitty wallet that was in clearance. Thank you for it, Chloe was real , real happy she received this.
New Years is coming up and food will again be sparce, oh well. Someone sent some clothes for me for spring, Thank you that will be a great help when it gets warmer, I did have to pass on some things that were too short, to a needy family in the area. Thanks again Cheryl
12/21
My husband was fired for a driving violation leaving his job. The site manager/safety manager is a idiot. My husband passed a car Monday night driving home, because the car was going really slow ( 10 miles in a 35 mil) so he passed it in an area where the line seperating the 2 lanes was not visible. His forman, H.R. person spoke up for him but this guy would not budge, I spoke to him and he would not listen to me. He is just an idiot. I am trying to take it further, but now my husband is out of a job, there are no openings now until the new year. Toyota Financial called today, maybe about taking our only car back, we are 2 months behind, I didn't answer them, because I really don't know what to do. I am sick, with no money for medicine. My husband was called in for 2 other jobs the same time he got this job, but I do not know if they are still available, he is going totry again tomorrow calling, but as you well know people are partying for the holiday. My kids were supposed to be adopted for christmas by someone, and I have not received anything for them, so I dont' plan on receiving anything for them. I don't have enough food for the holidays, no job, and no gifts so I am not celebrating, and probably will never again celebrate it. I am looking forward to the new year, and hope that next year will be better. Thanks for the well wishes. Happy New Year. Cheryl
12/14
The good news is jobs are opening up for my husband , right now he taking a Welding test and if he passes he will be working 45 minutes away. It is a good paying job with benefits. I would be able to play catch up with some bills, but a better xmas would have to wait until next year. He also has 2 other offers of jobs, so if this doesn't work up something will work out. The kids are growing, Chloe needs shoes badly , but I am being patient, and she is a good child, telling me when I have money please buy her new shoes. For the first time in months I am hopeful
The Katrina Aid Today people are going to give us gas money, we are just broke, broke, broke. I am going to volunteer for them, calling other people in the state from Katrina and see how they are doing. So please keep your fingers crossed for some good times for me. Thanks cheryl
12/12
Please everyone cross your fingers, my husband was called in for a job that is about one hour and 40 minutes away, and it is for 5 months, but the pay is $20 an hour, I will be without a car during most of the week, but the pay will help us straighten ourselves out. He goes Wednesday to see a video, and fill out forms. So please keep your fingers crossed nothing goes wrong. Thanks cheryl
12/7
My husband is out job hunting daily , only to be told, come back after the new year. I was accepted to Guilford college, but was denied the attempt to consolidate a federal defaulted loan,so I won't be going. I am 2 months behind on my car bill, so it will probably be repossesed and I will be without a car all together. I am almost out of cat food, but some friends bought me enough cat food for 2 months, so I don't have to worry about my cats, which is some relief. My daughter's asthma is acting up because of the cold weather, and because of our money condition, I only turn on the heat in the morning and at night for 2 hrs, so her asthma is not to good, she is on a nebulizer. Other than that we are the same, I am not looking forward to the holidays, I would like to close all the blinds, shut off the t.v. and just lie down until they are passed, I won't have extra money to buy food for special dinners, or anything so why bother. Take care. cheryl
11/27
Leslie
HI I just wanted to update you that I got my phone bill and electric bill paid for this month, yeh!! The Salvation Army here in High Point, was given gift cards to split among us evacuees, well instead of giving them out all at once, this is the second time that she has given them out. They have been losing money because every month you do not use them it is a $2.50 fine, so I got 4 gift cards that said $100 but were worth $85. I payed 2 months worth of phone and one month of electic/water/sewage and filled up my car with gas, lol. I could have used it for a nicer Christmas, but what the heck - at least I will have lights and telephone service. Thank you so much for your worry about this. I did apply to Modest needs but they turned me down, so this money was a great find for me. Take care and hope you stay away from the bees. Cheryl
11/25
we are not so good, what else is new? I guess it is the holidays and people shopping and me not having any money to buy things for my kids can get really depressing. Right now my husband's job looking has come up bad, I have applied on line to Lowes, Sears, MOses Cone hospital, Pet SMart, and am attending a job help program next week. We just can't seem to get out of this hole, and I am not sure if I will have phoneservice/internet access the week after next, if I don't find money, because I don't have money to pay the bill, or buy food for that matter. FEMA Rental Assistance has promised me help since last month and they keep giving me the run around saying I need this paper and that, I know I can't depend on them, but was hoping on this money to keep us afloat and have some money for the holidays, oh well that is FEMA.
11/17 update
This month is our down month. My husband went down with a friend to Louisiana to work at a job that would pay off our debts and help us buy another car, well the first week there, he had a gun stuck in his face by a teenager on a bike, then the job he was working at let him go because of not having a car( his friend was working a different shift who he drove around with.

Then he comes back up here 2 wks ago to take a test in S.C. only to be told they are not testing right now. So he is out of work and not being able to find work in the area, I have found him work all over the country that pays real good, but without a car he can't work. I am trying to find work, but am awaiting help with work clothes from a agency here. I dont' think I would be able to find a job with a pair of sneakers with holes in them. I also applied to 1800 charity car, and am awaiting about getting another car, I also have tried to contact waystowork.com in my area, and still have had no luck reaching them.

The holidays are coming up and I really don't feel like celebrating, there are all these things being shown for kids and stuff, and I won't be able to buy anything I wanted for my kids. Today on the View Rosey O'donnell was saying that they were donating about 500( ?) Nintendo DS for Katrina kids. What Katrina kids, there are Katrina kids all over the country who need help who are they helping? that is my question.

Hopefully the new year will be better, because the end of this year is really stinking. Sorry for being so down. I just wanted to update you to my situation. Cheryl