[Mercedes-Lackey] Larry Dixon's note re: Hurricane Katrina refugees

[Robert Martin]

Actually, there IS some relief efforts that you can get involved in.

While no one can go in and out of the actual disaster areas, there are
refugees in various areas around the country who have already gotten out of
the region.

Once such location is Houston, TX, at the Astrodome.  There are currently
efforts amongst the religious community in that area in progress to bring
succor and sustinence to the people there.

If you are interested, you should contact the Houston Mennonite Church
(their information is online).  Training is this weekend, September 3rd,
4th, and 5th (1 training session offered per day for 2 hours... You only
need to attend one day).  They will be then serving food to the refugees in
the Astrodome.

If you cannot pick up and go, there is one more thing you can do.

Take a half-gallon zip lock bag (or several, if you can afford to), and put
in each bag:

- A toothbrush and regular sized tube of toothpaste
- Deodorant
- Soap
- Shampoo
- A travel pack sized package of wet wipes (or similar item)

Ship these "hygiene bags" to:

Houston Mennonite Church
"Katrina Relief" 
1231 Wirt Road
Houston, TX 77055 

The sooner the better and don't worry about them getting too many... These
things will run out and they'll need more later.

-----Original Message-----
From: mercedes-lackey-bounces at lists.herald.co.uk
[mailto:mercedes-lackey-bounces at lists.herald.co.uk] On Behalf Of Melanie
Dymond Harper
Sent: Friday, September 02, 2005 3:49 PM
To: mercedes-lackey at lists.herald.co.uk
Subject: [Mercedes-Lackey] Larry Dixon's note re: Hurricane Katrina refugees

>From http://www.gryphonking.com/ :

Sept. 1
I'm an experienced emergency worker (7 yrs volunteer firefighter, 2 yrs
stormspotter & CERT (Civilian Emergency Response Team)). Mercedes Lackey and
I have an existing charitable foundation we are turning towards the effort
of helping the fantasy, scifi, and roleplaying games fans hit by Katrina.

When Katrina was coming in, I packed up my rescue gear for activation, and
began putting together a civilian relief convoy to help out the Gulf Coast
fandom. The high-level dispatch I saw today is, in as many words, "Nobody
Goes In" during the continued, and perhaps complete, evacuation of the Gulf
Coast. The only aid people that are being specifically asked for at the
moment, through my channels, are fast water rescue teams.

So, the angle of the fan/pro/gamer aid effort I've been assembling is now
shifting on the fly---from one of going in with supplies for those who
stayed and pulling out those left homeless, to instead, locating the fans
who HAVE evacuated, and relocating them to places they can get back on their
feet. We'll be taking some in ourselves up here in Oklahoma. We have room
and resources in house for six or so people and our contractor is readying
to rebuild the garage into a bunkhouse to accomodate up to
22 at any one time.

Email will ALWAYS work best for sending information to me. Studio number
phone number is 918-343-9462. IMs/SMS: gryphongryn at Y!M, 31317565 on ICQ,
gryphgryphgryph on AIM. If you can get word in directly to any
fans/pros/gamers in need, get this info to them. If they can make no other
contact, tell them that if they can make it to Exit 255 on I-44 in Oklahoma,
they're ten minutes from us and we have space ready. And if they can only
get partway, we will make sure someone can rendezvous and bring them in. Let
NO ONE be bashful or selfconscious right now---this is not a situation of
either pride or pity. If someone needs a roof, get'em to tell us. If someone
has a roof, tell us. Share this whole message with whoever you think will be
interested.

The website may angle, as it develops, towards a "placement service forum"
system where we try to unite people who need a home with households that
they'd fit in with. And prevent unfortunate matches, such as the realistic
situation of someone who has good intentions but isn't really economically
able to take someone in---so they both sink. 
Fandom is a VERY tight-knit group, and in this case, that could be a vital
advantage, if contact info can travel at the usual speed of rumor.

We are all family because of our passions. Possibly the most valuable thing
that gamers, fans and pros can give each other in these times is a gift
beyond price: the knowledge that in tragedy as much as in joy, their fellows
are there for them with open hearts and open arms.

I'll get more info to you as soon as I can.

Yours,
Larry Dixon


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