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[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] Date Posted: 08:40:28 09/03/05 Sat Author: Pamela Hamer-Hood Subject: I am so heartsick, they wouldn't take my help... My Dear Friends, I live in the DFW area and I am so frustrated and so angry over this whole mess. I have fired off emails to everyone I can find an email address for. This is the worst thing I will ever see in my lifetime. Kidd, my heart breaks for you too, I know you are heartsick as well and good for you for not allowing politics to keep you from speaking up for those who can't be heard. I too believe with my whole heart that George W. made a decision to punish those people. He fooled the people around him with crap like, we're doing all we can. I don't want to use our soldiers and such, because that would just make this nation vulnerable to Terroist. But, the truth is there is so much they could have done. So many things they could have dropped into those areas not accessible. It wasn't until George W. saw that tide was turning and that people were getting furious that he was deliberately withholding and delaying getting help, real help in there. He abandoned not just the poor, but also the sick, the elderly, the children, everyone. First they were victimized by the storm and then we did. I also believe from the bottom of my heart that when the entire city goes under water, we should be glad there were stores they could get into and get some food. It will just sit there and rot in the filth and the water, so why shouldn't they get diapers and water, etc. Why were they threatened with being shot when they suffered for 3 days without food, water, any communication, any protection and finally the majority of them were getting staples. Only a few punks, just like everywhere, went about terroizing the weak, the helpless, the unprotected. They sat in that fish bowl with no idea that we were all out here crying and begging our govt to get them out, help them, drop them supplies in those outreaches instead of setting up portable food places that required many to die just trying to get there, most couldn't get there period. They went into a city collapsed, with no means of communication and expected the people to just come to them. Did you know they turned people back over and over that went and offered to carry people out? No, no, no. It's dangerous. Bull... they had been given orders by our elitist President and they followed it to a tee. Even when a group of tourist collected 10,000 in order to buy their own bus out, this after their's was taken from them. They just headed out on the highway and kept walking and walking and they come over a hill and there for miles and miles are buses lined up, trucks with supplies, all kinds of people there being told no they couldn't, ask yourself why that is... there is no excuse for the suffering that our brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers and babies and kids should be in this horrible nightmare. I am weeping and can't stop, except when I am yelling out loud at the t.v. Today, I got up at 3 a.m. and went to the 24 hr Walmart and bought $200 worth of supplies, grabbed my Book of Common Prayer, and headed 30 miles to Mesquite where I grew up. There is a small mall there were they are stopping the buses first. I don't know why they are stopping in Mesquite. I was so angry I started crying. They wouldn't take my donations, they aren't accepting any there. They make those buses pull off the highway and wait until daylight to actually move them on into Dallas, maybe 20 mi away at best. All the parking lot entrances were maned by local police. I begged them to just let me go in and tell them they are loved and being prayed for by millions of people around the world. I brought my birth certificate, my drivers license, my marriage license, and proof that I had been sanctioned by the Bishop of the Dallas Episcopal Diocese as a lay minister. That I am a Rehabilitation Science intern, due to graduate in December and that I just want to hold their hands, look into their eyes and let them see they are loved and cared for. But they wouldn't let me in. I said that when I was ill for so long, it was the early, early morning hours that I felt the most hopeless and alone and I didn't want them to feel that way, even if I could only help one person. But no, they said only the Red Cross Volunteers and police were being allowed in there. I asked why, who made that decision, and of course he said he was told that by his supervisor. So I drove another 20 mi's down the road to Reunion Arena, again they were surrounding Reunion. I said that I had the supplies they had put a call out for but none of the police were helpful. They would look up and say around the corner, around the corner. Finally I parked and went in search of where to put these supplies. I got 5 loaves of bread, a case of peanut butter, a case of jelly, baby stuff like pacifiers and bottles, a case of bottled water. A giant size jug of chocolate syrup for the kids, big jug of pickles, and a huge jar of Louisiana hot sauce. I also bought 5 flash lights with batteries, 2 children sleeping bags, 2 adult sleeping bags, 2 kids chairs, 2 adult chairs, the kind in the bag. I bought five giant bags of mixed fresh fruit, with apples and oranges in it. 10 lbs of fresh bananas. I bought as much as I could and went in search of a place to leave it. Finally I found the area. There was a ton of stuff all over the floor, and a dozen salvation army men were just sitting in the back of a truck watching me bring stuff in. Finally they came and helped me unload the last of it and I asked again. Would it be alright if I go in and minister to the people. Same thing over and over, I just want to tell them how sad we are and how heartsick we are for them and that they are loved, so the police said go around the corner and you will see the entrance. After I walked several blocks, I found the entrance that they were bringing the evacuated people in through and walked up to the armed entrance, where the Red Cross people were standing blocking the entrance. I begged them to let me just check to see if someone just needed someone to talk too. I brought my cell phone fully charged to see if anyone wanted to use it. I brought a notebook for them to write down family members who are missing.I When I saw people pull into the parking lot just in from Louisiana, I also got to see them go in and then they were back. They were turned away because they hadn't come in on the buses. The woman was crying and her son was just standing to the side of her where 3 police officers quickly converged. I could see how upset whe was. So when I was driving out, I stopped beside the 5 of them. I dug out my last $40 and gave it to the woman. She began to cry and was so thankful and kind, I felt like i should be thanking her. I attempted to go to Tarrant County, another so-called shelter. where only red cross volunteers and police were allowed, turned away again. I couldn't believe it. I still can't believe it. As I was leaving, there was young man sitting outside with his puppy. They wouldn't let him come in and shower with his dog, so he just sat outside. When he asked if they wouldn't let me in, I stopped and asked how he was. So here comes a red cross volunteer man and blocks me from even speaking to him. I don't think they are evacuees, I think they are prisoners, and I don't know why. So I came back here where I have internet so I could update everyone. Hundreds of people have offered their homes, supplies, furnniture, whatever they need. But the sad thing is that they too are being told to leave their name, number, address, etc. but "sorry, we need at least 48hours to check you out... It really is a crisis here, everywhere they go they are being denied the services and homes that we have to offer. You might be asking yourself why i don't I just volunteer with the Red Cross?i Well I tried that Wednesday. I caled, I went to their website and dowloaded the application, only to be told that it would take at a minimum of 2 weeks before they had another orientation, hopefully. I said, "Are you saying you don't have an emergency orientation, this is Dallas, why wouldn't you." It is so frusting and so heartbreaking not to be allowed to help, to hold their hands, tell them they are loved, that we never stopped praying for them. The standard line here is that they don't need any volunteers in Dallas, only already oriented Red Cross people. In Houston they are happy for the volunteers, they put out a call for the volunteers I just want to scream. Love and hugs to all, pam p.s. For anyone who is asking themselves or each other, "why didn't they get out". They couldn't get gas, there were no buses or any other type of transportation available to help them leave, they are the very poorest people in this nation, we must not give up, we have to be their voice. [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] Replies:
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