Today, I dropped off some items of clothing at the collection point here in Austin, TX for the families that have evacuated to central Texas. The location was Freescale Semiconductor (formerly Motorola). I knew people were generous, and wanted to help, but I was completely blown away at what I saw. I sat in the line of cars for about 5 minutes waiting to pull into the company's entrance. Another 10 minutes driving through the parking garage where the entire operation was set up. We unloaded my items and then pulled out. The whole thing took about 20 minutes. As I made my way up the three levels of the parking garage, I passes piles and piles and stacks and stacks of everything someone might need to survive. Clothing, toiletries, furniture, board games, diapers, diapers, diapers. I'm not sure there's another package of diapers here in Austin anywhere!
Believe me, I'm not trying to blow Austin's horn, because, I'm quite sure this is happening all over the country. It almost moved me to tears to see how people are wanting to step up and give the things they have to people they don't even know. These people have lost virtually everything, and Americans are stepping up to help them out. And let's not forget the volunteers at these collection points. They took their Labor Day, and helped unload, sort, repackage, and reload these goods to get them on their way!
THIS is what America is all about. It's not about waiting for some government agency to develop a program to maybe see if they can help a few people. This is people loving and caring for their neighbors, and stepping up to the plate and saying, "Send me. Use me. Use my "stuff". We may be a nation of excesses, but thank goodness we have the excess that we can GIVE it away when others are in need. I know I'm preaching to the choir, but I just had to attempt to transfer my feelings into a few feeble words.
Thanks to all who've helped out already. But don't forget this will be going on for a long time, so make plans to help out again, in a few weeks, and months. Just like we can't forget the Tsunami disaster, we can't forget the people of the Gulf Coast. It is our mission to love one another, and help one another. One bag of 20-25 XL shirts might not seem like much, but to someone who only has the shirt that they wore when they evacuated, it's like a new wardrobe. Give a little, give a lot. Together we can help these people rebuild their lives.
That is great! I heard that there is so much stuff being donated that some places are asking people not to buy anymore things but to give them the money instead, because gas is need to haul the stuff down there to them! High gas prices and all that stuff will just sit there if no money is available to purchase the gas.
(Funny how gas is not one of those things that are donated! Ever hear of a major oil company donating gas to the cause?)
FEMA has purchased trailers from an RV dealership in Grand Rapids, MI to be hauled down to Louisiana. It sure was touching to watch the news reports of an overwhelming amount of people wanting to take them over, they were excited about helping people in this way. Now I just saw a report on NBC Nightly News that they are just sitting there in Georgia. Let's get them trailers movin' folks! Maybe, Greg.
