Monday, September 12, 2005

Sad, Disappointed and Needing to Help Others



To make a long story short, I work in the social service industry and we were selected as a key organization to welcome the victims of Hurricane Katrina into our city. We were expecting 2,000 people, then they came back to tell us that only 500 would come. Many of the organizations and our state government prepared many places, both temporary and permanent for the people to stay. Everything was in place, mental health services, church support, supportive services, supplies, clothing and educational assistance, transportation, everything, and trust me, I mean everything. Well, I met with my staff this morning at the request of our board and asked for volunteers to meet us within a three hour period to spend the next 18-24 hours to help us make the victims comfortable and to be there for them to answer questions, etc. We were so prepared and so excited to be able to contribute our services. Then we got a call telling us that we were on standby, because the flights were delayed and they would get back to us to let us know when to get to our designated places...well we received a call to tell us that they victims were not coming....I mean disappointment. Folks had been planning, building rooms, showers, purchasing clothes, you just don't know.... for more than eleven days and this...I really wanted to help. The staff was so disappointed. So this Thursday, I think we will just go to our local United Way and helped to pack boxes of clothes and other things. But to have that face to face contact with the victims, to offer a hug and to welcome them to the city...was like healing a broken spirit because of the delays in our country helping the victims, maybe it was like making up for something that didn't happen, but whatever the reason my staff and I are truly disappointed.



14 comments:

S A J Shirazi said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
S A J Shirazi said...

There could be many reasons. Keep your spirits hight and the situation may just not arise. No?

princessdominique said...

I just got back from Mississippi and they need all the help they can get. Hang in there.

Deb Sistrunk Nelson said...

Rose, this is very admirable of you and your staff. Very touching. I agree with Shirazi and Princessdominique. "Keep your spirits high" and "hang in there."

May I offer an idea to you and your staff? Take those same resources and acts of kindness and offer them to organizations which work every day with the homeless your city. Your local homeless population numbers in the hundreds, perhaps more. They are not going away.

You work in social services, so I know you know whom to contact. If you need more ideas, just email me.
God bless you!

Deb Sistrunk Nelson said...

BTW, my daughter came home from school yesterday and told me that a young man from New Orleans just enrolled in her school. He is in her culinary arts class.

My daughter says the students welcomed their new friend. She said that she was proud that her classmates (teenagers) did not ask insensitive questions. The kids, instead, made the new student feel at home immediately.

When the kids found out that the young man's father was a chef for Marriott Hotels, they all said that they were going home with their classmate for what they knew would be a delicious dinner! LOL

Clay said...

it is ashame when you really feel like you are about to help and it all stops .. these survivors have had so many things that were supposed to happen then just dont happen (like the debit cards, which no longer work)!

Aud*2020 said...

That is fantastic that you are in such a position to be able to reach out and help directly. We've contributed here and there to do our part, but it is a different story being in the front lines, so to speak. I can imagine your disappointment when things fell through.

But my question is, where did these people go? Were the people scheduled to come to your agency some of those who ended up having to go to Texas? I just don't understand why they would so suddenly make such a drastic change.

Eat2Live - Michele said...

I'm sorry...I know that must be deflating.
But you know you all can pull together, and the Lord will bless you for it. Hopefully, your good services will be put to good use by another group of people hurt by Katrina.

Kudos to you and your staff for doing so much to help!

Brea said...

It is so refreshing to read about people out there with such big hearts. I know there is a big difference between sending a box and having a human connection. Perhaps you can find another way to help? Maybe set up a trip to go to a shelter currently housing evacuees and helping out for a day or two?

Didi Roby said...

Love that big heart of yours Rose:)

Rose said...

Shirazi,
See my new blog. It will explain more.

Thanks Princessdominique, I will.

Thanks DCS, we are helping United Way and we are going to place some of the evacuees children in school.

Cane, its' the same thing that happened to the card. A big mess. See my new blog.

Sticky-icky-icky,
I wrote an explanation in my new blog but truth is-our country doesn't have a solid plan for handling disastors. They just screw things up.

Gramyactress, you got that right. I was so excited. I was going to try to spend the night there because they asked us to stay overnight to await the evaucees and to walk them through the system.

Thanks Michele, we are going to get a chance to do something..

Brea and Dee-Dee I have spent my whole life in this industry and I love to help others...but the worst thing is wanting to do something and the plans fall apart.

Jazegma,
I heard you were packed to stay the night. Thank you for your support. You are a great team player.

E said...

That has to be the worst feeling in the world. Knowing that you've done all you can to help and then folks coming back saying it's not needed after all. But keep on doing what you're doing. It's nice to know that you are making an impact of some kind.

Chele said...

Rose, the energy that you put out there when you thought they were coming was received even tho you didn't see it. Just keep giving. :)

dcs...that is a tremendous idea! The homeless are "katrina victims" every day of the year.

Anonymous said...

Teman saya pernah terkena kutil kelamin di sekitar bibir vaginanya, sangat mengerikan. di sekitar vagina tersebut di tumbuhi daging kaya kutil dan itu banyak sekali pokoknya menakutkan sekali. Tapi setelah minum obat Penyakit kutil kelamin wanita dari herbal, dalam waktu 2 hari sudah kering. Mantap banget virus HPV ini sehingga nanti kedepannya khsusunya untuk kaum pria dapat menjaga diri agar terhindar dari penyakit ini obat alternatif herbal paling manjur