GALVESTON SHELTER NEEDS HELP (Please keep this kicked)

[Lisa0825]

I have heard from two friends who are members at Moody Methodist Church, which is the Katrina shelter in Galveston. They have NOT been getting the $2000 debit cards being given out in Houston. I have read elsewhere that people can also call FEMA or apply online, but reports were that this process is NOT working efficiently.

The occupancy of this shelter was 250, but surely many more evacuees are staying in this area, all eligible for these $2000 cards that we have NOT gotten down this way.

The church has been taking cash donations and purchasing their own debit cards to give to evacuees. I was told that the preacher cried last night as he was helping people, and that folks feel like Galveston has been forgotten. People are VERY frustrated with the Red Cross down here.

Please, if you can spare another donation, could you help this church, which has always been very active in this community, to help our new neighbors from New Orleans and the rest of the Gulf Coast? Please give them the ability to provide what the assistance agencies have not been providing here.

Here is the contact information:

Please make checks payable to Moody Methodist Church, and indicate "Katrina Relief" in the memo line.

Moody Memorial First United Methodist Church
2803 53rd St
Galveston, TX 77551-5914
409-744-4526

Their phone stays pretty busy, and they can't take payment by phone anyway, but I provided the number in case you want to speak with someone. I finally got through by phone and confirmed all the information I'd heard from the volunteers as stated above. In addition, she asked that if you are mailing from out of state, sending it priority or overnight would be much appreciated, so we can get these folks help as soon as possible.

Please feel free to cross post this to other lists. If you know of other communities having trouble getting the type of assistance the Houston shelters are getting, please feel free to post contact info in this thread, so we can keep people from falling through the numerous cracks in the system.

Thanks in advance.

[Lindsay]

1. We have more cracks than system.

(That's a kick for ya.)

[derby378]

2. Kicked and nominated!!

[clmbohdem]

3. I'm headed to post office now

[Lisa0825]

4. Thank you all!!!:-) (nt)

:loveya:

[preciousdove]

5. Debit Cards used as reason to Lock down Astrodome Reliant Center

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1763494

seemslikeadream (1000+ posts) Thu Sep-08-05 09:41 AM
Original message
Lock Down Mode at the Astrodome Reliant Center
Edited on Thu Sep-08-05 09:41 AM by seemslikeadream

CNN

No one in or out

This is where they are giving out the debit cards

[julialnyc]

6. could they use anything besides money

I'm afraid I've spent all my money on donations, but I have tons (I mean TONS) of clothes..... I would be more than happy to send a huge box.

[Lisa0825]

7. I think they have all the clothes they need...

But she did say they needed cleaning supplies, linens, and paper goods (paper plates, napkins, cups, plasticware).

Thanks! :pals:

[jbond56]

8. So one of the richest churches in Texas

needs money? It seems like other shelters would be in more need.

[Lisa0825]

10. They give and give and give....

They are one of the most generous churches in Texas, and they don't have a mega-church like Osteen does. Their congregation really stepped up to the plate, despite the hindrances of the so-called aid agencies.

Thanks for bringing your cynicism into a post meant to do nothing more than help people. :eyes:

[jbond56]

15. I'm sorry if i insulted you.

I could have said it better.

I have no doubt the people in the care of this church will receive the best care available.

I was trying to say the help might be better placed somewhere else.

The church could support them for 50 years without another donation.

[Lisa0825]

16. That is SO not true.

But you'll believe what you want, so I won't bother. :eyes:

[jbond56]

18. you took a church email

not asking for money and asked for money.

Subject: Disaster Relief UPDATE
Reply-To: <[e-mail]>
Date: Wed, 7 Sep 2005 09:54:39 -0500
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain;
charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Status: RO
Content-Length: 1656
Lines: 14


Dear Friends,
We are making another effort to collect goods for daily distribution to folks who are trying to get settled in our area or relocated. Our intent is to eventually have people go to the various agencies in town where they can be assessed for long term needs, like Jesse Tree, Catholic Charities and Salvation Army. However, we currently need the following items to meet the immediate needs:
Linens (new pillows, towels, blankets, sheets), canned juices and dry cereal, canned meat, small quantities of paper goods (toilet paper, paper plates, napkins, paper towels, plastic ware, cups), Cleaning supplies (brooms, dustpans, mops buckets, laundry detergent, cleaning agents), Condiments (ketchup, mustard/mayo, salt/pepper), manual can openers, and tea/coffee. The only clothing items needed are new underwear (including women's bras). We do not need any other clothing items, toys, personal toiletries, or baby goods, at this time.

Hopefully, our next message will let you know where you can deliver items in the future, including furniture. We will continue to shelter people as long as necessary, offer the clinic facility, and feed people three meals a day. We will gradually close down the distribution from Fellowship Hall.

For now, you may bring items to Fellowship Hall from 9 am - 6 pm.

Thank you again for your help and patience, especially if you try to call the church. Our now full-time receptionist, Carla, will handle as many church related calls as possible and hand off calls relating to the Red Cross to their volunteer at the front desk.

God bless you all,
Leanne Green
Program Director
Moody Methodist Church

[Lisa0825]

19. You are so full of yourself.

I spoke to two friends who are members and one staff member for my information, and only checked that message when someone here asked what else they need.

Why do you insist on trying to stir shit while I try to help people? :grr:

[faithfulcitizen]

14. how do you know that? Methodists tend to be more community based,

and philanthropic than any other church I know. They're givers, not takers. Besides, I trust them more than most org's.

[faithfulcitizen]

12. just an idea- this weekend we're having a big garage sale to benefit

the victims. (though they could probably use your clothes) It's a good way to "find" extra money.

[Lisa0825]

13. Good idea!

I'll pass that info along to my lists!

[IndyOp]

24. Thank YOU!

I don't have anything I could put in a garage sale -- but your idea just reminded me that I have a piece of jewelry and some silver (both inherited) - that I could sell to make a donation somewhere.

Thank YOU!

By the way DUer RevCheeseHead is a Methodist minister and explained in another thread (lost in the chaos around here) that 100% of the funds given to the Methodist relief fund will go directly to help the *survivors* of Katrina -- the members of the church give yearly donations to pay for overhead.

[FreedomAngel82]

31. I'm sure there are

lots of church's doing that. My church is taking up donations to send to the Red Cross and a church down the road is housing people from New Orleans who came here. :) Funny how we don't hear Falwell, Dobson, Graham (Billy's son) out there asking people to donate. :eyes: I heard Graham on Stephanie Miller's show this morning (a clip) and all he was saying how you should just pray and have faith and just because you lose all your items it doesn't mean that it's the end of the world (I'm paraphasing here). But he never said to help donate I don't think. *sigh*

[faithfulcitizen]

9. kick, sending a check! please, someone else nominate!

[Lisa0825]

11. Thank you!:-)

:hug:

[faithfulcitizen]

17. hello, someone please nom?

[Lisa0825]

20. kick

:kick:

one more nom, anyone?

[jbond56]

21. web site

http://moody.org/shelter/index.html

[Lisa0825]

22. Thanks for the kick and the link.

I was going to post it earlier, but the site went down for a bit, so I waited. I don't think it's used to so much traffic!

[I Have A Dream]

23. Kick

:kick:

[Lisa0825]

25. Back atcha!

:hi: :kick:

[BikeWriter]

26. Recommended and kicked

[Bridget Burke]

27. Nobody in Houston has gotten the debit cards yet.

They stayed in line for hours & began the administrative process.

Edited to add: Not to say that this evacuee center doesn't deserve contributions!

[Lisa0825]

28. According to KTRK.com

ABC13 Eyewitness News
(9/08/05 - HOUSTON) — The Red Cross began handing out financial assistance in the form of debit cards to evacuees who have already registered and are qualified.

The Red Cross started handing out debit cards to evacuees around 9am Thursday morning, but the word spread quickly and there was a long line hours before the doors opened...

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/weather/090805_katrina_debitcards.html

It says "in the days to come," they will start giving information to those who evacuated on their own. Well, these folks are desperate for money right now. I hope they proceed faster than the rest of the process has! :yeah right:

Anyway, I highly encourage people to donate directly to the churches or other organizations who are dealing with the evacuees, so they can get the money to them without so much delay.

[WestHoustonDem]

32. Not only that, but $2k is the Maximum debit card

some will qualify for a much smaller amount. Wait til they find that out!

[FreedomAngel82]

29. This whole thing

is being just so mismanaged. *sigh* :( I wonder how many people are being left out like that.

[Lisa0825]

30. Like Lindsay said above....

there seem to be more cracks than system :-(

[wildflower]

33. kick! n/t

[Lisa0825]

34. kick

:kick: