Benefit Special Needs and Preemie Groups (Updated Sept. 13)

Newest post and listings from Jeff Stimpson

Listings and needs are getting more specific and detailed for organizations in Katrina's path that focus on special needs or premature birth, or both. Here are some of the latest, in no special order:

A detailed clearninghouse-type listing from the ARC of California.

And another: www.waisman.wisc.edu/kennedy/katrina.html

The Mississippi Chapter of the March of Dimes writes, "I apologize for not responding sooner, but our Internet has been down since the hurricane. Anything you are able to do will be greatly appreciated. Our needs right now are for diapers, wipes, ready-to-feed formula, and baby food. We took a truckload of these items and maternity clothes to the Gulf Coast last Thursday and are also providing supplies to some of the other shelters around the state. We are expecting a large shipment of baby clothes from Gymboree which will also be distributed to shelters. A shelter is being set up in Jackson specifically for pregnant women and those who have just delivered. We will be providing supplies and financial assistance to help them. Items and monetary donations may be sent to March of Dimes, 330 North Mart Plaza, Suite 1, Jackson, MS 39206." I'm going to do a box for these folks, I think.

MOD specialists are assisting with direct service and support for over 100 sick and premature babies who were transferred to Women's Hospital in Baton Rouge, and is working to obtain much-needed clothing and other supplies for displaced pregnant women and babies in the Gulf Coast area ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. Staffers are also working to ensure that those Katrina survivors who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or are parents of newborn babies, receive essential information on nutrition, safe water, safe preparation of formula and the signs and symptoms of premature labor. Help will be needed over the next several months as the number of premature births is expected to rise along the Gulf Coast due to the aftermath of Katrina.

MOST (Mothers Of Super Twins) online says that needs for expectant and new mothers include basic preemie needs such as new infant car seats, breast pumps and other lactation needs, preemie and newborn diapers and clothes, Dr. Brown and Avent bottles, twin, triplet and quad strollers, and new crib linens such as sheets, mattress pads, etc."Tthis is a very partial list," the group says. "To learn more, contact the MOST office. Credit card donations can be made through MOST and designated toward this MOST Outreach: Adopt a Family program (100% of the donations go to the program, although they may need donors to help offset the cost of shipping). MOST e-mailed all families in La., Ala., and Miss. and asked if they could let us know how they are doing hoping that many were fine and still had access to e-mail They've also had area coordinators contact their local hospitals to see if any expectant mothers or newborn multiples were transferred to their facility for care.Volunteers organized local families that were available to reach out to these families in need. MOST also asked all of our members and friends of MOST (via a press release and notice on the website) to let them know if they'd heard of any families of multiples or preemies who may have been displaced, lost a family member, or in any type of need because of the storm and to please let us know, among many other attempts to help. "We want to try to get ahead of the game and start planning for the future needs of these families. All suggestions are welcome," MOST says. "Please e-mail us at Info@MOSTonline.org." Among their families: Expectant first-time parents of triplets; the mom is currently (9/9/05) 30-weeks gestation and hospitalized in Ala.; they lost their home. Family 2 are expectant parents of twin girls (31 wks presently 9/9/05) and have a son who is 4 yrs old. The mom is presently hospitalized in WV. Family 3 is a very young military family with toddler twin boys (about 1.5 yrs) and a 3-yr. old daughter presently relocated to Mass.' "they lost their home and are in need of EVERYTHING!" Likewise Family 4, a young couple with 16-month-old twin girls. Family 5 has identical twin girls born just two weeks ago, and at least one older child, a girl born in 2001; they lost their home. Also contact Maureen A. Doolan Boyle, Executive Director MOST, PO Box 306, East Islip, NY 11730, www.MOSTonline.org.

NAAR is banding together with other organizations within the autism community by partnering with Autism Cares-Katrina. Visit http://www.autismcares.org/ if you wish to make a donation of money, shelter, clothing, transportation, or other services to the many displaced families affected by Hurricane Katrina. Additional resource and support information may also be found through The Katrina Disaster Relief Information for People with Disabilities website at http://www.katrinadisability.info/.

$25,000 is needed to ship supplies and equipment, including $10,000 to get the first two trucks rolling. Send donations to Portlight Strategies Inc., Katrina Disability Relief, 3614 Back Pen Road, Johns Island, S.C., 29455, 843-817-2651. Send supplies (NOT CASH) to Paul Timmons, Katrina Disability Relief, 4900 Lewis Road, Stone Mountain, Ga. 30083, 843-817-2651. Make checks payable to Portlight Strategies Inc. (a private non-profit 501c3 entity, Tax Exempt number #58-2299951. Guidelines for shipping supplies: anything mechanical needs to be working; boxes need to have inventory listed both in indelible marker on outside and a list on the top of the interior; clothes need to be clean and appropriate for the environment; if you want proof of your donation for tax purposes, you must include name and FULL address. And join katrinadisability@yahoogroups.com to begin to cut down on e-mail traffic.

The Department of Health and Human Services has a toll-free hotline for people in crisis: 1-800-273-TALK(1-800-273-8255). Callers will be connected to a network of local crisis centers across the country and receive counseling from trained staff at the closest certified center.

Says Bill Prickett of the Louisiana School for the Deaf (P.O. Box 3074, Baton Rouge, La., 70821, (225)769-8160 or instate (888)769-8111, fax (225)757-3424, bprickett@lalsd.org, www.lalsd.org), "Your e-mails are finally getting through to us. Our heartfelt thanks to all of you for your concern and support in this tragedy. It is sinking in to us that this is not something that will go away next week. Our lives here in Louisiana have changed and will never be the same." LSD's campus and facilities came through unscathed, allowing them to locate New Orleans-area students and get them back in school. They have contacted students and their families in Florida, Tennessee, Arkansas and Texas, as well as all over Louisiana. They are beginning to make their way to Baton Rouge to bring their child back to school. In most cases, this means providing shelter for their families. They recently 11 families (49 people) living in one of their dormitories, a number that fluctuates daily as families find apartments to rent and move out, or they connect with relatives outside Baton Rouge and move on. They're also housing LSD staffers and their families who lost their homes or have been without electricity for an extended period. "Re: the deaf community for whom we've provided shelter, this number has also fluctuated," he adds. "We've had as many as 12 or more. They come here, catch their breath, eat a hot meal, wash their clothes, get a hot shower and an air-conditioned night's sleep. We then help them contact friends or relatives who can take them in." The local service providers (Louisiana Commission for the Deaf, Louisiana Association of the Deaf, Louisiana Career Development Center, Catholic Deaf Center, First Baptist Deaf Church, Assembly of God Deaf Church, and Louisiana School for the Deaf) are coordinating services for deaf refugees. The Baton Rouge Deaf Action Center will do initial screening and connect the deaf refugees with Food Stamps, Unemployment, Social Security, FEMA, counseling and comforting, etc., and provide interpreters. LSD will provide temporary housing, food and clothing until the refugees can be relocated with friends or relatives. They expect a large number of homeless deaf people to be processed through LSD. The most-pressing need is monetary donations. The group is limited by laws and regulations as to how it can spend our state appropriation. Monetary donations earmarked for a specific purpose (hurricane relief) can be spent as needed. LSD has established a special account through which these donations will flow, the money going for clothing, toiletries, and food for the families of LSD students and the homeless deaf people who will be housed at LSD. Donations in lieu of material goods give LSD the flexibility to purchase the exact items and sizes needed, sometimes in bulk for added savings. such donations will also go for gas, and bus and train tickets to reunite these people with their friends or relatives, if possible. Make checks payable to the Louisiana School for the Deaf, with a notation "for hurricane relief," and send to Prickett's attention. "Please remember us," he adds, "in your prayers".

From the listserv Preemie Child, a mom writes, "My Sarah, an ex-32.3-weeker, now 6, just came into the room and plopped down her two piggy banks that are full of pennies and a few nickles, dimes, etc., that she has been saving for, well, a very long time. She said, "I think there should be about 18 dollars in here (which was so cute, being she has no clue as to how much is in there, and neither do I!). Do you think that would help out?" I'm so proud of her. I didn't even say anything to her about it, she just thought of it all on her own, which makes it that much better. We are going to take it up to the bank and cash it in for dollars, so she can donate it. She can't wait!"

The Schafer Autism Report has run stories on 900 autistic children being affected by Katrina in just Louisiana, and on the education rights of displaced and homeless children. They've also posted a list of some missing autistic children. The eyes mist at this, but look at it if you think you can help.

Stephanie Holbrook, on behalf of the National Library Service, Library of Congress (holbroos@fleishman.com, 202-857-2203), writes about a free resource for host families who take in families with children who are blind and physically handicapped. "As students return to school all around the country, host families who take in children with disabilities may not have the resources to provide the materials for blind and physically handicapped students. Talking Books, a free program offered by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress, helps provide eligible students with the reading materials they need. Through its national network of cooperating libraries, NLS mails books and magazines on cassette and in braille, as well as audio equipment, directly to the employees at no cost. Host families may call 1-888-NLS-READ (1-888-657-7323) or go to http://www.loc.gov/nls/find.html for a directory of cooperating local libraries participating in the Talking Books program and for enrollment information.

Attorney Michael A. O'Connor from the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) just issued a legal memorandum for Katrina parents, advising special-needs parents of their rights as displaced people and how to get special ed services for their kids. See www.copaa.org/news/hurricane.html.

The Astrodome is full, remember, as are many other places in Houston, and they might need help. A complete shelter list is available from the Red Cross (866-GET-INFO or 713-313-5480). The Houston Food Bank, (713) 223-3700, is in need of items to help victims: paper goods such as plates, cups, diapers and tissues; cleaning supplies, such as bleach, Top Job, or Mr. Clean; bottled water (no glass containers); single-serving snacks such as Pop-Tarts and cereal bars; peanut butter; heat-and-eat foods such as chili, stew, canned pasta with sauce, and canned vegetables, any other single-serving foods that don't require refrigeration; Meals Ready To Eat; baby formula; and personal hygiene products. Evacuees at the Astrodome can receive mail at: Evacuee's Name, General Delivery, Houston, TX 77230. The Coast Guard in Houston is asking for donations to help about 50 workers in New Orleans on rescue efforts who are running out of basic supplies. Items in need include: T-shirts, underwear, toilet paper, wipes, soap, first-aid kits, bug spray, foot powder, bottled water, sports drinks, coffee, power bars, granola bars, cups of dry soup, sleeping bags and pillows, and D and AA batteries. I don't know how you'll get it to them, but maybe start with http://www.cgmahq.org/

Federally funded Parent Training and Information Centers (PTIs) and Community Parent Resource Centers (CPRCs) are located in each state to provide training and information to parents of infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities and to professionals who work with children. See www.taalliance.org/Centers/index.htm. The Protection and Advocacy (P&A) System and Client Assistance Program (CAP) comprise the nationwide network of Congressionally mandated disability rights agencies See http://napas.org/aboutus/0507PA_CAP.htm. The National Association of State Directors of Special Education, "Homelessness and Students with Disabilities: Educational Rights and Challenges" is at www.nasdse.org/publications/homelessness_and_SWD.pdf.

The California Foundation for Independent Living Centers (CFILC) has set up a relief fund on its site, www.cfilc.org/donatenow. Funds will go to Independent Living Centers in Louisiana, Mississippi and other areas aiding in the relief effort of people with disabilities.

To learn about the work of the Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities, visit www.dhs.gov/DisabilityPreparedness.html. Good overview on what's going on.

Alex off to Preschool!

Yep, it's official my son, my preemie, my miracle is growing up! I'm not sure when it happened but here is in front of my face running out the school doors screaming "Mama"! Art work in hand and back pack over his shoulders. His teacher is with him and "Ms Willy" tells me what a great day he had. Alex informs me loudly, that he went pee pee on the potty like a BIG boy. I start cracking up.. That's my boy.. Just like his Auntie the Bathroom Inspector. I offer up a high five to him and he just grins. (inside I am chuckling as this was a fear of mine since he is only recently potty trained - guess he read my mind). We climb into the truck where he shows me the smiley face stamps he got on his hands for being extra good. Then silence... I sit waiting for him to tell me all about preschool... I wait.. And wait... a mile goes by and he is just sitting there grinning looking out the window kicking his feet. (Doesn't he realize I am about to BURST with 1,000 questions?) Finally, I can't take it anymore and say so what did you do today?? He turns, gets a very serious look on his face and tells me, I ate cookies and lemonade and banana's. I said you did? Mama, I don't like banana's you know that, why would they have me eat them?? I start giggling and said did they make you eat them? No was his reply!
I then ask him about some of the kids and he told me he played trucks with black. (in my head I was thinking black?? Then it hit me.... ) You mean Blake honey? Mama, I said Black. Basically his attempt at saying Blake!! Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaa................. Poor Blake, my son must walk around the classroom saying Black!

Alex seems to LOVE it.. No tears and practically runs into the classroom! Ah... I love that. I love the daily reports. Today he had to tell the teacher the name of 6 fruits, he got all of them right but Pears. Hmmm... Looks like we will have to spend some time in the produce isle! But, after that he named all the colors, named them all correctly, and matched them with no help!! Yippee... Smart boy!! Then for art he made a food collage.... The teachers had cut out food from a magazine. He then had to pick foods he wanted, name them, and glue them to a paper plate!! Alex had a bowl of soup, pizza, rice, corn, and salad!! I cracked up about the salad as the teacher wrote that Alex said he loves pizza but Mama eats salad!! Haaaaaaaa

Kids are just soo funny.... Almost 2 months until Alex turns 3! WOW!!!

Special Report...

Evenin' Ya'll........ ( a little southern twang for ya)

Yard sale went GREAT!!! FAR better than I expected. We had a steady stream right up to about 12:00! I sold all but about 5 boxes of stuff! 2 I went and donated tonight to the Katrina Victims (more news about this coming up). 2 I am saving and selling at a BIG consignment sale we have coming here this week, and 1 I placed down by the curb for FREE to anyone who wants it! I found a home for almost all Rick's Grandmothers books with a Disabled veteran. He reads about a book a day! Wow... I made about $320.00! I am banking $300.00 of it for my trip! YIPPEE!!!! So it was worth all my effort and hard work.

So, we went to donate the 2 boxes and they gave us a "revised" need list!!! Believe it or not they are still heading down there with buses and rescuing more people in the not so rural areas. A bus was leaving when we arrived and they found over 100+ people living in a "wal-mart" (or what once was Walmart) parking lot. Some had not had food or water in 24-48 hours. No shoes, some no shirts. They were going back to get them tonight!!!

Hurricane Katrina Relief Drive - List 9/10/05

****** We recommend you choose one item or catergory and buy in bulk ******

URGENTLY NEEDED:

• 5 gallon buckets
• Baby formula / Pedialyte
• Backpacks
• Bug spray / Cutters insect repellant
• Caps / hats
• Cookware - saucepans, skillet, spoons
• Cots
• Detergent - tablets
• Diabetic supplies and food
• Diapers
• Ensure
• Flavored water, gatorade, powerade
• Kindergarten mats, Air mattresses
• Lawn Chairs
• OTC Meds - pain, colds, heat rash
• New Socks and Underwear
• Sun Block
• Lip Balm
• Tarps, Tents, Tie Downs
• Zip Ties
• Umbrellas - handhels or 8" lightweight
• Ziplock Bags / garbage bags

OTHER NEEDS:

• Baby products
• Batteries and Flashlights
• Beverages
• Canned Food
• Charcoal, lighter fluid, lighters
• Clorox Bleach - Bleach cleaning supplies
  
• Coolers (styrofoam is ok)
• First Aid Supplies
• Linens
• Paper Products
• Peanut Butter
• Personal Hygiene
• Pet Food
• Plastic Utensils and Paperware
• Portable Radios
• Rubber Gloves
• Seat Cushions
• Sleeping bags
• Snack Foods

Clothes are still being accepted on the base here! I will not accept any cash / check donations! I will pass on all Gift Cards to the local victims in need (they will not be given to the red cross, but rather the actual victims).

IF you can help and would like to ship a box please contact me by e-mail!! Thank you for all of your support and donations!!!!

March Of Dimes Reaches Out!

March of Dimes provides lifesaving support to babies and pregnant women devastated by Hurricane Katrina

The March of Dimes extends its heartfelt sympathies to the thousands of Americans who are coping with the tragic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

This special email is sent to update our volunteers, donors and friends within the Gulf Coast states on how we are responding to the crisis:

• MOD specialists are assisting with direct service and support for over 100 sick and premature babies who were transferred to Women's Hospital in Baton Rouge.

• March of Dimes is currently working to obtain much-needed clothing and other supplies for displaced pregnant women and babies in the Gulf Coast area ravaged by Hurricane Katrina.

• Our staff is also working to ensure that those Katrina survivors who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or are parents of newborn babies, receive essential information on nutrition, safe water, safe preparation of formula and the signs and symptoms of premature labor.

• The March of Dimes is gearing up to provide even more urgently needed services over the next several months as the number of premature births is expected to rise along the Gulf Coast due to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

If you know someone who is pregnant and can benefit from the March of Dimes services, please have them visit our website or contact their local chapter:

Need Help? Contact Us.

Emergency Health Information Sheet
(Useful information for pregnant women or those responsible for feeding a baby who have been affected by Hurricane Katrina.)


Donate to March of Dimes Hurricane Assistance Fund

Sincerely,

Dr. Jennifer L. Howse President March of Dimes

This online e-mail is sponsored by the March of Dimes, a nonprofit organization. The mission of the March of Dimes is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality.

For more information about the March of Dimes, visit our Web site at marchofdimes.com. This e-mail is for information purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.


March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, 2005

Little Katrina Victims in need!

Thanks to Jeff Stimpson for compiling this list!

Benefit Special Needs and Preemie Groups

The New York blackouts of 1998 and 2003 taught me that in times of crisis, special needs become truly special. Though most of the American Gulf Coast didn't experience the sheering of civilization that wracked New Orleans, many agencies throughout the area find themselves in need of supplies, if not in need of a lot more.

To that end, here's a list of organizations in Katrina's path that focus on special needs or premature birth, or both. I've left out many of the huge organizations, such as the Red Cross, that everyone can easily reach, and tried to focus on local, maybe less-famous groups that still need help.

Scroll down until you find a few that catch your eye. I'm sure all these folks need all kinds of help. More are welcome, and as I'll be updating this list through the fall (it's tragically doubtful that the need for donations will evaporate), you may feel free to e-mail me any and all groups you hear of.

Here they are, in no special order:

From the listserv Preemie Child, a reader writes, "A friend of mine is collecting wheelchairs and other disability-related equipment and supplies to truck down to independent living centers in Mississippi and Louisiana who requested help. If there is anyone in Colorado, especially the Denver area, who has supplies or equipment that can be donated, please contact me off list. I can put you in touch with the person collecting the stuff, or I can help arrange pickup. They especially need manual wheelchairs, disposable bed pads, adult diapers, catheters and related supplies, and other supplies." E-mail clucas@DISABILITYPRIDE.COM

Unlocking Autism, based out of Louisiana, is opening a summer camp to victims of Katrina who have special needs children. Camp Yocona, Toccopola, Miss., has agreed to provide shelter for families with ASD (autistic specturm disorder) children. They have cabins that will sleep eight and each group of four to five cabins has a bathhouse. A large, commercial kitchen and dining hall is available. They have a total of 350 beds. A great GFCF cook has offered to come from Hawaii to help cook, etc. Contact Peg Pickering at 662-488-9619 or 662-509-0599. "One thing I keep forgetting to ask for is Ziploc bags of all sizes, and large garbage bags!," write Peg. "Funny, the things you take for granted." They also need clothes and diapers. Address: ASD KATRINA RESCUE, c/o Peg Pickering, 2901 Hwy 9 South, Pontotoc, MS 38863.

From Debbie Sarmento, FRCNCA Coordinator, "For those wanting to help people with disabilities affected by the Katrina disaster, please see the following incredible website: www.katrinadisability.info ." Clearinghouse sites such as this are a great place to start offering all kinds of help.

AutismInfo has another excellent portal for donating information. See http://www.autisminfo.com/Katrina1.htm

From Jennifer in Bossier City, La., an article on preemies surviving Katrina.

Also from the Gulf Coast, Martha writes about http://www.knitsforsanity.typepad.com/preemieproject_homepage/ and http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thepreemieproject/ , two sites seeking enthusiastic knitters in Iowa who would like to knit for a good cause. Not specific to Katrina victims, I think, but still most worthy. Martha also chimes in with Charitable Crafters, and a self-care primer for the pregnant in emergencies, from the March of Dimes. ("Yes, we are alive!" writes Martha. "We have no gas anywhere in town!")

Speaking of the March of Dimes, which is in the middle of a nationwide prematurity awareness campaign, check with MOD's chapters in Mississippi and Louisiana to see what they need most.

Family Voices is collecting for its volunteer leaders on the ground in the affected states. Donations will pay for such items and services as anti-bacterial wipes, diapers, phone cards, medical care, cash for medications, gas and food, rent, toys, and clothing. FV leaders will also help families negotiate the maze that comes with finding temporary shelter, working with insurance companies, filling out forms, signing up for new schools. See www.familyvoices.org. You may donate through PayPal or at Family Voices, 2340 Alamo SE, Suite 102, Albuquerque, N.M., 87106. Please mark your donation "Families Helping Families". All donations are tax-deductible. If you have any questions about the Families Helping Families Relief Fund or Family Voices, please contact Rachel Tallman, rtallman@familyvoices.org, at the Family Voices National Office at 1-888-835-5669.

Donate directly to the Texas Children's Hospital. Reference "Katrina Kid Relief" in the "in honor of" field.

The Centers for Independent Living in Biloxi and New Orleans have been gravely affected by Katrina. "Sending money is the first priority," says donation organizers. "Sending supplies to those centers is helpful, too, but not right now, because they can't get through the water." Send a check or credit card payment to the Red Cross and designate it for Hurricane Relief, or designate it for people with disabilities in the Biloxi/Hattiesburg or New Orleans areas. If you want to send money directly for the CILs dealing with this disaster, here are your options: For the Biloxi Center, mail the check (payable to LIFE of Central MS and designated for the Biloxi Center) to: LIFE of Central Mississippi, 754 North President Street, Suite 1, Jackson, MS 39202. For the centers in Louisiana (make checks payable to Resources for Independent Living - this is a branch of the N.O. center - and designate for the New Orleans center) and mail to: Resources for IL, 11931 Industriplex Blvd. Suite 200, Baton Rouge, LA 70809. Centers in Shreveport, Baton Rouge, and Lake Charles are assisting evacuees. They would also appreciate supplies if there is any way to get those supplies to the centers. The wish list includes manual wheelchairs, hospital beds, adult diapers, bed pads, catheters, and other supplies. The address for the Baton Rouge center is shown above, addresses for the Shreveport and Lake Charles centers are Southwest LA Independence Center, Inc., Mitch Granger, 1202 Kirkman, Suite C, Lake Charles, LA 70601; and New Horizons, Inc., Jerry Kidwell, 9300 Mansfield Road, Suite 204, Shreveport, LA 71118.

TheArcLink has created a clearinghouse so that family members, case managers, service coordinators or advocates can list people or families who need support. In addition, people from anywhere in the country can use the site at www.thearclink.org to offer , and other assistance. There are many people who can offer their personal services to assist in the transition of people into new locations and services, or to contribute other volunteer time, either in person or via phone. Anyone who knows of hurricane victims in Alabama, Louisiana, or Mississippi with special needs and/or families who need immediate services and supports can list them on the site. Site visitors can submit the names of those in need of temporary or permanent jobs, and can relocate or people in need of assistance can list themselves. Employers with job opportunities can list them on the site, particularly jobs with disability services organizations or other human services agencies. The site is open to any employer in any field that has jobs to offer displaced hurricane victims. In addition to employment postings, the site can be used to offer short-term or long-term housing to those fleeing from areas affected by Katrina. Specific to people with disabilities, group home vacancies and related day services opportunities can be listed. Those wishing to make a financial donation to people with intellectual disabilities can visit The Arc of the United States site at www.thearc.org and click on the red Donate Now button. To visit the Katrina Special Needs Assistance Page, go to www.thearclink.org and click on "Katrina Special Needs Relief."

MUMS will match families who are willing to take a victim family into their home. Write to Julie at mums@netnet.net

The Autism Society of America is accepting donations. Visit http://www.autism-society.org/ where you will find the donation box on the home page.

From Deb Discenza of Preemie Magazine comes this great localized list: Alabama Parent Information Resource Center; Parent Information Resource Center of Central Alabama; Special Education Action Committee; Families Helping Families; the YWCA of Baton Rouge ; AJFC Parent Information and Resource Center; Mid-Shore Community Foundation; and the Mississippi Forum on Children and Families.

The fight against hair!

This was FAR too funny not to share!!!

All hair removal methods have tricked us with their promises of easy,
painless removal - The epilady, scissors, razors, Nair and now...the
wax. My night began as any other normal weekday night. Come home fix
dinner, played with the kids. I then had the thought that would ring
painfully in my mind for the next few hours: Maybe I should pull the
wax out of the medicine cabinet.

So I headed to the site of my demise; the bathroom. It was one of those
cold wax kits. No melting a clump of hot wax, you just rub the strips
together in your hand and then they get warm and you peel them apart
press it to your leg (or wherever else) and hair comes right off.
No muss, no fuss. How hard can it be? I mean I'm no girly, girl but I
am mechanically inclined enough that I can figure it out. *YA THINK!!!*

So I pull one of the thin strips out. Its two strips facing each other
stuck together. Instead of rubbing them together, I get out the hair
dryer and heat it to 1000 degrees. Cold wax my rear end (Oh how this
phrase haunts me!)

I lay the strip across my thigh. Hold the skin around it tight and
pull. OK so it wasn't the best feeling, but it wasn't too bad. I can do
this!

Hair removal no longer eludes me! I am She-ra, fighter of all wayward
body hair and smooth skin extraordinaire. With my next wax strip I move
north. After checking on the kids I sneak back into the bathroom, for
the ultimate hair fighting championship. I drop my panties and place
one foot on the toilet.

Using the same procedure I apply the was strip across the right side of
bikini line, covering the right half of my vagina and stretching down
to the inside of my butt cheek (Yes, it was a long strip) I inhale
deeply and brace myself. RRRRIIIPPP!!!!

I'm blind!!! Blinded from pain!!!!....OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!! Vision
returning, I notice that I've only managed to pull off half of the
strip. S&%T!!! Another deep breath and RRIIPP.

Everything is swirly and spotted. Do I hear crashing drums??? OK, back
to normal. I want to see my trophy - A wax covered strip with my hairy
pelt, that has caused me so much pain, sticking to it. I want to revel
in the glory that is my triumph over body hair. I hold up the strip!
There's no hair on it.

Where is the hair. WHERE IS THE WAX??? Slowly I ease my head down, foot
still perched on the toilet. I see the hair..The hair that should be on
the strip. I touch. I am touching wax. S&%T I run my fingers over the
most sensitive part of my body, which is now covered in cold wax and
matted hair.

Then I make the next BIG mistake..................

.remember my foot is
still propped up on the toilet. I know I need to do something. So I put
my foot down. DAMN!!!!!!!! I hear the slamming of the cell door.
Vagina? Sealed shut. Butt?? Sealed shut. I penguin walk around the
bathroom trying to figure out what to do and think to myself "Please
don't let me get the urge to poop. My head may pop off. " Hot water!!
Hot water melts wax!! I'll run the hottest water I can stand into the
bathtub, get in, immerse the wax covered bits and the wax should melt
and I can gently wipe it off right???

WRONG!!!!!!!*I get in the tub - the water is slightly hotter than then
that used to torture prisoners of war or sterilize surgical equipment -
I sit. Now, the only thing worse that having your nether businesses
glued together is having them glued together and then glued to the
bottom of the tub. In scalding hot water. Which, by the way, doesn't
melt cold wax.

So, now I'm stuck to the bottom of the tub!! God bless the man that
convinced me I should have a phone in the bathroom!!!!! I call my
friend thinking surely she's waxed before and has some secret of how to
get me undone. It's a very good conversation starter "So, my butt and
who-ha are stuck to the bottom of the tub!" There is a slight pause.
She doesn't have a secret trick but does try to hide the laughter from
me. She wants to know exactly where the wax is located on bottom "Are
we talking cheeks or hole or what?" She's laughing out loud by now...I
can hear her. I give her the rundown and she suggests I call the number
on the side of the box. YEAH!!!!! Right!! I should be the joke of
someone else's night.

While we go through various solutions. I resort to scraping the wax off
with a razor. Nothing feels better then to have your girlie goodies
covered in hot wax, glued shut, stuck to the tub in super hot water and
then dry shaving the sticky wax off!! By now the brain is not working,
dignity has taken a major hike and I slip into glazed donut land. My
friend is still talking with me and my hand reaches towards the saving
grace....the lotion they give you to remove the excess wax. What do I
really have to lose at this point. I rub some on and OH MY GOD!!!!!!!

The scream probably woke the kids, scared the dickens out of my
friend, but I really don't care. "IT WORKS!! It works!! I get a hearty
congratulation from my friend and she hangs up.
I successfully remove the remainder of the wax and then notice to my
grief and ..................................THE HAIR IS STILL
THERE.......................ALL OF IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

So I shaved it off. Heck, I'm numb at this point. Next week I'm going
to try hair color......

Sorry Kids....

Eeeeeeeeeeekkkkkkkk............. I am running full tilt these days and haven't had time to post or to comment to anyone else's blog either! (I SWEAR Michelle, I ahve been reading though)!!

It's 5:40am, and sadly I am awake! I am having a yard sale today to try and raise some money for my trip to Texas for the MOPS Convention. Cross your fingers I make some cash. I don't have any big items this time so that's kinda a bummer, so I don't expect a huge haul or anything, But every little bit helps. Thes sale starts at 6:30 but my neighbors warned me that we coul have people out here with flash lights looking at all the stuff. BUT... I used caution tape at the end of my driveway
( heeeee) and we live way up on a big hill so they would have to hoof it up. Needless to say not a sole in site. I'll go down in a minute here and remove the tape!

I got another Moppets worker so I am up to 10 now! Woo Hoo!!!!!

Ohh and let me tell you how brilliant our electric company workers are.... they drove up our hill at 11pm on Thursday night to work on the big pole outside our house (our neighbors were hvaing problems) and the stupid guys caught their truck on our phone wires and snapped it. They left it just sitting in the yard (I realized this when my son picked up the wire and asked me what it was). Needless to say I SCREAMED at him to never touch wires like that! Thank GOD they weren't live!!! Sooo... I have no phone!! LOVELY... and our first MOPS meeting is Tuesday. Somebody better get there butts out here today and fix this thing!!! grrrrrrr........

Ok.. I better go get to work!! Wish me luck!

Hump Day!

It's Wednesday already.. where has the week gone. I swear since the Hurricane the days have zipped forward while I am still some where left behind! I have had so much going through my head that honestly I haven't been able to complete one full thought to get it down on paper. Here are just a few things I have had going on..............

1. Rick ended up getting an 11% raise! YIPPEE! He still is not making "enough" but at least it's more than before right?? I was really excited for him.

2. Saw a preemie at the hospital last night 2 pounds 11 ounces, Mom was maybe 19 years old, with another baby at home who will be 1 in 2 months. She delivered at 28 weeks. They still have not named her as "they just don't know what's going to happen". It broke my heart, I pointed out she was a miracle and the Mother told me "that has yet to be determined". Ugh...... Please keep the baby and Mamma in your prayers.

3. Mops starts on Tuesday and as Lori so lovingly put it we are in Mops con 5. The stress is pouring from my pores. BUT, a good news is that I am now up to 9 workers! Woo hoo!! We could use at least 5 more but at least we can have our first meeting.

4. Alex started preschool today! We have decided to do 2 mornings a week 8:30 to 11:30 on Wed & Fri. Today was day 1. He walked right in without a care in the world, he didn't even look back. No bye Mom, nothing!! Jeezzz.... I was happy for no tears but a bye would have been nice. There were several kids crying in his class and you could see he was just flabergasted over it. The teachers agreed with us that Alex is going to be left handed. That should be interesting, Both Rick and I are right handed.

5. We enrolled Alex in a Gymnastics class, 1x a week for about 45 minutes. I am excited. He is such a tumbler.. just like his Mama I guess! He starts next week and my Mom has agreed to pay for the first session! Horray!

Staying busy here.... and off to do laundry! Ahhh... a Mommy's work is never done!

A letter from MOPS

Mothering Maxim -a weekly e-mail from

MOPS international

Hope is putting faith to work when doubting would be easier.
(Unknown)

Mom Moment

Twinkle

By Elisa Morgan, President & CEO

We live in a dark world. The events surrounding the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina continue to amaze us all. Families without food or shelter or water. Whole communities devastated. Mothers and children separated by waves of destruction and even death. And the human response of heroism on the one hand and utter depravity on the other.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew, one woman took it upon herself to form a flashlight drive. She sent truckloads of flashlights and batteries to Florida because she didn't want people to be trapped in the darkness of night when there was no electricity in the area.

We all want to do something. To make a difference. To help. We can bring light into the darkness. As Paul writes in Philippians 2:15, we can "...shine like stars in the universe as we hold out the word of life..." We can twinkle.

What does that mean? What would it mean for us to twinkle?

Twinkling means praying and praying and praying for those lives that have been changed beyond recognition.

Twinkling means sending in a donation to a relief organization, doing our part financially.

Twinkling is standing against our very human tendencies toward selfishness and greed in the face of fear or when we feel out of control.

Twinkling is remembering that what we have known to be true in the light is still true in the dark:

-God is present even in the worst moments of life.
-As God has been faithful in the past, he will be faithful in the future.
-God can bring good out of even the most devastating occurrences.

Yes, we live in a dark world. But take heart and take hope. God is light. And his light is in us. When we shine his light into our world, our light changes the very nature of darkness. Twinkle, twinkle, little star.

Prayer From a Mother's Heart

Dear God, help me to twinkle and shine to those around me so that the Hope that is you can be seen by all.

At MOPS International our hearts, our thoughts, and our prayers surround the families affected by Hurricane Katrina, particularly those who are at the same time caring for young children. As we deal individually, and corporately, with the question "What can we do?" we recommend your support of the following relief organizations that are equipped to respond quickly and effectively: Salvation Army USA and Samaritan's Purse.

Hello.. Mississippi.. checking in!

This is from a friend of mine's blog.. Paul. He posted exactly what I have been thinking. As a state LA did not have as much overall damage as the state of MS. Entire towns in MS are gone.. leveled.. flat, literally not one thing left standing.... Anyway I'll let Paul stand on the sopa box for me!

In recent days, we've heard some complaints that national media - I'm sure it's largely about television outlets - have overlooked the conditions on this state's Gulf Coast in favor of the deterioration of New Orleans.
News decisions are weighed on unseen scales which can appear unfeeling.
Most often, the question is asked, "How many people will this impact for how long?" On a national level, from that perspective the question is easy to answer in terms of deploying assets - reporters, cameras, etc. New Orleans is a bigger story from that aspect alone in terms of flooding. Add the evacuation problems, the (at least limited) mayhem and the dead and we see why so much attention was paid.
But, some Mississippians argue - Why are our problems seemingly ignored?
At least much of New Orleans is still standing, they say. We have coastal towns which no longer exist - they were blown away as if by a by nuclear weapon and cities as much as three hours inland were impacted (Meridian, for example). Our northern cities are working feverishly to accomodate our neighbors from the south, opening shuttered schools and converting civic centers into long-term shelters.
Why isn't anyone paying attention to this, they ask?
As a native Alabamian, I've long suspected that national media look at the South with a jaundiced, superior eye. No one native to the South is capable of uttering a coherent sentence, the thinking seems to go.
However, in this case, I think the media are following sound news judgment on the whole.
Sure, Geraldo has, as is typical, lost his marbles a few times as word comes that some aspects of the New Orleans portion of the story have been overblown (the looting was supposedly limited to a very small area of town, for example).
But not all outlets are ignoring the plight of Mississippi and those of us in the state certainly understand how soundly the coast got licked. I know of a lady who was searching for nearly 20 friends from the coast last week. The loss of life and property there is still unfathomable.
If anyone reading this blog is unaware of the impact Katrina had on this state, please look at the following sites for a sampling.

The Clarion Ledger, Jackson

The Commercial Dispatch, Columbus

The Sun Herald, Gulfport/Biloxi

WLOX-TV Biloxi

WAPT-TV Jackson

The Meridian Star, Meridian

WCBI-TV Columbus

Do you want to donate?

Federal offices said today that people wanting to help to not attend the impacted sites by Hurricane Katrina and instead make cash contributions to organizations.

Cash donations do allow the agencies to avoid the need to store, pack, and distribute donated goods. The cost to do so becomes prohibitive which is why cash donations are currently being sought.

FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency www.fema.gov) listed the following agencies as needing cash to assist hurricane victims:

- American Red Cross, 800-HELP NOW (435-7669) English, 800-257-7575 Spanish.

- Operation Blessing, 800-436-6348.

- America's Second Harvest, 800-344-8070.

- Adventist Community Services, 800-381-7171.

- Catholic Charities, USA, 703-549-1390.

- Christian Disaster Response, 941-956-5183 or 941-551-9554.

- Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, 800-848-5818.

- Church World Service, 800-297-1516.

- Convoy of Hope, 417-823-8998.

- Lutheran Disaster Response, 800-638-3522.

- Mennonite Disaster Service, 717-859-2210.

- Nazarene Disaster Response, 888-256-5886.

- Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, 800-872-3283.

- Salvation Army, 800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769).

***** I am currently accepting donations (NOT CASH, only goods), these items will be given out to the refugees/survivors that we have here in Columbus, MS. We had an additional 180 FAMILIES arrive yesterday. Please e-mail if you would like to send anything. wildscrpio@gmail.com or wildscrpio@aol.com

Help support the babies!!!

Help the Youngest Victims of Hurricane Katrina - Join Oxygen's campaign and see the difference we can make together. Oxygen will donate money for every sign-up!!!!

http://speakup.oxygen.com/campaigns/neworleans/register/ 7c62b78ec52c0e7960ee2a83002a167f/


Each doller goes so far in helping to save a child!! All it takes is a few minutes to sign up!!!!

Companies pitch in

Matthew 25: Ministries is a non profit organization run by my friends family in Ohio. They have stepped up with the Cincinnati Reds Baseball Team and Bengals Foot Ball team to collect for Katrina Victims. You can donate through them money and items!

If your company hasn't started a drive to help out the victims of Katrina... Show them this!!!

http://newsblaster.cs.columbia.edu/NBproxy.cgi?sentence=224

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Corporations are contributing millions of dollars in relief aid to help cope with the destruction left by Hurricane Katrina. The following is a list of companies that have taken steps to provide aid to those in need of funds, food and medicine following Monday's storm:

Abbott , a pharmaceutical and medical products company, has pledged to contribute $4 million, $2 million in cash donations and an initial $2 million in nutritional and medical products to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. Abbott's initial contributions include cases of pediatric and adult nutritional products such as Similac infant formula, PediaSure and Pedialyte nutritional drinks and Ensure and ZonePerfect bars.

Albertson's will donate $9 million in food and water and match employee donations up to $1 million.

Alcoa will donate $220,000 to the Red Cross and will match employee donations.

Amerada Hess said it would contribute $1 million to the American Red Cross for its disaster relief efforts in responding to Hurricane Katrina. In addition, the company will match individual employee donations to the Red Cross.

American Airlines flew 85,000 pounds of bottled water and nonperishable food items donated by the airline to New Orleans. American also picked up some of its own employees, other airlines' employees and stranded travelers and flew them to Dallas/Fort Worth.

Anheuser-Busch said it shipped 12,600 cases of drinking water for the Red Cross to distribute to victims in affected areas of Louisiana.

Arby's will give $100,000 to the American Red Cross.

AT&T will donate $1 million to American Red Cross and will match employee donations up to $500,000. AT&T will donate 35,000 30-minute calling cards and will establish IP-based calling centers to give evacuees and emergency workers access to free calling.

Bayer Corp. has committed $2 million in cash and product donations and will match employee donations to the Red Cross.

BI-LO/Bruno's supermarkets will match up to $25,000 in employee and customer donations to the American Red Cross.

BP is donating $ 1 million to the Red Cross.

Campbell Soup Company will contribute more than $2 million of food products, including soup, beverages and baked snacks, to the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. Campbell will also donate $25,000 and match employee donations up to $150,000.

Cendant is matching employee contributions up to $500k and is putting banner ads for the Red Cross on subsidiary Web sites such as Avis, Budget Orbitz, Cheaptickets, Ramada and Days Inn. The company is also coordinating to provide rental cars, rental trucks as well as housing in hotels and in timeshare businesses to DHS and FEMA workers.

Charles Schwab is offers a home equity line of credit up to $25,000 as either a new line of credit or an extension to an existing line of credit. The offer will include residences that have sustained storm damage that normally would not qualify.

Chevron is making a $5 million donation -- $3 million to the Red Cross and $2 million to local charities in the area.

Chico's FAS will donate $250,000 to various relief agencies and match employee donations.

Cisco Systems will donate $1 million and match up to $1 million in employee donations to the Red Cross. Cisco is also distributing "Communication Kits" with IP-based connectivity.

Citigroup will donate $1 million to the American Red Cross and will match employee donations up to $1 million.

Clorox is transporting an initial 12 truckloads (50,000 gallons of bleach) to staging warehouses in Baton Rouge, La. and Jackson, Miss.

Coca-Cola Company is making a $5 million donation and donating water and other beverages to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for its relief efforts.

Comcast Corporation has committed to donating $10 million worth of advertising time for Public Service Announcements, in addition to $50,000 in cash to the American Red Cross. Comcast will also feature 10 hours of ON DEMAND programming in September, dedicated to airing American Red Cross updates, benefit concerts and information on what customers can do to help in the relief efforts.

Comerica will donate $50,000 to the Red Cross.

ConocoPhillips will contribute $3 million and match employee contributions.

Culligan will send five truckloads of drinking water.

Dana Corporation will donate $50,000 to Red Cross and employee match to all other charities.

Degussa will donate $100,000 to the Red Cross and match employee contributions.

DHL will donate $500,000 worth of shipping services.

DirecTV has launched a Hurricane Katrina Information channel.

DISH Network will provide satellite television service to shelters across Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.

Dow Chemical is donating $1 million to the Red Cross, up to $1 million in employee matching gifts and $1 million in products and technology for rebuilding.

Dress Barn will donate $3 million worth of clothes to World Vision and match double-match employee donations.

Dupont is making a $1 million cash donation and is prepared to make product donations.

Edison International will donate $125,000 to the Red Cross and will match up to $25,000 in employee donations.

Edward Jones will donate $1 million to the Red Cross and will match customer and employee contributions.

Eli Lilly will donate $2 million to the Red Cross and match up to $1 million in employee donations. Eli Lilly will also donate $1 million worth of insulin.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car announced that it is making a donation of $1 million through its charitable foundation to the American Red Cross to help in the massive Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.

Exxon Mobil will donate $2 million to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund and will provide $5 million in grants to local relief agencies.

Fannie Mae has mortgage relief provisions in place for borrowers in Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida and other states facing hardships as a result of widespread damage caused by Hurricane Katrina.

FedEx has offered to airlift donated resources.

Flowserve will donate $50,000 and match up to $50,000 in employee donations to the Red Cross.

Food Lion said it would accept customer donations to the Red Cross and will send a truckload of bottled water to the area.

Fox Networks Group will donate $5 million in ad space.

General Electric will donate $6 million to the Red Cross and match employee donations up to $1 million. GE will also donate $10 million in medical devices, power generators and water purification systems.

General Motors is contributing $400,000 to the American Red Cross and matching employee donations up to $250,000. GM will also donate 25 vehicles for use by the American Red Cross.

GMAC-RFC will match employee donations up to $1 million.

Ford Motor Credit Company is offering customers affected by Hurricane Katrina the opportunity to defer up to two vehicle payments.

Freddie Mac has extended its mortgage relief policies for borrowers affected by Hurricane Katrina in locations declared major disaster areas by President Bush.

General Motors is contributing $400,000 to the American Red Cross and matching employee donations up to $250,000. GM will also donate 25 vehicles for use by the American Red Cross.

Grainer will donate $1 million in supplies and cash.

Harrah's Entertainment will establish an Employee Recovery Fund of $1 million and will provide Biloxi, Gulfport and New Orleans casino employees with their regularly scheduled base pay for up to 90 days.

Home Depot will donate $1.5 million to various relief organizations, including the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. The home improvement retailer will set up six temporary support centers to provide reconstruction materials.

Hospital Corporation of America will donate $1 million to the Salvation Army and other agencies and will match employee donations.

IKEA will donate $1 million worth of home furnishings, will match employee donations up to $250,000 and will donate total proceeds from the sale of a $9.99 heart shaped cushion.

Intel will donate $1 million to the Red Cross and is assessing communication and hardware needs.

IPSCO will donate $500,000 to the Red Cross and match employee donations.

JPMorgan Chase will donate $1 million to the American Red Cross and will match employee donations up to $1 million.

Kellogg will donate $500,000 in cash and products including seven truckloads of breakfast bars, crackers and cookies already en route.

Kimberly-Clark , makers of Kleenex, Scott, and Huggies among other brands, will contribute $250,000 in cash and $350,000 in production donations.

Koch Industries is donating $1 million to the Red Cross, $250,000 to the Salvation Army and will match employee contributions up to $1 million.

Kraft Foods will provide $1 million in food and cash grants.

Lowe's Companies will match in-store customer contributions up to $1 million. The company said it has truckloads of emergency supplies staged and ready for relief efforts along the Gulf Coast. Lowe's also says its more than 1,125 stores nationwide will serve as official cash-donation sites to benefit the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

MAR Oil will donate $13,200 to the Red Cross.

MasterCard will donate $500,000 to the Red Cross and $500,000 to AmeriCares and will double-match employee contributions. Its has also donated ad space in the USA Today to the Red Cross.

Medtronic will donate $1 million to the Red Cross.

Modine Manufacturing will donate $150,000 to various agencies.

Morgan Stanley will match employee donations to the Red Cross up to $500,000.

National Association of Realtors will contribute an additional $1 million to funds established by realtor associations in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi to provide emergency relief to victims of the hurricane.

New York Life Insurance will donate $1 million to the Red Cross and will match employee contributions.

Navistar is donating use of trucks, cars and logistics. The company also offered a 7750 square-foot facility for recovery efforts.

News Corp will donate $1 million to the Salvation Army and match employee donations.

Nissan North America will donate $500,000 to the Red Cross and provide 50 full-size trucks to the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency.

Northwest Airlines will deliver hurricane relief supplies, including water, hand towels and batteries.

Office Depot pledged to contribute $1 million to the American Red Cross.

Onstar will provide services in the affected areas, a donation of $400,000 to the Red Cross and well as employee donations.

PACCAR will donate $1 million to the Red Cross.

Papa Johns franchisee owner Keith Sullens in Houston is using his location in Reliant Stadium, which is adjacent to the Astrodome, to provide up to 10,000 Pizzas to people arriving at the Astrodome from the Superdome. He is also offering 150 delivery jobs open across the Houston area to people evacuated from New Orleans as a chance for them to get back on their feet. On the corporate Papa Johns will provide water to people evacuated to the Astrodome.

Pepsi Americas will contribute $500,000 in financial aid and water.

Pfizer will donate $1 million for rebuilding hospital and healthcare centers, $1 million for relief organizations including the American Red Cross, Salvation Army and the United Way of America and medicines, consumer and animal health products

Safeway will donate $100,000 to the Red Cross and 10,000 emergency kits.

SBC will match employee donations up to $1 million and will contribute telephone and Internet services worth $4 million per month.

Sears will donate $500,000 in merchandise and gift cards to the Red Cross and match customer donations up to $500,000.

Southwest Airlines is bringing supplies such as ice, bottled water, flashlights and bug spray. The airline also picked up about 20 to 40 evacuees.

Sprint Nextel is setting up a mobile command center with full telecommunications system to coordinate a "massive" recovery effort and help get mobile service working again. The company is also giving 3000 Nextel walkie talkies to recovery workers and providing a total of 10 RV's and vehicles with satellite cellular service.

St. Paul Travelers will donate $1 million to the Red Cross.

Talbots will donate $50,000 to the Red Cross and match $50,000 in employee donations. It will also donate 54,000 units of children's clothing.

Target announced a $1.5 million donation to the American Red Cross. The company said in a statement that it was also coordinating the distribution of essential relief products requested by the Red Cross, including water, ice, energy bars and bug spray.

Tesoro Corporation , the second largest US oil refinery, will donate $100,000 to the Red Cross and Salvation Army and match employee contributions. Tesoro will also be helping the city of San Antonio food bank on Friday collect food to be sent to Louisiana, Mississippi, etc.

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans has pledged $2 million to Lutheran relief agencies and will match member contributions.

Time Warner (the parent of Turner Broadcasting) will match $1 million in employee donations to the Red Cross

Toyota will contribute $5 million to Red Cross.

Trinity Springs will donate $27,000 liters of bottled water.

Turner Broadcasting (the parent of CNN) will donate $250,000 and match employee contributions.

Unilever will donate $1 million in cash to the Red Cross and Salvation Army and will donate $1.6 million worth of company products including soap, shampoo, detergent, peanut butter, soup, nutritional shakes and snack bars.

UPS donates $500,000 in cash and $750,000 worth of services.

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans has pledged $1 million to Lutheran relief agencies and will match member contributions.

United Airlines will give 500 frequent flier miles to anyone who donates $50 or more to the Red Cross, AmeriCares or Operation USA. The airline is also planning a relief flight with food and supplies.

Wal-Mart Stores will give $17 million in cash donations and establish mini-Wal-Mart stores in areas impacted by the hurricane. Items such as clothing, diapers, baby wipes, food, formula, toothbrushes, bedding and water will be given out free of charge to those with a demonstrated need.

Washington Mutual will donate $100,000 to the American Red Cross and will match employee donations.

Xerox will donate $1.2 million in services and supplies and $800,000 in cash to various relief agencies.

Wachovia will donate $250,000 to the American Red cross and match employee donations. Wachovia delivered food, water and generators to Mobile and Pascagoula and will continue to send supplies.

Winn-Dixie announced a program called "Neighbors Helping Neighbors," in which people can make donations in its Southeast stores for Hurricane Katrina victims.

What kind of shock waves is Katrina sending through the business world? Click here .

Beware of the Hurricane Katrina scams. Click here .


And here's MORE information!

Convoy of Hope responds to Katrina, offers help from Picayune, Mississippi

Convoy of Hope Disaster Response Teams have established a distribution point in Picayune, Miss. and are traveling further into the affected areas to establish additional locations.

Cars --often filled with five or six people who are now homeless --were lined up two miles in either direction at the Picayune distribution point.

Volunteers had served 300 families by 9 a.m. this morning. "The need for ice and water is huge," said Jeff Nene, Convoy of Hope Communications director. "The people we are serving are often in tears, thankful to receive something so small as bottled water and a couple of bags of ice. These are the simple things that we often take for granted."

More than 30 truckloads of ice, water and food are already in the region or en route. Convoy of Hope is preparing for a response that could require hundreds of loads in the weeks ahead.

Nene, who has visited tsunami-ravaged Southeast Asia several times, viewed portions of Louisiana and Mississippi from the air. "Even twenty miles north of the coast, the area is utterly unrecognizable," he said. "The need is beyond belief."

U.S. Disaster Relief Director Kary Kingsland said, "The sweltering heat makes it tough on people and volunteers are fatigued even before they start. But we have to keep working around the clock to help people put their lives back together."

The best way people can participate in this relief effort is by making a financial contribution. "That keeps the trucks rolling and gets the supplies to people who need the help the most," said Nene.

A Prayer for us all....

Dear Heavenly Father,

Please extend your hand of mercy and grace to those affected by Hurricane Katrina. Give our leaders knowledge to provide help to the victims. Father, please work in the situation to prevent the enemy from creating dissention and confusion. Bind the forces of evil that are creating turmoil. Send forth your spirit to bring order from chaos. Protect those who are innocent victims in this tragedy.

Give those affected by the storm peace and sweet sleep tonight. Give them an awesome sense of your presence and let them see your hand at work in providing for their most basic needs. Let them look to you as their source. Protect your children and show your power and might to those who do not know you as Lord and Savior. Use this situation to bring them to salvation.

Father, show us your glory. Take what the enemy intended for evil to work good in the lives of all who were touched by the hurricane. Where there is turmoil and fear, bring peace and joy and gratefulness for the blessings that you provide. Let them look to you with thanksgiving and joy in the midst of trouble. Thank you for your protection and for bringing blessing from this situation.

Thank you for sparing those who survived the storm. Bring comfort to those who have lost family and friends. Protect their health and bring healing to those who are hurt or sick. Father, release your resources to provide for their needs. Inspire your people to reach out in compassion and mercy, and give wisdom to those who receive donations that they might be used wisely.

Father, we especially pray for the children who were affected by this situation. Father, give them hope and comfort. Provide for their every need—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Father, use the situation to show us your glory, to provide evidence of your power, and to draw our hearts closer to you as we reach out in love and compassion to those affected by the storm. Father, we know that out of devastation, you bring new life. Please bring hope, love, and renewal to your people. Heal our land, restore us to you.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

*** Thank You Renee for helping to write this, and allowing God's light to shine through you.

A week.. And so many changes!

I don't even know where to start this post.... I am going to try to catch you up on all that has been happening with me!!!

FRIDAY

Friday night we had our MOPS leadership retreat. We stayed at the same place where I accepted Christ back in February. It brought back so many warm memories and renewed my faith. It was a great night. We didn't go to bed till almost 3 am. It's been a long time since I stayed up that late without a crying child. I feel like we bonded as a group which is always helpful. The problem if we don't get some Moppets workers we won't be having a MOPS group. I feel like I am so much to blame even though I have exhausted all of my leads. If you could please say a prayer asking God to give us clarity, and guidance to know his plan for our MOPS group it would be greatly appreciated.

Saturday

I spent the morning finishing up with the MOPS group. Coming home Alex and I snuggled up in bed and slept for 2.5 hours. It was a wonderful nap. Once up we continued to watch the weather. I knew the storm was headed our way watching it gain strength and fearing for the unknown. That evening my friend and the coordinator of MOPS received an e-mail requesting that someone heading to the convention write out and send in their testimony. The person then may get picked to share their testimony in front of some 6,000 woman during the convention. Whoa.... At first I panicked and thought no way. BUT in the end I stayed up till 1:30am writing. I got through 1/2 of it finishing it on Sunday. I am not sure if I plan on posting it here as it has some very personal details. BUT for now if you would care to read it please e-mail me. I have heard that it was sent on to MOPS international in Colorado. I am unsure what the next step is or when I will find out more. So... Please keep this in your prayers. It would be HUGE if I got chosen and a major God moment for me. I know there will be woman at this convention who could be touched by my testimony.

Sunday

Rick left the house early and headed to Church to help work the sound board for both sessions. I quickly raced around the yard with my son getting every toy and lawn item up and stored away. I sat Alex down and showed him the large storm at sea and explained that it was headed our way and I needed a BIG helper. We then raced off to Walmart before it got insane and they ran out of batteries. LOL.. It was unusually busy but not crazy. I quickly stocked up on all the staple items. Then ran off of church! We spent the rest of Sunday watching the weather channel and getting ready for the storm. By now we knew for certain we were in Katrina's direct path!!

Monday

We awoke on Monday morning to a weird feeling in the air. It was almost still! It was cloudy and the rain had just started to drizzle. Rick left for work while Alex and I stayed home watching the weather channel and everything around us get darker and darker. Finally about 1pm, Rick called and said his company was shutting down until Wednesday morning. I was soo thrilled to hear this as the rain had started to really start to pour and the wind was picking up. We decided to take a nap as we felt we might be in for a very long night. We lost power at 4:30pm, but were feeling okay as it was still light out. We watched as large branches snapped off of tress and crashed to the ground. Rain drove sideways across the sky. It was raining close to 2" and hour. My dog refused to step foot outside to pee not even under my car port. He was terrified and would not leave our side. As night set in it started getting scary. Through phone calls we learned that the eye of the storm was headed directly at us. We couldn't see anything outside and only had our ears to listen. The wind was howling along with a driving rain pounding against our windows. We were constantly hearing trees breaking and things thudding on the roof. We were certain a tree was going to come straight into us. About 8pm, I walked into my kitchen and into an inch of water on the floor. The drainage ditch behind the house got clogged and water was rising quickly. I started throwing down towels, blankets, comforters, clothes. Anything I thought that might suck up water. We called our landlord who is also our neighbor and he too was fighting flooding. Rick, and he headed into the dark to battle the elements and dig a trench. With the door open I stood holding lanterns while my son screamed scared for his Daddy. I just wanted it all to stop. Later we learned while they worked we were in the eye of the storm and were having sustained winds of over 60 mph with gusts close to 100. Rick said every time the wind started to gust he would push himself against the house in fear of a tree falling. It was a night we both won't soon forget. We didn't do a lot of sleeping.

Tuesday

We awoke to the rain still coming down. Luckily we never lost phone, so we were able to learn some what was happening around us. We went out to survey the damaged and were just thrilled to see no damage to the house. Our house was plastered with leaves along with every inch of our yard. It was small branches, sticks and big branches every where. We had no power but we were alive. Thank the Lord. We spent the day trying to pick some up outside, and lend a hand to neighbors in need. By 2:00 our power was back. However, some (even today Friday) in my town still do not have power. We were feeling so blessed on Tuesday night.

Wednesday

Life started getting back to normal here in town, Rick headed back to work and I began to sift through the massive amount of laundry. All of those wet items I used to stop the leak now had to be cleaned. Still not having cable or internet I really didn't know what was happening south of me nor the fight for gas. As I headed out Wednesday night for a meeting I suddenly realized just how scary this all was suddenly becoming. People were lined up 50 cars thick waiting for gas. I couldn't believe my eyes. Hundreds of victims were beginning to pour into Columbus to find shelter here.

Thursday

It was a crazy day.... A MOPS leadership meeting, only to have to report we are short Moppets workers. Without workers no meetings.... We have 1.5 weeks to try and do something!
Then it was a Church Woman's social, where I met a 31 year old woman who was almost killed 8 months ago in a car accident. This caused her to have a massive stroke. Although, incredibly bright she was unable to get the words she was thinking to formulate and come out her mouth. Having been in a bad accident myself it was a serious gut check for me. I cannot explain my compassion for her. I was so proud of her for coming.. Not knowing anyone! God just called to me to truly reach out to her and grab hold.

Friday - Today!

This Morning Alex and I went to a local shelter and gave some refugees 2 gallons of home made sweet tea. We also gave a box of stuffed animals straight from Alex. He chose exactly what he wanted to give to the children. We also packed up a box full of toilet paper, diapers, wipes, lysol, toothpaste, shampoo, baby wash, etc... They were so thankful!


We will not be going anywhere this weekend as there is NO GAS anywhere in Columbus! I am on 1/2 a tank and Rick is on 1/4. Rick is hoping to be able to find gas on his way home from work in Alabama. We will be having a major bond fire burning all the trees and brush we have down. It will be a weekend to be thankful and try and ban together as a community. Please pray and if you can help.... Offer aid.... Please do so!!