A Small Victory

Kids of Katrina info here
-----

I haven't forgotten. Continuing on.

• Missing daughter, mom reunited

• Our community has opened its arms to family, friends and strangers who fled to escape the storm. Daily Post reporters have been swamped with stories of kindness and generosity. We're getting as many as we can into the paper. But time and space prevent us from relating all the good news and heartwarming stories.

• Really good news: Over $1,000 in contributions to the Kids of Katrina fund so far!

You know the drill. Got links to heartwarming stories from NO or Mississippi or wherever, leave them in the comments. I'm off to find more.

More here

I don't know where my fixation with the name katrina comes from, but I'm trying to catch all instances of it - let me know if I missed any. Katrina, not katrina. Repeat.

Ok, I am exhausted. I will continue the good news tomorrow. Please, if you find stories, let me know.

Posted by me at 08:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

And this is my favorite story yet.

Shelter resident Rochelle Smith, a Jackson-area woman who was homeless before the storm, heard of Williams' plight on Thursday and decided that a lack of wedding dress or cake wasn't going to stop the couple from having their special day.

On Saturday, the couple were married.

As children played and weary survivors slept, Williams and Kirsh exchanged vows before an Episcopalian minister and a crowd seated in folding chairs. Some snapped photos with instant cameras, while others used camera phones to capture the moment.

I was wondering whether or not to continue with the "good news" postings. I think this story has just inspired me to continue.

Posted by me at 10:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

[Side note: I am really behind on my email, trying desperately to catch up, I WILL answer all today]

Ok, I have not given up yet. Let's roll on.

To recap: good news from New Orleans or Mississippi, people helping each other, heartwarming stories, reuinited families, you know the drill by now. Leave all relevant links in the comments. There are six parts to this series.

• Artists at CD Baby donating 100% of their profits to Red Cross.

• Food companies pledge relief

• Girl Scouts to the rescue

• Donate your Delta miles, your Continental miles or your United miles.

• Houston food bank is coordinating food drive efforts

• Attention knitters:

I am collecting knitted or crocheted goods for the smallest victims. For right now, things such as baby bootees or small children socks are probably best; as we get more into fall, things like sweaters and blankets will be needed. I will take anything I receive to the Northwest Assistance Ministry to distribute to those in need. Leave a comment with your e-mail if you would like more details. Raid your stash, knit for the babies!

• Katrina recources in Houston for those looking to volunteer or send goods.

• Michelle Malkin has quite a few links to uplifting stories.

• Carnival Cruise Sending 3 Ships For Katrina Victims

• Eight people in particular who stood out during our rescue and whose stories deserve to be told

Posted by me at 08:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)

[Please note there is a part 6 here]

Click for more info, if you are going to link, please use that specific URL (Freepers, maybe you might link to this drive? Please?)

I'm ready to start a new thread of good news, and I think you are all ready to read it.

I've got a lot of work on my desk to catch up right now, so I'm asking you all to please search around and find the good news for me, just leave the links in the comments.

Thank you.

Update: I probably should have clarified. To repeat:

I'm collecting stories out of NO/Mississippi. Good stories. Stories of people helping each other, people reuniting with loved ones, companies opening their wallets wide, things like that. And pictures, too. Pictures of animals being rescued or families hugging. Feel good stuff.

• The Texas Dept of Health and Human Services are giving all evacuees 2 months of food stamps with no questions asked with driver’s license. They can also give information on free gas and reduced housing. The web site is www.hhsc.state.tx.us/. In Houston, they should call 713-767-2000 for the nearest Health and Human Services facility.

• From reader Tari:
  

  Just wanted to let you know I’ve been over to the Dome this AM – amazing sight. There are people all over the parking lots – hanging clothes for donation on the fences, unloading crates of water, soap, you name it. After I read your post of Dave’s email I headed to Target for some diapers (and yes, tampons and the like, thanks to your suggestion) and then went over to the Dome. There are people directing traffic, showing you where to park with your stuff, the works. Not the most perfect and orderly set up, but cheerful, slightly chaotic, and from the looks of things, very very helpful to the people in need. My next trip will be with baggies with personal items in them – I’m taking the kids out of school at noon so they can help me put them all together (my 5 year old keeps reminding me that he needs to do something to help the people from LA - well, here’s his chance). I just sent a mass email to all of his friends’ moms and we’ll see if some others can come to help us out. I’ll let you know how it all goes.

Here's the best news that people in New Orleans could hope for right now:

Buses have arrived, as have convoys with supplies.

• Merck donates $1 million

• Lowe's adds another million

• "A lot of people have been really good to me in my life," said Walker, a 51-year-old independent contractor who said he canceled three jobs Thursday to volunteer for a month on the Gulf Coast at an emergency shelter. "It's time to pay back."

• ING's U.S. Operations Contribute $1 Million

• Xerox to Donate More Than $2 Million in Cash, Equipment, Services

• Australia offers $10 million in aid

• More than 30 of the evacuees are staying with Hamilton resident Darlene Rutledge in her three-bedroom Seventh Street apartment

• Networks unite for Katrina telethon

• Best Buy matching in-store contributions (I contributed there yesterday)

• WalMart and GE have each pledged 15 million.

Posted by me at 10:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (17)

First, if you are looking to donate, please consider Strengthen the Good.

And on with part four of the good news (now all gathered here):

• California reaches out to hurricane victims with money, aid

• NFL, NBA, MLB Commit Millions to Victims

• Canada ready to help

• Disaster relief groups say millions have been collected, far more than after 9/11 or the tsunami in southeastern Asia.

• Cisco Mobilizes for Katrina

• Networks set storm benefit concerts

• Companies move to donate to Katrina relief

• NJ companies donating cash, medicines to Katrina victims

• Big Texas style welcome for evacuees

• Heart of America: Common People Doing Heroic Things

Thanks to Angel for collecting links.

[I need to catch up on my sleep - please keep leaving links and I will refresh this post tomorrow]

Posted by me at 07:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)

[Today is Blog for Relief day]

Please see here and here for previous entries.

Thankfully, I've received enough links to start a new thread.

To recap a bit:

I'm collecting stories out of NO/Mississippi. Good stories. Stories of people helping each other, people reuniting with loved ones, companies opening their wallets wide, things like that. And pictures, too. Pictures of animals being rescued or families hugging. Feel good stuff.

• I love this one, the story of the renegade bus:

The group of mostly teenagers and young adults pooled what little money they had to buy diapers for the babies and fuel for the bus.

• Suddenly, a woman emerged from the water and began walking toward her. She had long, disheveled black hair. "Mamma?" she shouted.
  
  "Oh my God, oh my God," the old woman screamed, kissing Glendalyn's hand and pressing it against her forehead.

• 13-year-old Phillip Bullard began saving lives. Four adults and nine children, including himself. [scroll down for that one]

[Thanks to Angie for the above links]

• UA Extends Fall Admission, Free/Reduced Tuition to Students at Universities Devastated by Hurricane
  Please leave any relevant links/stories in the comments, thanks.

Speaking of good news, I can't even keep up with the emails from people willing to help find some transport for the school supplies I want to collect. Quite a few people have put money in my PayPal to purchase supplies, thank you, thank you a million times. I will post as soon as I get some definite information on getting the stuff down there, and thank you also to those who offered to accept and distribute the deliveries in Houston and Baton Rouge. I will be in contact with you.

• Florida Universities Accept Students From Hurricane-Damaged Areas

• MoveOn.org has set up this hurricane housing site.

• Americans open homes to refugees

• "I'm thinking about moving back to Dallas. Anybody, anybody looking for a good telephone technician -- here I am," he said with a laugh.
  
  A local executive with a communications company took Hughes' half-joking comment to heart.

• Countries from Russia to Venezuela offered assistance for victims of Hurricane Katrina yesterday but said they will wait to hear from the United States what is needed before they send the aid.
  Sympathy and condolences also poured in from around the world.

• 10 to 12 nations offer aid in wake of Katrina

Just in case you were one of those wondering where the help from other nations is...

• From the comments:

just wanted to let everyone know that UT-Austin is offering admission to students from New Orleans' universities and colleges, plus office space and use of libraries and other facilities to faculty and grad students. Details here.

Posted by me at 11:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (12)

Please see this post from last night for details.
To repeat from yesterday:

I'm going to collect stories out of NO/Mississippi. Good stories. Stories of people helping each other, people reuniting with loved ones, companies opening their wallets wide, things like that. And pictures, too. Pictures of animals being rescued or families hugging. Feel good stuff. That's what I'm going to do.

Please leave any relevant links in the comments.

It's getting really hard to find the good stories, as all the media seem to be focusing on the deaths and looting. But I'm determined to find anything good in the tons of stories I'm wading through.

Jahne Haze, 4, looks at baby food in a shopping cart that was given to her mother outside a Super Wal-Mart in New Orleans, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2005. Emergency personnel went into the store to get supplies and distributed it to people waiting outside.

Jonathan Harvey rescues his dog Cuddles in Gulfport, Mississippi, on Monday. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Links/stories below the fold

Continue reading "looking for good news, Part II [updated!]" »

Posted by me at 06:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (23)

This is what I'm going to do.

I'm going to collect stories out of NO/Mississippi. Good stories. Stories of people helping each other, people reuniting with loved ones, companies opening their wallets wide, things like that. And pictures, too. Pictures of animals being rescued or families hugging. Feel good stuff. That's what I'm going to do.

If you want the rest of the news and the links to go with it and some tireless blogging work, try Brendan Loy.

If you want to help, leave relevant links in the comments.

Update: I have my first entry already:

Steve Toolel walks through the rubble of his home after rescueing his friend's dog, Hercules, in Biloxi, Misssissippi. (AFP/Robert Sullivan)

And another:

Getty Images

• Another rescued doggie
• And another rescued doggie
• A people rescue!
• Anheuser-Busch Increases Water Donations to 825,000 Cans to Aid Hurricane Katrina Victims
• Another rescue story
• Pelican rescue
• Good neighbors in Houston
• Ham radio operators helping to deliver messages
• Helicopter rescue

• This is great news: Matt found his mother in law!

• Firefighters from Sacremento heading to Louisiana
• Texas business donates $25,000
• CVS/pharmacy Launches Comprehensive Relief Effort
• DuPont donates one million dollars
• Phoenix firefighters volunteer
• Texas:

The Baytown Community Center, a shelter that is located at 2407 Market St., is the temporary home for 320 refugees. Houstonians dropped off much-needed supplies, such as food, blankets, clothing and other items, at the makeshift shelter.

• Local business owners installed 30 animal kennels at the shelter so evacuees' pets could remain with their owners. Wal-Mart is supplying the pet food.

• Thanks, so far, to Allah and Beth for the link collecting.

• Fishing crew rescued

• North Carolina: Thousands line up to donate items

• Museums, zoos, and sports arenas in Houston are offering free/reduced admission for anyone showing a LA, AL, or MS drivers license.

• Refugee dolphins

Rescued pup!

• Capital One pledges $1 million
• Culligan Donates Safe Drinking Water to Victims of Hurricane Katrina

• Surge in Red Cross donations!
• NBA players launch hurricane relief

• Karolyn Bell, her newborn baby cradled against gales and lashing rain, edged over a plank between two homes in a desperate bid to outrace hurricane floods fast swallowing New Orleans.
  
  Bell, 26, stitches fresh in her belly from a C-section delivery at noon on Thursday, relived her ordeal as she limped barefoot, babe in arms, across a bridge Tuesday out of New Orleans' deluged Ninth District, one of the city's poorest areas..

  Read the rest.

• "Can you pass me my cane?" Ronald Wood said as he steadied himself on the concrete barrier. "I'm kinda cold right now," he said as he climbed into a waiting ambulance. "I feel pretty sick."

• Wal-Mart donates $1 million
• Animal rescue groups join relief efforts

• PETCO raises money for furry victims

• Big Easy Bites Back:
  

  A sumptuous aroma of barbecued shrimp, the promise of warm beer and Hurricane cocktails drew disbelieving storm survivors to the only restaurant still open in the battered French Quarter of New Orleans.

• Canada sends conolences

• Offers of help at Craig's List

AP Photo

• Nurses held flashlights and ventilated patients by hand. Doctors wearing green scrubs used canoes to ferry supplies between the city's four downtown hospitals.

• Electric companies around the country send crews
• Food bank offers online food drive

Ok, I need to go to bed. Please leave any relevant links in the comments and I will start a new thread in the morning. It looks like the news is just going to get worse come morning, what with the levees not being contained, and I'd really like to continue to focus on the good. Rescues, relief efforts, anything like you see linked above - if you see a good story, share the link please.

Parts 2, 3 and 4 of this are here.

Posted by me at 05:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (42)