Joplin, MO and other areas affected...

[mrsilv04]

I know that money is really tight right now, but if you can, try and make some sort of a donation to the areas that have been affected by recent disasters.... be it from flood or tornado.

A local Church was coordinating a relief shipment to Joplin. They have a Church member who donated the use of a semi, trailer, and driver to take a 45' van load of supplies to Joplin. Their goal was to fill the 45' trailer, and deliver it to a Church that they have connections with in Joplin.

Dad and I went to the local superstore and filled a cart with all sorts of supplies (the local paper published a list of needed items) and dropped it off at the Church.

This morning, it was reported in the local paper that not one, but THREE semi-trailer loads of supplies left the Church early this morning, heading for Joplin.

The need is definitely out there.

 

[wallyuwl]

That's awesome. A lot I want to say about this compared to non-private relief efforts, but won't.

 

[daves87rs]

Very cool! I'll check around to see what I can do...

 

[stephen9666]

Originally Posted By: mrsilv04


The need is definitely out there.


I'm a journalist in Kansas, and I've been reporting on the storm coverage. Just yesterday I did a story on the best way to help out.

The Red Cross and United Way are urging cash donations, because they are much more flexible than supplies.

In fact, there is supposed to be a news conference in Kansas City tomorrow urging people not to send unsolicited donations of supplies to the area, because they are too hard to handle and distribute, and may not be what is needed in the area.

 

[wallyuwl]

Surely things like bottled water and pre-packaged food (like Powerbars) would be needed and welcomed? I can understand not sending things like toothpaste and instead sending/donating the cash.

 

[stephen9666]

Originally Posted By: wallyuwl
Surely things like bottled water and pre-packaged food (like Powerbars) would be needed and welcomed?


Evidently that mentality is causing some headaches there. I don't know if those items are needed or not. But, I think the point is you need to work with an organization established on the ground so they can tell you what is needed and handle the materials.



Here is some text I took from a press release:

Quote:
There has been a tremendous outpouring of public support for the Joplin tornado survivors. However, emergency personnel on-site are reporting the town is overwhelmed with unsolicited donations, which can divert precious resources from services needed by those impacted by the disaster.

 

[simple_gifts]

http://www.redcross.org/en/otherdonationsites/

Here are the $ donation sites for the red + if one does not want to use the web.

 

[kkreit01]

I heard the same thing on the radio as Stephen -- "Don't send supplies". The Chiefs already sent 168,000 bottles of water, plus a some cash.

We had a few scares in the KC metro area yesterday (minor funnel cloud touchdowns), but nothing like Joplin. My heart goes out to that town. Sedalia got hit by an EF2, and received significant damage (yesterday). Crazy weather!

 

[BR549]

yep, missed me by 2 blocks. and yes it does sound like a freight train!!!

 

[wander2039]

Originally Posted By: kkreit01
I heard the same thing on the radio as Stephen -- "Don't send supplies". The Chiefs already sent 168,000 bottles of water, plus a some cash.

We had a few scares in the KC metro area yesterday (minor funnel cloud touchdowns), but nothing like Joplin. My heart goes out to that town. Sedalia got hit by an EF2, and received significant damage (yesterday). Crazy weather!


If you think about it Joplin, St. Louis, Sedalia got hit. KC and Springfield has been close. That's almost every big city in MO except maybe Columbia. Not sure how much damage Dallas had but that's another. OKC was another that close. It appears there going after cities now. 5-10 degrees warmer here in KC I bet most of us wouldn't be on here right now.

 

[mrsilv04]

The three semi loads that were sent from my hometown were coordinated through folks at the Ozark Christian College there in Joplin.

The folks in Joplin were sending text messages letting the people up here know exactly what they needed. Then, the list of needed items was communicated to the local radio stations here. Within a hour or so, local folks would start delivering those items to the Church, to be packed up on the semi.

In addition, $10,000 in cash was delivered as well.