Books on Hurricane Recovery

As I have time, I'll be posting more links to books regarding the rebuilding of Pearlington, Waveland, Bay St Louis, Kiln and the rest Hancock County. If you know of any, please let me know.

I've long held I wouldn't advertise anything that was a for-profit endeavor, but I think at this point, they need to be shown in an effort to prove rebuilding has yet to be complete.

The first is Pat Holt's Rebuilding Pearlington. She's a lady from basically all over the nation, having served in the military and after retiring, took up photography. I wish her memoir included many more of her photographs, but perhaps she is working on a separate book for those.

I do have a few others, which will be posted in the appropriate blog, and then all will be collected on the KatrinaNetworking blog

Project Mommy 101

10/9 Update

Hi Leslie,
The Mommy 101 Shower was in May and it was a great success. We had 85 moms or moms-to-be come and receive a large number of beautiful gifts.
We plan to do it again in the spring. I'll keep you informed.
Thanks for caring and all your support.
We have some moms that we are still helping.
I just got an email from a young lady that has a 9 month old and is expecting in Dec.
If you have contacts that might want to adopt this family and help them, please let me know.

Betty

3/28 Update
Just an update to our project that will be held April 14th "Mommy 101". Tasia is a wonderful person and is working very hard to make this project a success. The bad thing is, we're not getting a great response. Attached is Tasia's update. If you know someone that would like to help or help with the list of needed things, please let me know. We only have 3 weeks left and I think so far we have around 40 to 50 names. You all know the week of the event you get loaded with new names. We learned that one from last Christmas.

As always, "Thank you" for being by our sides.

Thanks again,

“MOMMY 101”
A Community Project Hancock County, MS

Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Tasia Poyadou of Waveland, MS. I am the current Miss Mississippi Teen. I attend the University of Southern Mississippi on a Presidential Scholarship while majoring in Biological Sciences.

My hometown of Waveland, Mississippi was one of the hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina. Many may think that enough time has passed that life is back to normal, but that is far from being accurate. Many families are still in FEMA trailers; many are still awaiting the possibility of one day receiving insurance payments, while those that had no insurance continue to wait for grant monies. And, of course, there are those who do not know where they will go next.

I am currently involved in a community project called “MOMMY 101” which is a countywide baby shower and educational tool for new or expectant mothers. It will also provide support and give them the opportunity to gather amongst themselves. These ladies are facing motherhood while at the same time living through one of the toughest times of their lives. “MOMMY 101” will provide baby clothes, diapers, wipes, high chairs, etc. (as well as provide) the opportunity to learn from local OB/Gyns and other support agencies, such as “Family First Resource Center”, and Mississippi State University Extension Service, ways in which to handle the stress of their day-to-day life during this time of recovery. Unfortunately some of the effects of Hurricane Katrina our community are higher rates of domestic disturbances, child neglect, depression and suicide. Hopefully we can relieve some of the stress with this project.

It is my wish and prayer that we can count on you for a donation of baby items or a monetary donation that we could use to make “MOMMY 101” a great success. “MOMMY 101” is scheduled for April 14th, 2007. We would hope to have all donated items and monetary donations in hand by March 30th to allow for time to prepare.

You may contact Betty Robinson, Public Relations for the City of Waveland, at
(228) 467-3425, or by her email address at brcitymail@yahoo.com for any additional information you may need such as tax deduction donation information.

Thank you for your time and I hope you will participate in this wonderful day for the new mothers of our community. The lessons and gifts they will receive will surely last for a lifetime.

Sincerely,
Tasia Poyadou
Miss Mississippi Teen
C/O City of Waveland
335 Coleman Ave. #8
Waveland, MS 39576

Photos End December

A marsh with a car still in it. I guess items are still floating up on the beaches as well.


The Turtle - good local eatery that was working out of a tent for a long time.


Debris is still hanging from the floor supports.


Presbyterian Volunteer Village - we have these 'tents' on pallets here (Broome County) for flood relief.


More remains waiting for help


Progress

Bay Waveland Merger Shelved

Bay St. Louis-Waveland merger study shelved
Financial outlooks still grim
By RYAN LaFONTAINE
rlafontaine@sunherald.com

HANCOCK COUNTY - Researchers have stopped work on a study of the potential benefits of merging Bay St. Louis and Waveland into one city, according to the government think tank overseeing the survey.

The two cities began discussing a merger sometime last year, after Katrina annihilated most of their taxable incomes and infrastructure.

Although the merger review has been shelved, a report released last week shows just how dismal the financial outlooks really were, and still are, for Bay St. Louis and Waveland.

"We have suspended the (merger) study and it was what we thought would be best for the two cities at this point," said Marty Wiseman, who runs the Stennis Institute of Government at Mississippi State University, which launched the study in March.
Katrina washed or blew away nearly 65 percent of homes countywide and with them went the governments' property-tax revenues. The casino and other giant retailers that had generated so much of the sales tax used to form the cities' operating budgets are slowly returning.

When revenue streams turned into trickles last year, Coast leaders were left to find money to rebuild infrastructure- sewerage, roads and public buildings - and create competitive salaries for the staff needed to maintain city services, all while funding their daily operations.

"To the outside observer having two municipalities wiped off the map presents an opportunity that the cities may not have otherwise, but to the citizens in those cities, (talk of a merger) would present a very chaotic situation that they just don't need right now," Wiseman said.

Why stop?

Several elements contributed to the study's suspension: Researchers believed data collection was getting in the way of storm recovery and trying to engage locals consumed with repairing their own lives into a government-merger discussion would be difficult.

The two cities recently settled an annexation dispute, adding hundreds of new properties that won't appear on tax rolls until next year, which Wiseman said "drastically changes the property-tax dynamic."

Also, Waveland was in the midst of a sizzling election to decide who would lead the city for the next four years, but Wiseman is quick to say the decision to stop the research was made only by the Stennis Institute.

"I want to make it clear that we were not asked by Mayor Tommy Longo nor Mayor Eddie Favre to stop the study," he said. "We made that decision ourselves."
But had a completed study been published around election time suggesting a merger was the only means of ensuring survival, it would have instantly created the single largest campaign issue.

Waveland candidates mostly debated issues of future development, building codes, money spending and transparency at City Hall, but top government experts
advocating an all-out merger with the Bay would have spawned where-do-you-stand questions no candidate could have avoided.

"We certainly didn't want to influence anyone's campaign whatsoever," Wiseman said.

At one point last year, Bay St. Louis and Hancock County leaders sounded as if their governments were lashed to the railroad tracks, counting down the days, hours and minutes to unavoidable insolvency. Local leaders have since received some federal and state backing to barely stay afloat.

But though the Bay, Hancock and other Coast governments were spreading a dark message of despair and pleading for help - mainly financial - from anyone who would listen, political leaders in Waveland continued to portray an almost-thriving city that was leading the storm-recovery race with its deep pockets.

Longo was criticized by some of his opponents for being out of touch with the fiscal realities of post-Katrina government.

To his credit, the city did have a $3 million cash reserve to live on after the storm, but Longo bashers have said with an annual budget more than double the reserve, that money ran out long ago.

Despite Longo winning last week's mayoral election, a study favoring a merger for the betterment of the two cities could still shove the mayor into a corner.

According to state law, the mayor of the largest municipality, based on population, would become the mayor of the newly formed city, which means Longo would likely have to walk away from a seven-year career at Waveland's City Hall.
'Struggling to survive'

According to a 70-page report published last week by the Stennis Institute, Waveland and Bay St. Louis are still "struggling to survive."

The report is part of a three-year study by the Stennis Institute and New York's Rockefeller Institute to determine Katrina's effect on Coast governments and their budgets.

The initial report from interviews with local leaders shows sales taxes in Bay St. Louis dropping from about $1.5 million to about $400,000, property taxes being cut in half and the city's annual budget sliced by nearly 80 percent of its pre-storm level.
Most of Waveland's $6.5 million budget was supported through sales taxes, which the report says are staggering back to their pre-storm level.

From July 2005 to the same time in 2006, Bay St. Louis lost $349,279 of its state sales-tax transfers, and Waveland saw a 30 percent drop, losing $678,281.
Gulfport, by contrast a much larger municipality, saw a 39 percent drop in diverted sales tax that accounted for more than a $7 million loss.

A lot of the financial bleeding on the Coast has been slowed by state and federal grants, private donations and loans.

The Bay has borrowed nearly $8 million since the storm and has applied for an additional $10 million to cover operating and recovery costs. City leaders are hopeful most of the loans will be "forgiven" or turned into grants.

Wiseman, who is expected to soon discuss potential cityhood with community leaders in Diamondhead, said he expects to restart the Bay-Waveland merger study within the next 12 months or "when the time is right."

His Hands and Feet Org

From Janet
Volunteers Boost His Hands and Feet Effort In Waveland, MS
December 1, 2006 For some living in our area, the holidays may never be the same after Hurricane Katrina hit a little over a year ago. Since then, News Channel 9 has followed the Katrina relief of two Collegedale, Tennessee based families who now live in Waveland, Mississippi.
The construction centered ministry His Hands and Feet says our stories attracted people from here to drive south and help. This morning, ministry co-founder Todd Johnson drove back into town and gave an update on Collegedale Christian radio station WSMC. His Hands and Feet has expanded to 17 people. During Thanksgiving, a wave of college students pitched in to get the volunteer camp up and running. From there, volunteers help storm ravaged homeowners rebuild their houses. His Hands and Feet members work for free but accept what they call God directed donations. Johnson explains what drives them. "
Jesus said 'When I come back, will Ieven find faith?' It's like, whoa, he wasn't talking to the world, he was talking to his own people."
The families first thought they would be in Waveland four to six weeks. They've been there for almost 15 months.

New Site Being Established

1/4 9 from Hancock County, 6 from Waveland

Waveland
Terry and Hamilton
http://realpeoplerelief.blogspot.com/2007/01/terry-g.html
Schonda and Family
http://realpeoplerelief.blogspot.com/2006/11/schonda-s.html
Richard and Barb
http://realpeoplerelief.blogspot.com/2006/10/richard-and-barb_28.html
Robb and Rod
http://realpeoplerelief.blogspot.com/2006/10/robb-and-rod.html
Debbie and Family
http://realpeoplerelief.blogspot.com/2006/11/debbie.html
Lee Ann and Family
http://realpeoplerelief.blogspot.com/2006/11/lee-ann-m.html

Questionnaire For Inclusion On Real People Relief

Information Posted on Your Page
Name: - I would like first and last, but please note what you feel comfortable having posted for all to see.

Email: - only contact information public will have about you. You will decide if you want them to know your full information by emailing them.

Location: - where you were; where you are; where you plan to be in a year.

Number in Household: - Please include pets. First names, sex and age of each person.

Situation: – brief paragraph of what you’ve been through, who you’ve applied for help with, what has happened in the last year.

Current Living Arrangements: - FEMA Trailer, Apartment, House, Tent?

Help: - what help, if any, have you received thus far?

Photos: - Up to current photos – can be rotated through as new images are sent.

Needs: Please list preferences; if you’re going to want, you might as well want what you want! Below are examples and in the categories to be listed under.
Foods – non-perishable only
Paper Products – Napkins, Toilet Paper, Paper Towels, etc.
School Supplies – notebooks, pens, pencils, folders, etc.
Computer Supplies – paper, ink (give specific cartridges)
Clothing – list sizes and style color preference
Cleaning Supplies – Windex, Dishwashing liquid, Laundry detergent, etc.
Household Supplies – light bulbs, kitchen supplies (pans, pots, etc.)
Stores you shop at – for possible gift cards or gift registry

Information Not Posted
Full Name
Mailing Address
Phone Number

What I Need from you
Twice monthly updates: - The more often I can update your information, the more frequently your information will be reviewed. People view blogs like an ongoing story. They get hooked on new little tidbits. If I don’t receive regular updates, the information will be pulled after 8 weeks.

Katrinas Angels

www.KatrinasAngels.org GREAT Page - http://www.katrinasangels.org/Resources.asp

3/25
Update: I AM Foundation.org (Books)Book Gifting Missions to Biloxi, New Orleans and South America in 2007.
In July, we plan to meet the First Lady of Columbia, who is endorsing our mission to her country, and to gift over 50,000 English and Spanish books to the children in South America with cooperation with The World Relief Organization (WRO).
In the fall, we will visit Biloxi, MS and New Orleans, LA to hand deliver over 50,000 more books to children affected by Katrina. This is in addition to the 35,000 we have already delivered. We are working with the WRO and Katrina's Angels to make this fall trip possible.
Woolmarket Elementary School, Biloxi, MS

3/5 With Easter right around the corner, Katrina's Angels is looking for a place to have an Easter Egg hunt. We will sponsor the event (that is we'll pay for and send you the supplies).
We are looking to keep the total children involved to about 100. We need a group or organizationto work with us for the event. If you get us a date and location, we will purchase everything for you to have the Easter Egg Hunt.
If you are interested, please contact us at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/KatrinasAngelsinActionForum/post?postID=VEHRGZi8Iw3NyUVWQfUS-qgiojVpSqUA4wB1EutRrBUMnPp1Kq_h-KtA3IlTECl3oaRrZxSC5zchJOWmRoPQIA
or
info@katrinasangels.org
This will be a fun, 2 hour long event that will make a lot of kids happy.
And my final incentive to all you potential Easter bunnies: CHOCOLATE!!!!!!!!!!!

1/3
http://katrinasangels.org/ReliefResources.asp
www.katrina.com is looking for families to adopt katrina victims and www.allamericanwww.com/1family is trying to link families in need directly with people who want to help.

12/15 Read About Their Thanksgiving!
http://www.katrinasangels.org/Postturkeydinner.asp

11/25 Request for Volunteers
Hi! My name is Karen Iwicki and I am the Resource Director for Katrina's Angels.
Your volunteer service with Katrina's Angels does not have to be limited to one thing. We have a variety of ways you can help us either from your home or on site. We have people collecting gift cards and doing other fundraisers from their home area as Fundraising Angels.

In December, we plan to hold a Breakfast with Santa at the New Orleans area base for the children of our soldiers serving in Iraq/Afghanistan in conjunction with Toys for Tots. We are also trying to get families from our client list adopted for Christmas by putting an Angel Tree on our web site at http://www.katrinasangels.org/. And I have several schools just begging for books and supplies for their students, so fundraisers and drives are needed to do that. I also need Guardian Angels to make phone calls and verify and update client needs, addresses, phone numbers before putting them on the Angel Tree.
Our needs change from week-to-week, but we ALWAYS need volunteers.
Please let me know if any of this interests you. I will gladly welcome the help this busy Holiday season.

11/24 News Article from WLOX
http://www.wlox.com/Global/story.asp?S=5724827

Through online chat rooms and websites, the group "Katrina's Angels" has spent the last 15 months gathering resources. Members are now gracing South Mississippi with a few miracles.
"Whenever disaster strikes, people can know there are angels there. Guardian angels, people that are there to hold their hand, comfort them and provide them what they need," Katrina's Angels founder Tony Coolidge says.
[More at the Link]

11/24 Katrina's Angels has a blog for updates!
http://katalk.blogspot.com/

11/18
Katrina's Angels is hosting a Thanksgiving Dinner for 500 at the Restoration Revival Center in Moss Point, MS, which is a church and gymnasium. Ms Barbara Nelson is part of An Outreach of Love, formed to aid the community in the deep south of MS where Hurricane Katrina has devastated homes and lives. An Outreach of Love has partnered with Katrina's Angels to provide the MS residents of Moss Point, Escatawba, Ocean Springs and Gulfport with supplies, support, and a hand up.
We will need gift cards for WalMart, Target, any places where we can get food, paper plates, plasticware, napkins, etc., locally for this event. Gift cards save on shipping costs. Also needed are anything usable as gift items, toiletries, hair items, etc., for baskets we intend to give away...depending on donations. We want every person to go home from the dinner with something new; a box full of supplies if we get enough donations.

10/20 Katrina's Angels Make a Difference Day Work
Katrina's Angels -Katrina's Angels is a volunteer, "virtual" nonprofit assisting disaster survivors. We will be posting an online Angels Tree with needy individuals to help over the holidays. No personal info will be given until the family is sponsored and then a follow-up to confirm sponsored families are actually getting items (so no one will be missed).
We help survivors in all 50 states and all donations go directly to the families or will be used to offset shipping charges. We welcome any groups, churches, business, school groups etc that may want to do a group effort and as a registered 501c3, we can give tax exemption receipts.We will also welcome any volunteers that would like to help in any way, from sending emails, data entry, drives or fundraisers, collections, distributions etc.
Lynne Onufer Program Director http://www.katrinasangels.org/

Katrina's Angels is a national volunteer effort that is driven by the generosity of people wanting to make a difference for others. We are registered in the State of Florida and operating with a 501 (c)(3) non-profit status. We are commited to providing solutions and resources to displaced survivors and residents of areas that have suffered as a result of natural disaster in the United States. Our services include employment referrals, housing referrals, direct relief and resource coordination.

Katrina's Angels was one of the first grassroots organizations to respond to the needs by means of virtual partnerships and volunteer efforts spread across the nation, and one of the last remaining that is still operating actively in this capacity. Long term recovery projections stand at a minimum of ten years by experts and the support of volunteers, donors and sponsorships are vital to enable us to continue to thrive in our recovery and relief efforts. Together we can continue to make a difference.

For additional information and a complete list of volunteer, donor and sponsorship opportunities, please visit our website at: www.katrinasangels.org
10/13




Lynne, the Programming Director, sent the following to me about their registry with the MADD on October 28:
Katrina's Angels is a volunteer, "virtual" nonprofit assisting disaster survivors. We will be posting an online Angels Tree with needy individuals that needs help over the holidays. No personal info will be given until the family is sponsored and the will be follow-up to confirm, sponsored families are actually getting items so no one will be missed.

In the event of a family not being selected or a sponsor being unable to continue, we are also organizing toy drives to make sure we have a gift bank that we can use to make sure each family receives some toys.

We help survivors in all 50 states and all donations go directly to the families or will be used to offset shipping charges. We welcome any groups, churches, business, school groups etc that may want to do a group effort and as a registered 501c3, we can give tax exemption receipts.

We will also welcome any volunteers that would like to help in any way, from sending emails, data entry, drives or fundraisers, collections, distributions etc.
Lynne Onufer

Also From Lynn:
We are also co-hosting Thanksgiving Dinner in Moss Point , MS for more than 500 people. As we are an internet group with volunteers all over the country, we are super excited to be doing this. Several directors are flying down to help serve and this will be the first time we will be meeting each other face to face. So this will be the greatest Thanksgiving Dinner ever. It is on November 18th.

Bucks Mont Katrina Project - PA

www.BucksMontKatrinaProject.org

You may send a check payable to
The Salvation Army to:
Bucks-Mont Katrina Relief Fund
PO Box 1542
Doylestown, PA 18901

3/12 http://208.62.60.4/40/article_1027.shtml
excerpt
When attorney Maureen Gatto, now volunteer project coordinator for Bucks Mont Katrina Relief, left her home in Pennsylvania last August for a two year stint in Hancock County, she knew the work here would be totally absorbing. So she asked a few little things of her family."I told my husband please don't let the house foreclose, my sons to put off any grandchildren, and my mother to stay healthy," Gatto laughed. "My practice of course couldn't wait two years, so someone is handling that."Gatto is just one of hundreds of volunteers from the Pennsylvania counties of Bucks and Montgomery who just can't seem to do enough to help Hancock County get back on its feet. The two counties are bordered by the city of Philadelphia in Southeastern Pennsylvania.The group sponsors around 15 programs in the county, some ongoing, some just getting started, and others nearing completion. On Tuesday the group will co-host an all day bash of groundbreakings, ribbon cuttings and opening celebrations for projects organized by the group from the ground up.

2/14/07

Child care center dedication scheduled for March 13, 2007

The Hancock County Child Development Center building dedication is now scheduled for Tuesday, March 13, 2007 at 11 a.m. in Bay St. Louis, Miss. If the dedication ceremony is anything like the ground-breaking event held in April 2006, be prepared for an emotional and joyous occastion. The child development center is a gift from the Bucks Mont Katrina Relief Project to Hancock County, Miss., and will accommodate 124 children. The March 13 ceremony will include a ribbon joining (no ribbon-cutting -- we're joining our efforts with the gracious people of Hancock County), music, reception, tours and treats.

1/14

Welcome to the Bucks Mont Katrina Relief ProjectThe Salvation Army of Greater Philadelphia is a key partner in the Bucks Mont Katrina Relief Project, providing guidance and non-profit status to our fundraising efforts.

Learn more: www.877redkettle.org

In response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, Calvary Church, Souderton, PA, has made a two-year commitment to aid relief efforts in the Gulf Coast:

www.calvarykatrinarelief.org

Katrina Logistics

NARI Trip, February 07 -- Residential -- Start Date: 2/11/2007

Based out of: Doylestown, PA Contact: Laurie Baker

Description: Skilled, "lightly skilled," and non skilled volunteers will be doing finishing work on several residential homes. For further information, please contact Marnie McAleer, at 215-654-0364, or marni.mcaleer@harthbuilders.com

Child care center dedication scheduled for March 13, 2007

The Hancock County Child Development Center building dedication is now scheduled for Tuesday, March 13, 2007 at 11 a.m. in Bay St. Louis, Miss.

If the dedication ceremony is anything like the ground-breaking event held in April 2006, be prepared for an emotional and joyous occastion.The child development center is a gift from the Bucks Mont Katrina Relief Project to Hancock County, Miss., and will accommodate 124 children.

The March 13 ceremony will include a ribbon joining (no ribbon-cutting -- we're joining our efforts with the gracious people of Hancock County), music, reception, tours and treats.

The group's cornerstone project is a new 10,000-square-foot day-care center, the first public building constructed in Hancock County post-Katrina, which will be dedicated on March 13. Much of the $1.25 million cost of the day-care center is been offset by donated labor, materials and supplies from Bucks and Montgomery County residents and businesses.

The group is also helping to build a 5,266-square-foot animal rescue facility to serve an estimated 60 cats and 20 dogs, who like their human counterparts, were also made homeless by Katrina.

Organizers have started a program dubbed Adopt-a-Family, which for $20,000 and volunteer labor, is rebuilding 900-square-foot homes and furnishing them. So far eight houses have been completed and over the next two years organizers are hoping to build 30 to 35 homes, but need to raise $600,000 to $700,000 to do it.

12/3/06

Salvation Army honors Bucks Mont Katrina Relief Project with "Others Award"

Commissioner Israel L. Gaither, the national commander of The Salvation Army USA, was the featured speaker at The Salvation Army Greater Philadelphia Annual Luncheon. Making his first trip to Philadelphia, Commissioner Gaither inspired and challenged the more than 400 guests gathered in the Grand Ballroom of the Park Hyatt Philadelphia at the Bellevue.

During the presentation of the Others Award to the leaders of the Bucks-Mont Katrina Relief Project, the recipients were astonished when two officials from Hancock County, Mississippi - the community adopted by the project - walked onto the platform and participated in the presentation.

Emceed by WPVI-TV anchor Tamala Edwards, the luncheon also featured the presentation of the inaugural Doing the Most Good Community Leadership Awards to Erik Kolar and Michael O'Neill. After Captain Margaret Davis opened the event with a rousing vocal rendition of O Beautiful, Rev. Marguerite E, Handy gave the invocation. The benediction was pronounced by the Rev. W. Matthew Reed, from the Calvary Church of Souderton.

12/3 Adopt a Family Project

As residents of Bucks and Montgomery Counties, we're involved in several relief projects at once. See below.

Adopt a Family Restoring Families. Rebuilding our Neighbors’ Homes. BMKRP in conjunction with City Team Ministries and National Association of Remodeling Industry (NARI) has identified families in Hancock County who have fallen through the cracks and are receiving little or no help from government programs or from their insurance providers. Their homes are uninhabitable.

And they need help! There is an organization of builders, contractors, and re-modelers in our community which is part of a national association known as NARI. They have volunteered to send groups down to Hancock County, Mississippi, to rebuild homes. Our field workers in Mississippi have identified those families most in need of assistance and are methodically verifying their situations.

For each identified family, approximately $20,000 is needed for supplies to rebuild their home. NARI will donate the professional labor. With family, funding, and NARI in place, our field workers complete a detailed assessment of the rebuilding project. Then they coordinate getting the necessary materials and supplies to the jobsite for the NARI team’s arrival.

Being able to make these purchases locally supports the local economy and creates jobs. Our field workers will provide living and eating arrangements for the NARI volunteers, so all they need to do is show up with tools in hand! With the project surveyed, the materials on site, and a team of professional builders, a family’s home can be rebuilt in just one week!

Here is how your Church can help.

1. Rebuild a family’s home by contributing all or a portion of the needed $20,000. This is a great opportunity to partner with local churches in your denomination or community.

2. Help restore the family by becoming the family’s support team:

· Pray for them

· Send a team to support the family and workers while building is in progress.

· Write letters of encouragement

· Get to know the family - send birthday cards e.g.

· Help them celebrate Christmas and other holidays

· Help them with all the “things” that need to go into a home after it’s rebuilt. · Identify their personal needs, i.e. baseball gloves, bikes, laptops, etc.

· Become their friends.

· Walk along side the family in their time of great need.

These are just a few of many possible ways to support our brothers and sisters on the Gulf Coast as they continue the struggle of rebuilding and restoring. Hurricane Katrina has taught us that we are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers.

Please help rebuild their homes and restore their families. Many hands can lift a heavy load. Together, we can lift up the community of Hancock County, MS. Please join us.

Contact info:

Rev. Wayne Lynch, Religious Organizations Task Force Committee Chair

wklynch5@verizon.net 267-987-4258

(C) Rev. Matt Reed, Religious Organizations Task Force Trip Coordinator

mreed@calvary-church.com 215-723-0963

(O) Mary Lee Reiff, Religious Organizations Task Force Secretary

mlreiff@aol.com 215-348-9293

(H) Rich Timmons, Adopt a Family Coordinator 215-340-9090 ext 111 (O) rt@timmonsandcompany.com

7/7 A THANK YOU

Connie,

Thanks SOOO much for everything!

Words can't express my utmost gratitude and appreciation for the trip and your help with our community. Through all of the heartache, we have been blessed to have met so many wonderful people that have truly touched our hearts.

As we drove home today along the beach I told my husband that it really is different when you are away from this area and you get back home to see the devastation again is just unbelievable.

It was so great to get away for a few days.

Thanks again for everything and please know that you ALL are welcome to stay with us anytime!

With much love,

Natalie

6/27

Day Care Center Wish List, June 2006 Dear friends: Here are items and services we will need to finish the job of building a new day care center for our friends in Hancock County:

Masons to join Thompson team Fulfilled Money for masonry materials $15,000
Carpenters to install doors, windows, folding partitions and accessories (Perea Team)
Plastic laminate counters for lay-in sinks $10,000
Metal building insulation (approximately 10,500 S.F. 6”) donated EIFS or stucco contractor for a small job $10,000
Caulking Contractor $2,500
Waterproofing contractor $3,500
Exterior Windows $35,000
Interior glazing $5,000
Painting contractors (we have the paint) $6,000
VCT about 8500 S.F. donated
Cove Base about 2600 linear feet donated
Bath accessories $2,000
Toilet partitions $2,500
Folding Partitions $20,000
Wall guards $5,000
Ground mounted flag pole $3,500
York HVAC equipment, 4 and 5 ton split systems $20,000
Electrical fixtures, etc. $30,000

7/2

Happy 4th to all of you!

I just returned from the airport and thought it best to capture the moment. Before I begin, I want to congratulate Collette McBratney for the outstanding interview she gave this morning on WXTU about the Bucks Mont Katrina Project. I set the clock so I would not miss it. It was superb!! Thanks Collette on behalf of all of us involved in the project and especially the education committee.

It has been a very special week. Natalie and Tuck Skinner and their two daughters Kamden age 4 and Keeley age 2 arrived from Bay St. Louis. Natalie teaches Dance and has a state championship team. In addition, Gina and Troy Pepperman and their 2 year old son, John David, arrived the same day. Gina teaches computers at the middle school.

So I don't forget to tell you Gina's 8th grade students worked on a special project. Pearson publishers gave them a seminar on how to write a book. The students then took pictures and wrote all about Katrina. Pearson is publishing it as a coffee table book and it is due out in August. It is the school's way of trying to raise funds to help them get back on their feet. I told them to let me know when it is ready and we will see that they sell. They will be on the market through bookstores also. I also have a video made by the children that might help us get a benefit started this Fall. They need school equipment!!!

The week was packed. They arrived the night of June 27. Christine Yardley and her husband hosted the Skinner family in their home and the Byers hosted the Pepperman family in their guest house. Carol Boyd, the educational partner to Gina Pepperman, took the family under her wing when the Byers had to leave to go out of town. The welcome extended to each family by the Yardley's, Byers, the Boyds and Shelley Rosen exceeds the definition of hospitality. (I was in 2 days of workshops in King of Prussia).

The next morning each family picked up their donated rental cars. The family of Anne Biggs, Katrina Relief Project member, paid for the car rentals ( approximately $250). Each family was then given $100 cash donated by Christine Yardley's parents ($200 total) to pay for their gas and tolls for the duration of their stay.

Immediately after they received their cars, Natalie and Gina went to David Witchell's Spa in Newtown for a "Day of Beauty." The day included manicures, pedicures, facials, hair styling, and massages. The package was $300 per person if purchased and David donated both of them for a total of $600.

While in Newtown, Guy Mitchell provided lunch at the Temperance House to Natalie and Gina as well as two hosts. at no cost. They almost missed it due to a communication mix-up, but all worked out in the end.

While the ladies were getting beautiful, Christine Yardley took the Dads and kids, along with her own children, to the Philadelphia Zoo. The Dads enjoyed it as much as the kids.

The evening of the 27th, Christine Yardley and Shelley Rosen babysat so the two couples could have a romantic dinner for two and a movie afterward. Both the dinner and theater tickets were donated in the Quakertown area.

On the 28th, both families headed to Hershey. They linked up with people from Pittsburgh who also helped them from Waynesboro College. The weather was good and so was their day.

On the 29th, they enjoyed a day at Sesame Place which included Dinner with the characters. I think it is debatable who enjoyed it more...parents or children :o) In addition to the special dinner, Elmo had a warm greeting for the children!

On the 30th, the day began with a visit to Byers Choice escorted by Carol Boyd. Bob and Joyce Byers wanted Gina and Natalie to have a special gift to take home to remember their stay in Bucks County. They were thrilled and very appreciative.

Then it was my turn. I gathered up the families and along with Christine Yardley we headed to Philly. The parents had 2 requests the historical area and Geno' s steaks. We saw the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall and Betsy Ross' house. We saw where Ben is buried but time escaped too quickly. We also checked out a Taste of Philly, while saving the biggest part of our appetites for South Philly. Tuck and Natalie saw a segment on the Food Channel and wanted to see Geno's for themselves. I assure you when we got there it was more than just "seeing." In fact the guys ate one from Geno's and one from Pat's to compare. To add to the ambience a bride and groom arrived and ate one right there on the sidewalk just like everyone else. Tuck purchased his Geno tee shirt to make the memories last longer.

We ended the day with a car tour of Philly showing them the Art Museum, Boat House Row, the theater area, the sports complex, the museum area, and South Street. We circled City Hall several times for pictures of Billy Penn. Christine Yardley and I were the drivers.

In addition to the people already mentioned I owe a very special thanks to some wonderful people who helped me make the week what it was.

Let me begin with Mark Schweiker, President of the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and his secretary Chris, who helped me network with the Franklin Institute and Hershey Park.

I will also be writing a thank you note Dr. Windt, CEO of the Franklin Institute who not only provided 27 complimentary museum passes, but matched the same in complimentary IMAX tickets, flight simulator tickets, and sky ride tickets. They will be used for the group arriving on July 16 as well.

Next, I will be thanking Mr. S. J. Newkam, CEO of Hershey Park and Mr. Bill Simpson, Director of Entertainment for 27 complimentary passes to Hershey Park.

Another special thanks goes to Jennifer Walkenbach, Director of Human Resources at Sesame Place, who made arrangements for 14 complimentary admission tickets and 14 dinners with the characters.

The Philadelphia Zoo admissions were also complimentary.

We listened to many stories over the past few days of recovery. While recovery has begun, the emotional devastation is still apparent. While at Byers Choice, Natalie asked Carol to take her to the Employee Wall of Fame so she could see the picture of the woman who made Christmas for her family. Even the men showed tears during some of the stories I heard.

As we approached the Delta drop off at the airport, my daughter Erin, a Guidance Counselor at William Tennent High school, told them not to get out since she had something she wanted to share with Gina and Troy. Natalie and Tuck went to the airport with Christine. At that Erin told them that she prepared something that would assure them that we were with them even in the distance. At that Erin played Faith Hill's, Mississippi Girl, and Erin's Mom cried as she hugged them and said good bye.

We now get ready for the next group arriving on July 16. To provide the same for the next group, your donations would be greatly appreciated.

Best wishes!
Connie

FUTURE
We want to--
· Optimize web site www.bucksmontkatrinaproject.org.
· Ensure Child Development Center moves from groundbreaking to ribbon cutting!
· Maximize marketing and fundraising related to magnetic ribbon design.
· Review landscape site plan and offer as sponsorship opportunities.
· Schedule onsite visits as needed. Identify need for teams to help with rebuilding.
· Reinforce partnership with The Salvation Army.
· Partner with Fred Beans Family of Dealerships on the Daycare Center Furnishings Project. Raised from generous employees is $76,085.
· Cultivate additional community and media relationships.
· Promote and provide Animal Shelter building plan.
· Review possible site and plan for a city park.
· Produce a PR/Marketing DVD.
· Educate, inform, and communicate with existing and new project supporters.
· Maintain communication/contact with key MS contacts.
· Determine best way to promote National Model.
· Revisit each sub-team, goals, and momentum plans.

Educator to Educator Partnership Program
In response to the devastation left by Hurricane Katrina, community leaders in the Bucks/Montgomery County, PA region formed the Katrina Relief Project. The communities of Bay St. Louis/Waveland, Hancock County, Mississippi were adopted to become the focus of volunteer efforts. This relief project is successfully offering direct assistance and financial support to our neighbors in Mississippi since its inception.

As the education branch of this project, we'd like to invite you to join with us in our effort to forge one-on-one relationships with the educators in our adopted communities. We can connect to other educators as no others can. We are looking for interested teachers, principals, and other educators, either active or retired, who are interested in being partnered with an educator from our target area.

Partnering ideas may include, but are not limited to:
· Ongoing e-mail or phone contact
· Sharing lessons, books, poems, instructional materials, comfort items, manipulatives
· Class to class contact
· Establish Pen-Pal Relationship
· Service learning opportunities Orientation sessions are planned to assist volunteers in this effort.

Educator to Educator Program in Need of Middle School Teachers
7/3
In addition, the Educator to Educator is picking up momentum. We need middle school teachers to help. We also need high school special education teachers. The two K-3 buildings are in fairly good shape with partners. Heckman Elementary School, in Neshaminy School District adopted Waveland Elementary. Individual teachers adopted the other school, teacher by teacher.

The high school librarians county wide adopted the librarian at Bay High and provided all of the special requests she had between them all. The PTO at Sol Feinstein Elem. School, in Council Rock, heard about the endeavors of the librarians and sent me a check for $1,000 for educational needs.

We paid for the new Bay High Volleyball uniforms in the amount of $2250. Peddler's Village gave me a donation of $1650. The Southeast Regional Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance teachers gave me $500 and the Bucks County Technical High School students gave $100.

We held two orientation meetings and I will be contacting them via email to give added support to the volunteers.

We need middle school teachers. We still have 14 middle level teachers without partners. Word of mouth is slow.

Apply now!
GROUP or INDIVIDUAL (circle one)
Your Name(s): K-3__ 4-5__ 6-8__ 9-12__

Email Address:
Name of School/School District:
In Bucks/Montgomery County PA submit to:
Dean Roberts,
email: dor4stef@verizon.net
4 Stefwalt Road
Hatboro, PA 19040

Questions: Please contact Connie Rinker 215-852-4439 or email: crinker209@aol.com.

Camp Second Helpin' Update

www.remareinforcements.blogspot.com

12/13
Hello everyone, and Seasons Greetings from the sunny gulf coast…I bring exciting news along with well wishes…As of January 1st. Camp Second Helpin' will be relocating and reopening with many new and exciting changes…We will be located at St. Mary's on Beach blvd. in Waveland, Mississippi and now we will be able to offer dorm style housing for volunteers coming down to rebuild with the ability to house between 200-250 people, along with an industrial mobile kitchen, things are looking very good…. We will still be a community center open to the public, but now we will be able to work towards offering more things to the public, such as a food bank and a free clothing outlet. I would like to thank all of you that have not forgotten us, and special hugs to those that have contacted us about coming down, or passing info on to those that are interested in coming down.We have had many exciting inquiries as of late…for those that would like to learn more about our non-profit family community center you can check out our web site (which is in the process of getting revamped) at:http://web-publishing.org/katrinarecovery/index.phpOr if you have any questions you can reach Ron-administrator at 228-342-8834 or me at 228-239-6338 we would love to see some Good Hearted, Hard Working Brothers and Sisters come help bring hope and happiness into the lives of people we may never have reached before…Rising from the dust will come a tribe of Rainbow Warriors lending a hand and leading the way to a new world…Lets grasp this opportunity to truly make a difference……Much Love Family…Momma KaBoom
12/11
Camp Second Helpin' will be re-opening after January 1st on it's new site. The community center will be our major Day time function, but we will have the capabilities to house and feed 200-250 volunteers. We will be using a commercial Kitchen to cook out of, show movies, satellite TV, Internet access, Hot showers and environment controlled sleeping barracks. On the site we also have the option to build a brick and mortar community center that will become a permanent fixture within Waveland. We have taken advantage of the last 2 months to find corporate sponsors, alocate monies for a building fund, and constant support

9/15 From Ron
I'll attempt to give an administrative perspective on this. In the 9 months we have been here in Hancock County we have had 18 actual Rainbow volunteers (I kept records of volunteers), of these, 5 established themselves and left a good lasting effect and impression.
A Quote from our Bloomington Tribe website:
http://web-publishing.org/Bloomingtontribe/index.php
We are now presently screening volunteers before they come due to obvious reasons. To everyone. "It is not simply our duty to walk lightly upon our Mother Earth but we must understand that we are Ambassadors for all the Family Tribal members that follow in our footsteps." Leave that light behind for all to follow, be the light for the path ahead." (Firelight)

A space to use alcohol and other things off-site was allotted but abuse of policy still happened. We asked 2 volunteers to leave because they had predatory actions and intentions. 3 left on their 1st day because the work ahead was so overwhelming. On 3 occasions kitchen equipment walked off-site, resulting in an overtaxed staff to have to stay up at nights to run security.

Americorp - We fed 2 rotations of Americorp volunteers (Totally for FREE) with no complaints. We were told when we first set up on Coleman Ave. that we had the city's support for things like porta-potties, Dumpsters, etc… Unfortunately, they didn't have it to give. Mayor Tommy Longo hooked us up with Americorp, with a monetary proposition for us to be "THEIR" kitchen. We could run our community center offsite but minors were not allowed on their site for insurance reasons.

Since Momma's kids are here, this was unacceptable, so their volunteers came to our site to eat and recreate. We had expanded our operation to house volunteer groups and are working with the Knights of Columbus. As a result we have housed Catholic High school & College students.

As always, donations are a very welcome thing since we do not charge for food or lodging. Go to:
http://web-publishing.org/katrinarecovery/index.php For information on how to donate...

9/6 - From Momma Kaboom
We've been here 9 months now and it's been one hot Summer that is for sure, but thankfully no severe weather as of yet. But I'm not here for small talk; I want to make a plea.
Our building fell through, yes this is sad, but it's far from the end of our journey. We are working on funding the building of a building for the community center that is why I write today. To make a plea, to all of you wonderful people that have been following our journey, if each of you made a small donation because as you know, every dollar helps, we will be that much closer to actually building.
I am sure you hear of all the progress made in New Orleans, just last week they said on the news that 700 restaurants have opened again since Katrina. Waveland is still so wiped out, with 90% of it's residential, and commercial buildings, just destroyed. Look at any number of fully functioning communities that have community center, or food kitchens, why? Because there is such a need even with a sound structure to support those going through hard times.
For the people of Hancock County there haven't been such a strong need for community support since Camille. After the storm it took people from all parts of the country to reach out and lend a hand, but we all need to continue to do this even in small ways.
That's why I make this plea to you now, if you could donate just a dollar, what a difference it would begin to make in giving this community want it needs and deserves. Just think, you could help make the difference.
Please keep in mind that no amount of carrying signs, marching, meditation, prayer, signing petitions, or voting will ever carry as much power as helping one person gut out her ruined house, or feeding a single mother at the end of another stressful day of red-taping it to a Fema trailor. This is a chance to extract yourself from our traditionally divided and materialistic American culture, shake off the stagnant mundane, and participate in true community building during a time of suffering and hardship. We are a registered Non-Profit with the state of Mississippi (see Link) https://secure.sos.state.ms.us/busserv/corp/soskb/Agent.asp?3157996
You May donate VIA our Paypal account o­n paypal to: webmaster@web-publishing.org/ firelight10101@yahoo.com
ATTN:Camp Second Helpin
Please help if you can... $1.00 or $10.00 sent by enough people can make a HUGE dent in our operation cost. Send this plea out to everyone. We are in Waveland and making a difference!
Momma Kaboom
Better known as Spring

8/2 - Update About Their Move from Waveland to BSL
Yes we have a moving date, We will be going to our holding site this Fri. Aug. 4. And we will be going to St. Augustine [Seminary] on the 1st of Sep. It has a real kitchen, dining hall, Gym (for showing movies, dances etc.) All we ever hoped for . We have a commitment from them for 2 years it also has indoor dormitory's to house volunteers.

The Knights of Columbus are helping them get a permanent spot in Bay St. Louis – sounds like it might even be a building and not the desert tents they are in.

Ron Parsons - firelight10101@yahoo.com; 228-342-8834. No charge – they don’t believe in charging people for coming to do service.

7/31 An Update From Tammi - another Rainbow Volunteer!

http://braegan.homeschooljournal.net/2006/07/31/monday-the-24th-off-to-waveland/






Regan sleeping in a Pass bunkhouse.


We thought we might have more work to do before we left today but more volunteers came than was expected. It is amazing how well this runs - they really have a great system where they can just plug people into the various jobs. For us, it was the dining tent. For others, they go out an help gut and then rebuild homes.

We took off for Waveland. It is west of Pass Christian. Unfortunately, the bridge between the cities is still out - many bridges still are - a year later. There are other ways around which we found easily. We chose to drive to Bay St. Louis before hitting Waveland. It is in better shape than the Pass, and Waveland, too. Still rebuilding, as well.

Camp Second Helpin’ is a community center for families, young and old. They provide lunch and dinner, and various activities for all ages. They are in desert tents donated by the Knights of Columbus, on the American Legion property. The greatest need is bottled water. You can wash in the tap water, but drinking it is not advised. They have just been donated a bus for mobile meals, and they are obtaining a more permanent building and site in Bay St. Louis.

Waveland was like a bomb hit it - still, almost a year later. There are trailers on many plots of land where homes once stood. In the Pass, it looks like many people razed and abandoned, are selling, etc. Here in Waveland, it seems people are staying, even in trailers. City Hall is in trailers. It is unbelievable. Worse than what I saw in parts of Haiti.

The leaders of this effort are a homeschooling family, with three kids. Regan and Braeden had a great time with them, learned how to play Risk, Clue and Uno with them, and they had a hard time saying goodbye. I like that Regan and Braeden are learning that they can make friends anywhere. We left on Wednesday the 26th for New Orleans.

Greetings from Camp Second Helpin'!

Our new mailing addy is:
Camp Second Helpin Attn: Ron Parsons
208 Coleman Ave.
Waveland MS. 39576

We are a regestered Non-Profit with the state of Mississippi (see Link) https://secure.sos.state.ms.us/busserv/corp/soskb/Agent.asp?3157996


You May also help by donating VIA our Paypal account o­n paypal to: webmaster@web-publishing.org
ATTN: Camp Second Helpin'

Please help if you can... $1.00 or $10.00 sent by enough people can make a HUGE dent in our operation cost. Send this plea out to everyone.

We need more love put into this.
http://remareinforcements.blogspot.com/
http://web-publishing.org/Bloomingtontribe/index.php

much love to the family, hoping to hear more from ya'll...

Momma KaBoom