Girl Scouts are helping hurricane victims

[angelina]

My daughter's girl scout troop in Mobile, AL is collecting hotel-sized soaps, toiletries, shampoo, lotions, toothpaste, etc. to send to other hurricane victims. We were very fortunate here. Our damages cannot compare to the total destruction in Mississippi and Louisiana, and we would like to help. If you have any items that you have collected and could donate, please IM me and I will tell you where to send them. Your help is greatly appreciated.

Angelina

[Microcell]

We are doing our own drive here too! Good luck bump.

[RobynK]

Both of my girls are in different junior troops and when they meet next week I am sure would be interested in something like this. Can either of you send me the details so that I can forward to the leaders?
TIA
Robyn

[lewdyan1]

Mommy brag here. I posted this on another thread. My DD's third grade Brownie troop voted to use their cookie money from last year as a donation to the American Red Cross. This money was saved for field trips this year. It is only $350.00, but for 8 year old girls, it was a big thing!!! It's neat that ten girls opted to help rather than go on a couple of field trips! :goodvibes

[eeyore kelly]

I just gave all my samples I have been hoarding a year for WDW to the shelter here is town.

From a former Girl Scout, I am so proud of the troop for living up to the values of Girl Scouting!!!

[angelina]

RobynK, we are trying to find out what arrangements are being made to send things to those who need them. We are without power here for the most part, cell phones are hit and miss because so many towers were destroyed. There is almost no gasoline here to speak of, and pumps don't work without electricity, so the stations that do have gas also have lines that are miles long and waits are 6 hours or more. We are also under a dusk to dawn curfew. Hopefully there will be some news in the next few days about where to send items. We are also donating our cookie money through Catholic Charities or the American Red Cross, and are collecting clothing and other items. Donations can also be made through WKRG.com, our local TV station. They have had exceptional coverage this week.

There are so many people who have been displaced from MS and LA and have literally driven until they ran out of gas and wound up here and all around. One family made to safety and was able to return only to find their home in either Biloxi or Gulfport GONE, as well as the homes of family nearby. They made it to a CVS drugstore where they ran out of gas. They spent the night in the parking lot, and found they had a flat tire the next morning. There were 3 or 4 young children and the mother was 7 months pregnant. The owner of the drugstore brought them fix-a-flat, and told them they could repay him when they could, then another guy walked up with a couple of gallons of gas and emptied that into their tank. This is the most unbelievable thing you can imagine.

Thank you to everyone who can help.

Angelina

[angelina]

Thanks to everyone who responded. I know there are a lot of girl scout troops who are willing to help.

[RobynK]

We understand to a degree what you are going through after last year and getting hit with three in a row. I remember all to well the long lines for gas and having no electricity myself for almost 14 days I sympathize (sp). That was the hardest as both my daughter and I have asthma and neither one of us could breathe for days!
i received word from my oldest daughter's leader that they are going to be sending some of the money the girls have been saving for their big trip (they are 6th graders this year) and she was looking for suggestions for other things to do

[angelina]

I have been trying to get more information about what to send and where to send it. At this point, Mobile will be accepting evacuees from LA and housing them at a former naval homeport. There are also people staying in gymnasiums and shelters here. We're able to make monetary donations to Catholic Charities, the Red Cross, and two of our local TV stations have funds set up at WKRG.com and WPMI.com. We are also able to make donations of food items to the Bay Area Food Bank at 251-653-1617. There is a mobile food unit that comes in, selects the items they need, then cook hot meals for victims and relief workers. I believe they also take volunteers, which I know none of you are able to do, to pack up care packages in an assembly line fashion.

It is still too early to make donations of clothing. The destruction is just so widespread that they don't have the infrastructure to accept, sort and provide those items for those who need it. Right now the emphasis appears to be on providing food and shelter.

Thank you for all of your interest. I will let you know more as I find out.

Angie

Ti