Cindy Williams has contacted GEMA and some folks in Ringgold GA to set up a day of tornado relief work.
SingleLife Ministries is joining forces with Cindy and Echo Ministries to recruit Atlanta area singles for this effort.
If you're on Facebook, you can RSVP at our event page here
THANK YOU for your hearts for service!!
******************
As you are aware, Ringgold GA was hit hard by the recent tornado. So we are getting up a group to go help our northern neighbors with disaster relief. We will be assisting GEMA (GA Emergency Management Agency) under the direction of the Catoosa County Emergency Operations Center in whatever capacity they may ask of us including debris removal, supply delivery, administration, etc. We would love to have a great showing for this event and show our neighbors love and compassion in a similar way that Christ showed the same for us.
CARPOOL INFO:
We will meet at Best Buy at Haynes Bridge Rd at 5:50 am and leave at 6 am sharp! Don’t be late, we can’t wait! Come with gas on full, and bladders on empty! We realize it is early, but the reward of helping others in need will be well worth it!
DAY DETAILS:
-Check in at 8 am at Ringgold United Methodist Church at Volunteer Tent and receive Volunteer Badge.
-Attend short training session.
-Catoosa Co. Emergency Operations Center will divide us into smaller groups and disperse us to different areas in the city where help is needed.
-We will meet back at Ringgold UMC to do a head count and carpool ride home.
-May stop for dinner, time permitting.
WHAT TO BRING:
-Work gloves
-Closed toe shoes or boots
-Long pants
-Sack lunch
-Change of clothes (optional)
-Towel
-Snack and cold drinks (water will be available, but will NOT be cold)
ADDRESS AND DIRECTIONS:
Ringgold United Methodist Church
162 Sparks Street
Ringgold, GA 30736
Take I-75 North approximately 85 miles to exit 348 (Highway 151/Alabama Hwy). Turn right off exit. After passing Lafayette Street and Robin Road, dead-end at Hwy 41/Nashville Street. There will be a CVS on the corner. Turn right. Go through one stoplight and then look for the big parking lot of the church on the right just past Sparks Street. Meet there at 8:00 a.m. at the Registration Tent
CONTACT INFO:
Cindy Williams – daisy99931@gmail.com or 770.655.1701
Ringgold United Methodist – Jackie – 706.935.4777
Thanks to Cindy for making this project a reality!
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Sending tornado relief supplies to Alabama
My mortgage guy, Steve Beecham has a friend named Sue who is sending relief supplies to Alabama. Bottom line: a 53-foot trailer will be at the Home Depot on Windward Parkway in Alpharetta starting Tuesday May 3 at 9:30am, leaving on Wednesday May 4th.. Here are the most desperately needed supplies: blankets, tarps, baby formula, diapers, water, sunscreen, soap, hand sanitizer, new underwear and socks, gently used clothing, canned food, shoes, first-aid supplies. And more water - many areas have none or pressure is extremely low.
Here's the whole letter from Sue:
Friends:
First of all, a HUGE thank you from Ed and me to each of you who reached out to us when the news of the tornado hitting Tuscaloosa became known. As a parent, waiting to find out if your child is alive is about the worst you can imagine. Your support, phone calls and e-mails, meant the world to us. We may not have responded previously, only due to what I am going to describe below...but please know how touched we are by your caring.
I have just returned from Tuscaloosa. I can't even describe it except to say TV does not do it justice. It is hard to get your head around the enormity of disaster. I met police men at intersections - trying to work my way thru the City to get to Jim's dorm - who had no idea how I could get there. They were from other states. I met National Guardsmen who were on duty at checkpoints around the City who told me, "Lady, this IS ground zero." Others who told me, "Our unit was deployed to New Orleans for Katrina. This is worse." The aftermath of the tornado truly beggars words. All I can tell you is, if I focus on what I saw, I would be paralyzed with grief and despair. SO - instead - my son and I are focusing on what we can do to make a difference. Admittedly, it feels like picking up a grain of sand from the bottom of the ocean...but we are haunted by the faces we have seen, the people we have met with NOTHING left except devastation, and the fact that as people of faith, we are to "take care of the least of these."
Saturday morning, I drove a 10' cargo van of donated disaster relief supplies to Tuscaloosa. You could not have slid a piece of paper into the van it was so crammed full! Many of our neighbors in Alpharetta, Milton and Roswell heard about our grass-roots effort via one Facebook posting by our son, one phone call to our church (Birmingham UMC), and another phone call to our incredible neighbor, Steve Beecham of HomeTown Mortgage, who must have an email distribution list over 5,000 names long. In less than 10 hours, the van was full. People came thru like I have never seen...in fact, most of them are people I have never seen! Our driveway was so crowded with cars bringing donations it was a FT job just unloading things...until 11 p.m.! I have *never* seen anything like it! It was truly humbling and energizing to know so many care. In addition, many people gave us cash. It is important to buy things here and transport them there because in so many communities in AL, stores are just gone. Vaporized. Or so "bought out" that you can't even find band-aids.
Everything given to us was taken to various distribution centers around Tuscaloosa based on what they told us they needed most. My son had an army of college pals who jumped in to help us unload site by site. I didn't know if I was crying from the heart-warming goodness of humanity or the desperate need we saw or both...but I can tell you I am inspired to keep it going...
That is where you come in. I have a colleague at work who described me as "practically Amish." I have no idea how technology works except how to write an email. But somehow, my son, thru Facebook, has found someone who is willing to donate/drive a 53' tractor-trailer 18-wheeler to AL on Wednesday. My job is to get it filled. THE RIG WILL BE PARKED AT HOME DEPOT-WINDWARD STARTING AT 9:30 AM TUESDAY MORNING
Yes, I know the economy is terrible. Yes, I know people - including the O'Dwyer's - are bombarded with requests from non-profits daily for financial support. But if you feel so inclined, please review the list below of what is most desperately needed and let me know if you can help. We have the 18-wheeler leaving Wednesday for AL. Marty Littleton from Milton HVAC has donated a 20' truck that will leave nthis weekend. I need your help and continued generosity to fill these vehicles so that we can give hope to people in what is certainly the worst humanitarian crisis I have personally witnessed.
For those of you not from AL, it is a small state. Only about 3.5 million population, but truly one of the most beautiful and the nicest people ever. Tuscaloosa is a town of not even 85,000 people. But it is not just Tuscaloosa that's been hit. Dozens of small towns in this rural state are affected. Driving back today I listened to a Birmingham radio station that was acting like a community bulletin board. Caller: "We're in XYZ City. We need generators". About 20 minutes later, another caller would go on the air "I've got 17 new ones. I'm on my way." Absolutely awesomely inspiring to see such grass roots. Made me darn proud to be an American!!!
I would also be remiss if I didn't tell you that the University of Alabama - which came thru unscathed in its physical infrastructure - has been in constant communication with the students and parents. Despite the enormity of the disaster, there has never been a time when we didn't feel that Dr. Witt (President) and his staff weren't on top of things. Someone was in charge and taking care of the kids! (Thousands of whom, living off campus, are now homeless, which is why the University had no choice but to cancel school for the rest of the year.) The level of detail, the tone of caring and concern, the frequency have given us every confidence that our kids are, without doubt, at a tremendous University. I am so proud of how they have handled everything. ROLL TIDE!
And, lastly, you may have noticed throughout this note that I have referred to "I" and "my son." Ed's Guard unit was deployed down to Lamar County in Georgia for disaster relief closer to home. He is also serving but not able to be with us in this effort as he helps take care of some right here at home who have such need - they are in more rural area and not as many impacted as in Tuscaloosa.
Here are the most desperately needed supplies: blankets, tarps, baby formula, diapers, water, sunscreen, soap, hand sanitizer, new underwear and socks, gently used clothing, canned food, shoes, first-aid supplies. And more water - many areas have none or pressure is extremely low. Power is slowly being restored, but amazingly quick given the enormity of the undertaking. Look around your house and see what you use every day. That's what they don't have. No furniture yet until they get in some type of housing that is not a community shelter. I know people might be reluctant to give cash and I know I am not a 501(c3). Gift cards are great. I promise I will use them to buy items noted above. Grocery gift cards are also good...at nearly every intersection, churches have set up grilling sites to feed people - no charge. But they have put out a call for meat to grill. I can't pack that in a tractor trailer obviously, but can buy supplies when I get back to T-town.
Jim remains in Tuscaloosa with many other students to help in any way possible. For example, many of the fraternities are cooking meals but need people to deliver them to people who still can't get out due to downed trees, power lines, etc. The enthusiasm and passion of the young people to make things right has just been fantastic..we can't let them down.
Please feel free to forward this note to anyone in your network. We need every bit of support we can get. And, again, from Ed and I, our deepest thanks for reaching out. We are humbled and appreciative.
We have
Love to all,
Here's the whole letter from Sue:
Friends:
First of all, a HUGE thank you from Ed and me to each of you who reached out to us when the news of the tornado hitting Tuscaloosa became known. As a parent, waiting to find out if your child is alive is about the worst you can imagine. Your support, phone calls and e-mails, meant the world to us. We may not have responded previously, only due to what I am going to describe below...but please know how touched we are by your caring.
I have just returned from Tuscaloosa. I can't even describe it except to say TV does not do it justice. It is hard to get your head around the enormity of disaster. I met police men at intersections - trying to work my way thru the City to get to Jim's dorm - who had no idea how I could get there. They were from other states. I met National Guardsmen who were on duty at checkpoints around the City who told me, "Lady, this IS ground zero." Others who told me, "Our unit was deployed to New Orleans for Katrina. This is worse." The aftermath of the tornado truly beggars words. All I can tell you is, if I focus on what I saw, I would be paralyzed with grief and despair. SO - instead - my son and I are focusing on what we can do to make a difference. Admittedly, it feels like picking up a grain of sand from the bottom of the ocean...but we are haunted by the faces we have seen, the people we have met with NOTHING left except devastation, and the fact that as people of faith, we are to "take care of the least of these."
Saturday morning, I drove a 10' cargo van of donated disaster relief supplies to Tuscaloosa. You could not have slid a piece of paper into the van it was so crammed full! Many of our neighbors in Alpharetta, Milton and Roswell heard about our grass-roots effort via one Facebook posting by our son, one phone call to our church (Birmingham UMC), and another phone call to our incredible neighbor, Steve Beecham of HomeTown Mortgage, who must have an email distribution list over 5,000 names long. In less than 10 hours, the van was full. People came thru like I have never seen...in fact, most of them are people I have never seen! Our driveway was so crowded with cars bringing donations it was a FT job just unloading things...until 11 p.m.! I have *never* seen anything like it! It was truly humbling and energizing to know so many care. In addition, many people gave us cash. It is important to buy things here and transport them there because in so many communities in AL, stores are just gone. Vaporized. Or so "bought out" that you can't even find band-aids.
Everything given to us was taken to various distribution centers around Tuscaloosa based on what they told us they needed most. My son had an army of college pals who jumped in to help us unload site by site. I didn't know if I was crying from the heart-warming goodness of humanity or the desperate need we saw or both...but I can tell you I am inspired to keep it going...
That is where you come in. I have a colleague at work who described me as "practically Amish." I have no idea how technology works except how to write an email. But somehow, my son, thru Facebook, has found someone who is willing to donate/drive a 53' tractor-trailer 18-wheeler to AL on Wednesday. My job is to get it filled. THE RIG WILL BE PARKED AT HOME DEPOT-WINDWARD STARTING AT 9:30 AM TUESDAY MORNING
Yes, I know the economy is terrible. Yes, I know people - including the O'Dwyer's - are bombarded with requests from non-profits daily for financial support. But if you feel so inclined, please review the list below of what is most desperately needed and let me know if you can help. We have the 18-wheeler leaving Wednesday for AL. Marty Littleton from Milton HVAC has donated a 20' truck that will leave nthis weekend. I need your help and continued generosity to fill these vehicles so that we can give hope to people in what is certainly the worst humanitarian crisis I have personally witnessed.
For those of you not from AL, it is a small state. Only about 3.5 million population, but truly one of the most beautiful and the nicest people ever. Tuscaloosa is a town of not even 85,000 people. But it is not just Tuscaloosa that's been hit. Dozens of small towns in this rural state are affected. Driving back today I listened to a Birmingham radio station that was acting like a community bulletin board. Caller: "We're in XYZ City. We need generators". About 20 minutes later, another caller would go on the air "I've got 17 new ones. I'm on my way." Absolutely awesomely inspiring to see such grass roots. Made me darn proud to be an American!!!
I would also be remiss if I didn't tell you that the University of Alabama - which came thru unscathed in its physical infrastructure - has been in constant communication with the students and parents. Despite the enormity of the disaster, there has never been a time when we didn't feel that Dr. Witt (President) and his staff weren't on top of things. Someone was in charge and taking care of the kids! (Thousands of whom, living off campus, are now homeless, which is why the University had no choice but to cancel school for the rest of the year.) The level of detail, the tone of caring and concern, the frequency have given us every confidence that our kids are, without doubt, at a tremendous University. I am so proud of how they have handled everything. ROLL TIDE!
And, lastly, you may have noticed throughout this note that I have referred to "I" and "my son." Ed's Guard unit was deployed down to Lamar County in Georgia for disaster relief closer to home. He is also serving but not able to be with us in this effort as he helps take care of some right here at home who have such need - they are in more rural area and not as many impacted as in Tuscaloosa.
Here are the most desperately needed supplies: blankets, tarps, baby formula, diapers, water, sunscreen, soap, hand sanitizer, new underwear and socks, gently used clothing, canned food, shoes, first-aid supplies. And more water - many areas have none or pressure is extremely low. Power is slowly being restored, but amazingly quick given the enormity of the undertaking. Look around your house and see what you use every day. That's what they don't have. No furniture yet until they get in some type of housing that is not a community shelter. I know people might be reluctant to give cash and I know I am not a 501(c3). Gift cards are great. I promise I will use them to buy items noted above. Grocery gift cards are also good...at nearly every intersection, churches have set up grilling sites to feed people - no charge. But they have put out a call for meat to grill. I can't pack that in a tractor trailer obviously, but can buy supplies when I get back to T-town.
Jim remains in Tuscaloosa with many other students to help in any way possible. For example, many of the fraternities are cooking meals but need people to deliver them to people who still can't get out due to downed trees, power lines, etc. The enthusiasm and passion of the young people to make things right has just been fantastic..we can't let them down.
Please feel free to forward this note to anyone in your network. We need every bit of support we can get. And, again, from Ed and I, our deepest thanks for reaching out. We are humbled and appreciative.
We have
Love to all,
The O'Dwyer's
12725 Bethany Rd.
Alpharetta
Home: 770-569-1800
Cell: 404-384-9940
12725 Bethany Rd.
Alpharetta
Home: 770-569-1800
Cell: 404-384-9940
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