Monday, May 16, 2011

Long Long Road....

I haven't posted in a while. It has been tough up this way but things are slowly getting back to normal.  My Mom, Dad and Brother came up this past weekend to volunteer.  The Temporary Emergency Services (TES) in Tuscaloosa is ALWAYS in need of volunteers! And we were there from about 8:30 until a little after 2:00.  It was a wonderful experience and it is hard to not feel like you are helping when you are there.  It is also fun working on the unloading where Dad and I were getting to talk with people bringing stuff in.  It's amazing the people who came from Minnesota, Ohio, and Kentucky! 

Everyone is trying to find out ways they can help so here is what I know and have learned over the past few weeks:

NEEDED: Gatorade (powder), Powerade (powder/packets) and Crystal Light Energy Packets.  The outpouring from the state and nation has been overwhelming.  We have all the water we need from what I am told, however due to the heat that we have now and what we all in Alabama know we will be facing in the summer months to come water and electrolytes are important! 

Also needed are work gloves and masks.  Due to the handling of materials and the dust created from saws these items will also be needed long term.

IF YOU ARE COMING TO VOLUNTEER:
I would strongly recommend that you call in advance and have a plan on where you are going to volunteer.  It is wonderful the help that is pouring in-but we can only organize so many people at once. 

A suggestion would be Temporary Emergency Services off of 15th Street if you are just coming in for a day or so to volunteer.
 
If you are going to volunteer long-term I would got to the McAbee Center in Tuscaloosa to register and get your pass that will let you into the city. 

You can also check out the website that I read about on al.com
www.keepvolunteering.org

And of course Red Cross, Salvation Army, and many Churches are available for contact to find volunteer sites.

Also don't forget the smaller communities!  Hackleburg,  Pratt City, Cordova, Sawyerville were all hit by very strong tornadoes and need help too!!!

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