Post by Ray on Sept 19, 2005 13:37:37 GMT -5
Hey there…I was actually a volunteer for the Red Cross for a few years. After 911 and also the Tsunami, I wanted to do SOMETHING big to help the people. So, the day after Katrina hit, the Red Cross called asking for volunteers. I jumped on the opportunity. I went in and took the disaster management and mass care certification class. I went up to the director of volunteers and said that I was ready to go for two weeks and I wanted to leave that afternoon. She said she would see what she could do. That was Tuesday. Wednesday I called, nothing. Thursday I called, nothing. Finally, I got a call on Friday from one of the directors and she said that she could get me out in a week or so. I told her I was not willing to wait any longer and was going to support myself and get down to help. SHE TOLD ME THAT IF I WENT ALONE THE RED CROSS WOULD KICK ME OUT OF THEIR ORGANIZATION. I was so angry. In the past few years I have done yard sales, benefit concerts, collected money from servers at restaurants…about $12,000 worth of donations.
So, I told her to do what she needed to do and that I was on my way. I got in touch with a few people who eventually got me in touch with the people at hilltop rescue. I called them and said I was on my way and they said ok. I asked my family and friends for a bit of help and I raised over $600. That was more than I needed for gas so when I was leaving I gave the family a few hundred dollars to buy what ever supplies that were needed. I was also contacted by Chris Duhon’s mother Vivian. He plays for the Chicago Bulls and grew up in Slidell, so I thought that would be a cool place to help. I didn’t know anyone before the storm but I now have a connection to the city and a family there.
Basically, hilltop rescue is a family that has opened their house and hearts for the people across the nation that want to go volunteer. As far as I know, we are one of the very few that have set up a camp that people can come to. I was there the Monday after the storm hit and stayed for 5 days. It was the hardest work I have ever done both physically and emotionally. We didn’t set up in the parking lot of Wal-Mart (thanks for showing up after 10 days red cross) we went door to door in one of the poorest communities in the country. As you can see by the pictures, it was hard enough for them to be successful in our society before the storm…and now after Katrina, I don’t know how some will make it. On the 15 hour drive home all I could think about was getting a good steak and a beer from the Outback Steakhouse. So, I found a room in Augusta, Ga and after I put Trina down for the night (she is the puppy I rescued), I hit the Outback. Man, I almost ran from my car through the front doors to the bar. I couldn’t order fast enough and as I called my wife telling her I was safe and enjoying my first sip of beer in a week, I thought I was in heaven. When my steak came I started eating. After a few bites I started looking around, everyone was enjoying themselves, laughing, telling stories, talking on the phone, watching the ballgame on TV. No one was talking about Katrina. No one seemed to be at all different than before the storm hit. After spending a week with people that lost EVERYTHING and working with people that were giving EVERYTHING, I started to cry a bit. I asked for my check and couldn’t finish what I was looking forward to all day. I was so sad for Haddy Mills and everyone else I met. I was sad to leave Louise and Richard who owned the house. I was sad to leave my new brothers that I volunteered with…one of the guys lost everything himself but instead of worrying about his house, he worked his tail off setting up the volunteer camp and organizing our efforts. I was sad for one of the volunteers that grew up in Slidell but traveled from Buffalo to help…his sister lived in the area and as the hurricane hit, a tree slammed into the house and broke both of her legs and continued on to hit her daughter in the neck. She died on the way to Houston. But, instead of sitting back feeling sorry for himself and his sister, he committed to two months in the area to make a difference.
I could go on and on. I am sure there are more stories from other areas of Miss and Alabama as well. So, now I am back in Wilmington, NC. I am a wedding photographer and spend a good amount of time on the internet fixing photos and contacting new brides. I started posting on craigslist to see if I can help the people of Slidell. In the past week, I have received about 150 offers for help. I know I overwhelmed the people at hilltoprescue but in a way, it is a great problem to have. I am searching for more volunteer camps to send people to. I have an amazing small army ready and willing to go in and see what they can do. I believe this is something that I am meant to do. I have a passion for people and if we ALL do just a little, I think we can make a HUGE difference. I am not in it for publicity. It isn’t a “church thing” it isn’t a black/white thing and it isn’t a rich/poor thing, it is a humanity thing.
On a lighter note, Haddy Mills is on her way to Boston for the winter to live with her son Cedrick. I call her often and as of Friday, she still hasn’t seen the Red Cross or FEMA. We are going on three weeks. Our group is the only group that has helped. The day after I left, Rich, Robert and the rest of the gang from hilltop went in and cleaned out her house. Through my posting at craigslist.com, I met Amy from Boston. She said she would love to help but couldn’t volunteer in Slidell. I set her up with Haddy and Cedrick and once Haddy is settled, Amy and her daughter are going to his house to see what she can do for them. Haddy is leaving with the clothes on her back and winter in New Orleans is much different from the winters in Boston. So, Amy is going to collect supplies and help her locally. I am grateful for that. For some reason, seeing that lady sitting in her yard waiting for help that wasn’t coming broke my heart.
Thanks for letting me vent. I met the greatest people with the biggest hearts. What an amazing experience. I can’t wait to go back and give Louise a hug and lend a helping hand to the people that lost so much.
I do have to say, it was our 5 year wedding anniversary Friday and my wife and I that was so supportive of me going went out for a great steak dinner. I actually ate the whole thing and had some great wine. But, I will be a changed person from here on out. I won’t be as selfish. I will give more with money and actions. I think it is the small groups out there that are really going to make a dent in what isn’t just a hurricane clean up issue, it is a poverty issue that hopefully we can help.
Time to run. Looking forward to hearing your stories when you get back. Take care and enjoy the Packer game…I don’t think they can lose two in a row to start the season can they? Talk to you soon.
Ray Baca
So, I told her to do what she needed to do and that I was on my way. I got in touch with a few people who eventually got me in touch with the people at hilltop rescue. I called them and said I was on my way and they said ok. I asked my family and friends for a bit of help and I raised over $600. That was more than I needed for gas so when I was leaving I gave the family a few hundred dollars to buy what ever supplies that were needed. I was also contacted by Chris Duhon’s mother Vivian. He plays for the Chicago Bulls and grew up in Slidell, so I thought that would be a cool place to help. I didn’t know anyone before the storm but I now have a connection to the city and a family there.
Basically, hilltop rescue is a family that has opened their house and hearts for the people across the nation that want to go volunteer. As far as I know, we are one of the very few that have set up a camp that people can come to. I was there the Monday after the storm hit and stayed for 5 days. It was the hardest work I have ever done both physically and emotionally. We didn’t set up in the parking lot of Wal-Mart (thanks for showing up after 10 days red cross) we went door to door in one of the poorest communities in the country. As you can see by the pictures, it was hard enough for them to be successful in our society before the storm…and now after Katrina, I don’t know how some will make it. On the 15 hour drive home all I could think about was getting a good steak and a beer from the Outback Steakhouse. So, I found a room in Augusta, Ga and after I put Trina down for the night (she is the puppy I rescued), I hit the Outback. Man, I almost ran from my car through the front doors to the bar. I couldn’t order fast enough and as I called my wife telling her I was safe and enjoying my first sip of beer in a week, I thought I was in heaven. When my steak came I started eating. After a few bites I started looking around, everyone was enjoying themselves, laughing, telling stories, talking on the phone, watching the ballgame on TV. No one was talking about Katrina. No one seemed to be at all different than before the storm hit. After spending a week with people that lost EVERYTHING and working with people that were giving EVERYTHING, I started to cry a bit. I asked for my check and couldn’t finish what I was looking forward to all day. I was so sad for Haddy Mills and everyone else I met. I was sad to leave Louise and Richard who owned the house. I was sad to leave my new brothers that I volunteered with…one of the guys lost everything himself but instead of worrying about his house, he worked his tail off setting up the volunteer camp and organizing our efforts. I was sad for one of the volunteers that grew up in Slidell but traveled from Buffalo to help…his sister lived in the area and as the hurricane hit, a tree slammed into the house and broke both of her legs and continued on to hit her daughter in the neck. She died on the way to Houston. But, instead of sitting back feeling sorry for himself and his sister, he committed to two months in the area to make a difference.
I could go on and on. I am sure there are more stories from other areas of Miss and Alabama as well. So, now I am back in Wilmington, NC. I am a wedding photographer and spend a good amount of time on the internet fixing photos and contacting new brides. I started posting on craigslist to see if I can help the people of Slidell. In the past week, I have received about 150 offers for help. I know I overwhelmed the people at hilltoprescue but in a way, it is a great problem to have. I am searching for more volunteer camps to send people to. I have an amazing small army ready and willing to go in and see what they can do. I believe this is something that I am meant to do. I have a passion for people and if we ALL do just a little, I think we can make a HUGE difference. I am not in it for publicity. It isn’t a “church thing” it isn’t a black/white thing and it isn’t a rich/poor thing, it is a humanity thing.
On a lighter note, Haddy Mills is on her way to Boston for the winter to live with her son Cedrick. I call her often and as of Friday, she still hasn’t seen the Red Cross or FEMA. We are going on three weeks. Our group is the only group that has helped. The day after I left, Rich, Robert and the rest of the gang from hilltop went in and cleaned out her house. Through my posting at craigslist.com, I met Amy from Boston. She said she would love to help but couldn’t volunteer in Slidell. I set her up with Haddy and Cedrick and once Haddy is settled, Amy and her daughter are going to his house to see what she can do for them. Haddy is leaving with the clothes on her back and winter in New Orleans is much different from the winters in Boston. So, Amy is going to collect supplies and help her locally. I am grateful for that. For some reason, seeing that lady sitting in her yard waiting for help that wasn’t coming broke my heart.
Thanks for letting me vent. I met the greatest people with the biggest hearts. What an amazing experience. I can’t wait to go back and give Louise a hug and lend a helping hand to the people that lost so much.
I do have to say, it was our 5 year wedding anniversary Friday and my wife and I that was so supportive of me going went out for a great steak dinner. I actually ate the whole thing and had some great wine. But, I will be a changed person from here on out. I won’t be as selfish. I will give more with money and actions. I think it is the small groups out there that are really going to make a dent in what isn’t just a hurricane clean up issue, it is a poverty issue that hopefully we can help.
Time to run. Looking forward to hearing your stories when you get back. Take care and enjoy the Packer game…I don’t think they can lose two in a row to start the season can they? Talk to you soon.
Ray Baca
