Off Topic - Hurricane Katrina Help

09/23/2005 08:38:12 PM · #1

[EDIT - See my post below on 10/11 for the latest update. Thanks.]

Hello,
Sorry for the off topic, but I had to try. If the post gets removed by an admin, so be it. I will understand. No hard feelings.

This is a great community, and so I'm going to take a shot and ask something... I've been helped here many times with advice and information. I've even helped (I hope) a few people with advice. I've even helped get a new camera for someone who couldn't afford it. And I've seen SO many other instances of people helping out. So, for anyone looking for a VERY SPECIFIC way to help out hurricane Katrina victims, I'm going to ask the following...

5 of the 7 players on my youth basketball team, girls ages 11 to 13, got flooded out here in Slidell, LA, and lost everything. Things like insurance, red cross, FEMA, etc are helping out the parents, and that is great. But, I am contacting several people and/or churches out of the area because I want to do something specifically for my team members, the kids. I'm going to collect what I can in gift certificates to places 11 to 13 yr old (atheletic) girls like to shop, like:

Limited Too
Old Navy
Wal Mart
FYE (music store)
Target
Acadamy Sports and Outdoors
Barnes and Noble
Blockbuster
etc

And give them to the kids, so that they can replace some of their personal stuff. Any other suggestions are welcome. It just breaks my heart to see all of their stuff destroyed and being thrown away...

If anyone here would like to donate either gift certificates or checks, they could mail them to me at

Doug Webb
3142 Meadow Lake Dr East
Slidell, LA 70461

Or, they could make a deposit in my PayPal account which is "dswebb1@charter.net"

Now, I realize that nobody here knows for sure if I am really going to do what I say I am going to do with the gift certificates/money. So, it will be OK if nobody donates, I understand the hesitancy to deal with something like this. But I have just GOT to try anything I can, and knowing the kindness of DPCers in the past, I figured I would give it a try.

So, thanks to anyone who would like to help out. You would really brighten the day of 5 teenage girls, not to mention the heart of one 43 yr old "coach." Thanks everyone!

If anyone would like further details, or a picture of the team mailed to them, contact me at dswebb1@charter.net. But, my internet is still "up and down" here in Slidell, so if I don't reply for a week, it's just because I can't! Or, just post a note in this thread. If anyone is interested, I'll let them know how the "drive" is going.

Doug

Message edited by author 2005-10-11 08:48:59.

09/24/2005 09:28:21 AM · #2

A bump for the morning crowd.

And a big THANKS for those who are already helping.

Doug

cpurser

Canon EOS-5D

09/25/2005 12:21:22 AM · #3

Hey, I'll vouch for Doug here. (I work with him, and he is a good friend of mine.) This guy really cares for his players, so it is awesome that he would do something for them. Let's help those who fall through the cracks.

-Chad

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM II

09/25/2005 10:10:29 AM · #4

Thanks Chad.

colyla

Canon EOS-50D

09/25/2005 12:10:26 PM · #5

I think this is a great idea!!!! I hope you keep this up for awhile and bump it occasionally....because I would have to wait for a payday (15th and 30th every month) to make a donation.

Thank you for helping make a difference and allowing us to be able to help as well :)

~Colette

09/25/2005 02:53:30 PM · #6

Thank you for your interest Colette. I've got many messages out to my extended family, and they in turn to their churches, and most of them are older folks. In other words, most don't have a clue about paypal and any that donate will most likely do so by snail mail... I know a few who are already snail mailing things. Therefore yeah, it will probably go on for a while. At least a week or two while I see what the US Post Office brings me. Mail is coming in here, but it still seems a little slower than normal...

On the other hand, I'd like to wrap it up as soon as I can, to get the kids the stuff. So I guess I'll just "play it by ear" and see what comes.

Again, thanks for your interest. I really appreciate it.

Doug

cpurser

Canon EOS-5D

09/26/2005 10:35:37 PM · #7

*bump*