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The mind-blowing power of compassion
Sep. 10th, 2005 02:14 amNow that I've written this, I feel guilty about being grouchy. Seriously, people are amazing.
The Internet ate my last post. This is an emotionally draining topic to write about, so thinking about starting again is intense.
Thursday, I learned the true nature of the Donations Center at the Reunion Arena parking lot. It wasn’t affiliated with the Red Cross as I had thought. (The arena itself says “No Donations Accepted” on all its marquees.)
Here’s the amazing part: This Donations Center sprang out of the compassion of a handful of regular people. They didn’t have a name at first; now they go by Citizen’s Coalition for Relief & Assistance. They’re lead by a hypno therapist named Kat Truitt.
What can regular people get accomplished? Well, so far, they provided clothes and shoes for all shapes and sizes; they got a Wal-Mart to bring in pallets and pallets of soap, toothbrushes, Always pads, wash clothes and so on; they were able to hand out diapers and formula for babies; they set up a first aid table; they hosted a daily barbecue with burgers and hotdogs; they researched all the information evacuees would need on FEMA, disaster assistance and housing; they collected the names of people will to donate rooms and “adopt” evacuees; they got ice and water donated each day; they talked to Big Bruce’s Barbecue and other restaurants about bring in food.
It’s truly astounding. I looked around thinking how this was all the work of a disorganized group of volunteers, just a group of people with really big hearts, and I wanted to cry. It’s hard to believe.
It seems the government machine is moving slowly in Dallas. There are procedures to follow and so on. But the citizens and churches have stepped in to fill the gap. The Donations Center has struggled to stay open for political reasons that are beyond me. The organizers say they’ve gotten flak from the office of Mayor Laura Miller (http://washingtontimes.com/national/20050904-104833-4674r.htm). And so the center will close down and clear out on Sunday.
---------------
( Meet my incredible new friends )
The Internet ate my last post. This is an emotionally draining topic to write about, so thinking about starting again is intense.
Thursday, I learned the true nature of the Donations Center at the Reunion Arena parking lot. It wasn’t affiliated with the Red Cross as I had thought. (The arena itself says “No Donations Accepted” on all its marquees.)
Here’s the amazing part: This Donations Center sprang out of the compassion of a handful of regular people. They didn’t have a name at first; now they go by Citizen’s Coalition for Relief & Assistance. They’re lead by a hypno therapist named Kat Truitt.
What can regular people get accomplished? Well, so far, they provided clothes and shoes for all shapes and sizes; they got a Wal-Mart to bring in pallets and pallets of soap, toothbrushes, Always pads, wash clothes and so on; they were able to hand out diapers and formula for babies; they set up a first aid table; they hosted a daily barbecue with burgers and hotdogs; they researched all the information evacuees would need on FEMA, disaster assistance and housing; they collected the names of people will to donate rooms and “adopt” evacuees; they got ice and water donated each day; they talked to Big Bruce’s Barbecue and other restaurants about bring in food.
It’s truly astounding. I looked around thinking how this was all the work of a disorganized group of volunteers, just a group of people with really big hearts, and I wanted to cry. It’s hard to believe.
It seems the government machine is moving slowly in Dallas. There are procedures to follow and so on. But the citizens and churches have stepped in to fill the gap. The Donations Center has struggled to stay open for political reasons that are beyond me. The organizers say they’ve gotten flak from the office of Mayor Laura Miller (http://washingtontimes.com/national/20050904-104833-4674r.htm). And so the center will close down and clear out on Sunday.
---------------
( Meet my incredible new friends )
