I returned home just days following Hurricane Harvey’s rampage through this part of Texas, getting a first hand view of the devastation to some 100+ families, not including the dozens of businesses that were impacted in our small town. The saddest part of this tragedy is most of those affected could not afford these life changing events.
They lost everything…except each other. They have no clothes, no shoes, no food, no furniture, no school supplies, no homes, no direction…and no money.
Rebuild? How? With What?
Move? Where?
Pull yourself up with your boot straps? Who has boots?
I sat with a restaurant owner yesterday as she handed out grocery store gift cards, clothing store gift cards, and cash to her staff members who have no place to live, and no means to ‘start over’. It was important that the restaurant open because these folks needed to get a paycheck, and that wouldn’t be possible if the business stayed closed.
While there, people walked through the door, handing the owner more gift cards, more money, and lots of assurances that more will come.With every donation she made up packets of equal value for each one of her ‘family members’, as she calls those who have been on the payroll for many years.
“Immediately after the storm,” she recalls, “I put out a message on social media that we needed help to care for these folks who were suddenly homeless.”
It quickly became apparent that a family of 4 or 5 or 6 may need mattresses, or a refrigerator, but they had no place to put those items. They were camped out with friends. What they need is money to buy clothes, to pay for a motel room, to buy toothbrushes, soap, combs, shampoo, toilet paper, paper towels: those basic needs– things we often overlook.
These are proud people, who work every day, who keep their children in school, who live on minimum wage. They have labored hard to have a home…and now they are homeless. It doesn’t seem to be fair, but Mother Nature doesn’t consider who deserves chaos, and turmoil. Fairness isn’t part of the equation when destruction hits.
It becomes our responsibility…society’s responsibility…to help them. Neighbors helping neighbors, regardless of race, social status, religion, color of skin, or political leanings. And in our community, we are seeing that happen.
RV’s are opened to a family. A garage apartment is cleared out and now houses a family of 4.
“It’s small, but they are dry and safe,” said the apartment owner.
Grocery stores are giving away free bottles of water since the town is under a ‘boil water’ order.
Volunteers are helping with clean up of homes of people they don’t know.
The ground swell of support and giving is remarkable, and it reminds me of the old song with the following lyrics:
‘I love those dear hearts and gentle people who live in my hometown,
because these dear hearts and gentle people will never, ever let you down.’
La Grange residents acknowledge many of our neighbors may be homeless following the storm, but they do not need to feel helpless.
Help is here…because these dear hearts and gentle people will never, ever let you down.
This is my response to the writing reader’s prompt ‘not fair’. http://www.thewritingreader.com/blog/2017/09/04/prompt-4001-not-fair/#.Wa1JQk3cR2c.wordpress
I always feel that any disaster, natural or man-made, brings out the best and the worst in people. It can shock us with examples of cruelty, and yet showcase exemplary heroes whose simple deeds reassure us that humanity still exists. Let the latter shine through and triumph over all negatives!
LikeLiked by 3 people
AMEN. It is heartwarming to see what people are doing to help those impacted.
LikeLike
I have Sheryl Crow’s line ‘No-one said it would be easy – but no-one said it would be this hard’ ringing in my ear as I read your words. Life isn’t fair, Mother Nature doesn’t mark out a careful route that avoids the people who have the least but for those people, those hard-working, not-asking souls, this is a bitter blow. But in the midst of the devastation what shines out is that Harvey may have blown whole lives apart but he also blew in Love. Love is simply pouring out of communities like yours. The ‘Churchill Spirit’ that the British are so keen on remembering from WW2 when people and communities just pulled together and forgot that they didn’t like that person or he came from the wrong side of the tracks or didn’t have a father he could name. Suddenly people are just people and in the face of devastation people show their best. This post made me well-up with sadness for those affected and joy for the way your community is rallying. With love.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. This experience has moved me to tears day after day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t even begin to imagine and my heart is with you all ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙏🏻🙏🏻
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Dina
LikeLiked by 1 person
Margo, I don’t think anyone else will be able to write a more heartfelt response to the prompt than you did today. One of the really wonderful things about the storm is that I have heard more stories of goodness than hatred and our country to sorely needs that.
LikeLike
Yes, we all need to hear positive and encouraging news. Hate, divisiveness, and anger have dominated our news for too long, making us almost immune to tragedy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
❤️❤️❤️
LikeLike
Thank you, Christine.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think this is the best thing I¹ve read about the storm victims.
From: that little voice Reply-To: that little voice Date: Wednesday, September 6, 2017 at 3:16 AM To: Paula James Subject: [New post] Help Is Here
WordPress.com that little voice posted: “I returned home just days following Hurricane Harvey’s rampage through this part of Texas, getting a first hand view of the devastation to some 100+ families, not including the dozens of businesses that were impacted in our small town. The saddest part of”
LikeLike
Wow, thanks.
LikeLike
This is America, not the rubbish we see in the papers and on TV, not the over rich politicians who have no idea what it is to be hungry, or have nowhere to rest, not the overpaid sports, media, and entertainment “stars”. These are the stars.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Reblogged this on Peter's pondering and commented:
This is America. Not the rubbish we see in the papers and on TV, not the over rich politicians who have no idea what it is to be hungry, or have nowhere to rest, not the overpaid sports, media, and entertainment “stars”. These are the stars!
LikeLike
Thank you for sharing this! I am speechless at the loss and the way people are helping out. I want to reblog this it is an amazing account of our life here and what we hold dear! Stay safe.
LikeLike
Thanks. I appreciate your comments and your reblogging.
LikeLiked by 1 person
most welcome
LikeLike
Hope you are safe.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on lynz real cooking and commented:
Hope and inspiration! A wonderful post!
LikeLike
This is so beautiful. Seeing the accounts of these Hometown Heroes, as well as the help coming from across the nation has restored some of my faith in humanity. Thank you so much for sharing this!
LikeLike
My pleasure and thank you for responding.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for your response. In the midst of all this destruction, we are also seeing bridges being built between people.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Noddfacrafts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the reblogging.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Glover Gardens Cookbook and commented:
I’ve been posting about Hurricane Harvey from my vantage point north of Houston, and I found this post so profound and moving.
LikeLike
Thank you Kim. Appreciate your kind words.
LikeLike
This outpouring of caring and willing to help those in need is amazing. Why does it take a disaster to wake up people? I’m from Florida and lived through many hurricanes but Harvey is the worst I’ve seen.
Thank you for this post making people aware of the impact this storm has on lives, and this impact isn’t going away anytime soon.
Stay safe and pray for Florida because they’re next with Irma quickly approaching. their shores. Plus there are more storms brewing behind Irma.
LikeLike
Prayers are being offered for those of you in Florida and all along the east coast. Looks like Irma is going to impact lots of the coast line. Stay safe, and hug your neighbors.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😉
LikeLike
Wonderful to hear of the kindness and generosity of neighbors and strangers. Thanks for telling their story.
LikeLike
Thank you for your response.
LikeLike
Such a positive lovely post thanks for sharing. 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you for your comment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Heartfelt words and actions, good luck to everyone, the devastation is horrifying from both hurricanes plus Mexico’s earthquake… my heart goes out to all. A post worth reading x
LikeLike
Thank you Vicky. There are so many needs in the world today.
LikeLike