Adam here again.
I haven’t talked to Britt tonight, but I spoke to her a few times during the day and she’s helping her in-laws and friends gather whatever belongings they can find. Sometime soon she’ll be figuring out what supplies will be helpful and I’ll post that info here. For now, though, if you do want to help the people of Parkersburg generally, you can do so here:
If you have items or services to donate that might help, you can call the Iowa Concern Hotline at 1-800-447-1985.
Britt also said that it seems like adult clothes of all sizes and genders would be very helpful - the local stores have nothing left. If anyone has any ideas of a good way to collect donated clothing to get to Parkersburg, please leave a comment.
Posted in On A Serious Note Tagged: disaster, fema, hawkeye chapter, Iowa, iowa concern, Parkersburg, red cross, relief, tornado
Cool, thanks for the update.
All we need is a shipping address there. UPS will still deliver or resume deliveries soon. I can’t imagine adult clothes will be hard to pull together. I’ll start looking around and gathering up things here. When she has an idea where to send things too I’ll get something out. Even if she sets a box in the driveway for the neighbors to rummage through, it beats even one person being cold.
Hugs and lots of love Britt and family.
You too Adam for keeping us up to date and being such an understanding boss and awesome friend.
Eff. I just threw out a bunch of stuff the other day when I was cleaning out The House, but I know I have other clothes here I don’t want.
Why do clothes need to be collected? Just get them there through the concern line… no?
And, I don’t like what you tweeted about American Red Cross fucking things up. Can you explain more before I donate? I don’t want my money ending up paying for a gold hammer.
How far is the nearest Wal-Mart? People can send gift cards for them to use for needed items if there is a Wal-Mart close by. Or a Home Depot or Sears or whatever.
Poppy- if you don’t trust the American Red Cross -
those interested in aiding relief efforts to make a donation at Lincoln Savings Bank in Aplington, by calling (800) 588-7551.
I’m sure they will make sure the donations are not spent on gold hammers. Most Iowans are hard working, good honest people. They don’t ask for help, they are the first to give it.
I’m in CA and have a bunch of clothes… when/if you solve the “where to send” issue, let me know!
The nearest Wal-mart, Sears, Target, Home Depot, Lowes, Menards is 27 miles away - keep in mind some/most of these people do not have vehicles.
Parkersburg has no stores left - they are gone.
There isn’t such a thing as public transportation in this part of the world.
Thanks for keeping us updated :).
Next time you talk to Britt, please tell her I love her and am praying for her.
Yes - thanks for the updates!
It’s so heartbreaking, what those people are going through. I’d like to help, for sure.
I trust the people of Iowa, I just didn’t like how Adam worded his twitter comment, as if the money wasn’t even getting to Iowa.
Get us the addy for the local Goodwill and God’s Pantry.
Is there a blogger close that is willing to take donations?
I’ve got plenty of adult and children’s clothing that is in great condition plus home items that I’d like to donate…all I need is an address to send them to.
Turnbaby just gave me an idea…I’m sure we could find the address of the closest Goodwill online and see if they would be willing to accept donations on behalf of the Parkersburg residents.
Thanks for this Adam.
Hugs to Britt and her family.
Thanks for the update. I have blankets and some women’s and kids clothes I want to donate. I thought about just sending boxes via UPS or USPS, as soon as I have an actual address to send it to….Please let Britt know I am praying for her hometown….
Just found this via Special K. I’ve got some items I can send that way as soon as you can post an address.
I’m praying for her hometown as well.
Thanks for the update. I’d rather donate directly to the families as well.
Thanks for the update, Adam. Please let Britt know we’re all thinking about her and sending the best wishes to her family. Now I’m off to send some cash…
Thanks for the update. I’m going to go clean out my closet and wait for the address to send it to.
I think I saw Britt on The Weather Channel footage of clean up.
Wonder if they need kid’s clothes. I’ve got a bit back o’ clothes to send.
I’ll donate to the Red Cross / Salvation Army. They’d better not be the type of organizations that blow my donation on administrative fees and junk mail asking for more money.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. It’s very difficult when the people you love go through something like this. I am faced with similar feelings of displacement, but completely different circumstances from half a world away. Be strong for and with each other.
thanks for the update - i have stuff i can send, when you have a good address…best to britt, her family, and…really appreciate the updates, adam.
Me again, forgot to add, for all those donating stuff, one thing often overlooked at a time like this is feminine hygene supplies… just thought I’d mention it.
oh my do i have clothing and household items to send. although i am thinking since so many homes are gone i’ll just start with things like feminine hygene, clothing, razors and shaving cream, toothbrushes and paste, shampoo, money, american express gift cards, etc. i wonder if we could send stuff to britt’s mom?
Thanks so much for the update. My thoughts are with Britt and her family…
I’ll gather up some stuff….and seriously, I only live like five hours away per mapquest, I can make it there in 3.5 if the cops leave me alone. If enough people in the Chicagoland area can get stuff together, I’d be willing to make the drive. That’s better than everyone having to pay shipping, I’d think.
Good idea on the feminine hygiene schtuff.
What about nonperishable food, bottled water, meds (like tylenol), baby food and toiletries?
I’ve got clothes to donate as well. If someone is close by, maybe we can send the clothes there.
I’m an Iowa blogger and have emailed Britt when she was enroute.
I have family from Parkersburg also and am planning to go up next week. If people want to ship things to me, I’m only 2 hours drive. I have a mini-van and can take as many boxes as anyone wants to load me up with. My cousin lost his house but his family is OK. But like so many others, they are starting all over again.
If Adam wants to email me, I can give my address to collect items and get them there in person.
I have lots of children clothes, adult clothes and household items, just need to know where to send!
I keep finding more and more people affected by this. Sonia above, another blog I visit - her family lost a lot, and of course Miss Britt’s family.
I have negative feelings about the Red Cross and Salvation Army after my own experiences with them following 9/11. They were horribly disorganized and full of red tape. Regular NYers often did more and did it faster than either of these groups.
I’m going to check back here for an address to send clothes to and I’ll check out the bank phone number posted above.
Everyone commenting here makes me feel better about people.
Hugs to all - especially the folks in Iowa.
Just an update for those of you who are subscribed. Britt’s going to find out an address and will create a list of general categories of things that are needed, and I’ll put up a post with that information.
Things that I know they’re looking for right now are adult’s clothes and underwear and female hygiene products. Children’s clothes are actually one thing they don’t need - it seems like there’s plenty of that somehow.
I’ll post more later.
I have some clothes for the fuller-figured man that I can send out. (I imagine a lot of Iowans, like Ohioans, are often corn-fed big folk.)
Adam, i definetly will send clothes, being of the fuller figure variety, lol. (I prefer to think of myself as voluptuous, instead of Shamu-like).
The hubs will get some of his clothes together, as well. We don’t have much, but what we do have is for sharing.
Will try to ask around at work for more donations.
We’ll send a care package as soon as you get us the addy.
Maybe I can get my some of my daughter’s Sorority sisters and Frat friends to collect some things. They are a really generous bunch of kids and do philanthropy all the time.
Be careful donating to the Red Cross. They have been through a number of CEO’s in the past 5-10 years, and have also been unreliable as far as monetary donations are concerned. Lots and lots of mistakes.
And high administrative costs.
The Salvation Army’s slogan ‘Doing The Most Good’ is very accurate.
I’m not affiliated with either of these organizations, I work in not-for-profit, and know how important it is for donors to know what’s going on. My two cents goes to the SA any day over IRC.
I think I’d prefer to send stuff directly if I can instead of dealing with either relief organization. Everyone keeps mentioning adult clothes and feminine hygiene products, but nobody says how they’re fixed for porn.
Thanks for the update, Avi. Hang in the, Britt.
Everything we are hearing locally (I’m about 45 miles away, and the same storm hit about 8 miles north of me) is that they don’t need stuff so much as they need money.
We’ve been in direct contact with several families that have lost everything and they say what they really need right now is a way to pay their bills. They’ve not only lost their homes, but their source of income is gone. Their workplaces - gone.
Also, the very first thing the Red Cross told our County Emergency Operations Center on Sunday night was “we don’t do tornadoes”. When we called Salvation Army they asked what we needed and where we wanted it. They were on-site in hours with a canteen trailer fully stocked, as well as other supplies. Impressive.
If you do send money to RC or SA be sure to specify that it is to go to the Parkersburg Tornado.
I’m getting my checkbook out right now. My thoughts to Britt and family.
I don’t have much in adult clothing, but I’ve got a lot of teen/preteen sized stuff I’d be happy to box up and send. Can you tell us where? Is there even a post office left?
I don’t have a good idea about how to collect stuff, but I do have three shopping bags full of clothing. I will call the hotline. Thanks for keeping us up to date.
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