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Sherlene Stevens: Hurricane Harvey Neighbor Help

UPDATE: Hurricane Irma is a very challenging storm, category 5 winds and rain. It expands over 400 miles, and is defined as the biggest storm on U.S. record. Florida families are preparing to evacuate. Most schools are now closed until further notice.  Pop-up shelters are needed. Shelter facilities' main goal is to provide the very basic of human needs and wants.It is suggested that families stay at a hotel/motel, with family, or friends.

All families are advised to take picture of important documents.  Whenever possible, during picture taking, create duplicate pics. Store a set of pics in a waterproof or fireproof container or area.


Neighbor o' Neighbor--

Let's help in an organized and productive fashion: What's needed? Who's going? When are they going? Where is the drop-off point(s)?

From the many social-media posts that I have seen, there are many neighbors, all around the country, who are willing to provide donations and manpower. Before we all get excited, givers, we must do this in a productive manner.  As a leader, I believe the challenge is that currently, gone are the days that we can count on our places of worship to do the main tasks (organizing drop-off points, delivering items, etc). From your posts, y'all are looking for a l-e-a-d-e-r. Where's the leaders?! Overall, due to closures, places where we would drop-off items are gone or they don't have funding for the travel expense to drop-off items. So don't panic, it's not your imagination. Don't panic, stop and focus.

Another challenge, there are many who would like to provide monetary donation in hand vs. a charity organization. Do your research before giving money to any person or organization.  My AVON eStore (click) will give 96% of sale profits to family shelters in the affected or nearby communities, now - September 30, 2017. If you are a business, and have a commerical lot that can be used for drop-off of items, please phone or text me at (404) 635-8822. As a leader, I am suggesting that shelter staff come and pickup items vs. the general-public drop-off actions to said facility site locations. In turn, I will advertise the addresses of commericial lots within our national communities as provided.Or if you have a farm field, or large lot please contact me.

This drop-off service action, available to shelters, should be first-come-first serve. Each shelter will personally be notified of such opportunities to pick-up supplies (donation description given, date and time).

Neighbors, let's do this in a productive manner vs. unproductive actions (wasting time, don't know where to give/drop-off, etc.). Do not give, unless you have received. We will use this teaming action  (Click) for the remainder of the hurricane season of 2017.

Many of you have boats--great. But not so great, if you are in the way of trained government workers. Listen to their announcements, and follow their requests and/or suggestions.

Lastly, remember to take care of self, too.

With Love,
Sherlene