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OT: Necessities for Katrina Victims

I was talking to DD last evening and she said she had been working with the young people at her job to put together "Hygiene Kits" for the victims of the hurricane. Pat mentioned in the other post about the specific needs of females at this time and it reminded me that I had told DD she had left out several VERY essential things for both men and women. When making the list of things to put into these kits, the staff at DD's work remembered to put in a tube of toothpaste but they forgot a toothbrush! I mentioned that the women will need feminine hygiene products and no one in DD's "list" brain storming session had thought about that either -- and toilet paper!!! Now, there are lots of things that could be used in place of the standard products but just having your own roll of T.P. -- for men or women -- makes life a lot easier. Of course, food and water are the first essentials, but once you have that taken care of, it is so much easier to have your own personal hygiene products. We have an evac center in a neighboring town and one of the United Way charities right here in my little town -- The Place -- is accepting people too. I got a list from one of my Needlework Group women who is involved in The Place and they said monetary donations are accepted but they have an **immediate** need for bottled water, general toiletries, grocery store gift cards (can be used for food or gas) brown grocery bags (to put essentials in for each person) and Feminine Hygiene products. Until I got that e-mail, I myself had not thought about that need. Anyway, DH and I will be off to BJ's Warehouse Store to buy some of this stuff in bulk, feminine hygiene stuff. I wanted to ask what other things people can think of that would be considered "toiletries". Here's what I can think of as the bare minimum needed......... soap, toothpaste & toothbrush, deodorant, small brush & comb, shampoo.... I know that bath linens are needed but I don't think of those as "toiletries". I will forgo the TP but will get some of the feminine hygiene stuff and other things on the list. I shudder when I think of what my Granny had to go through when she was a young woman dealing with all of this! So -- do I have the *bare essentials* for hygiene kits on that little list. What have I forgotten? I just now thought about dental floss and if I can find small enough containers will get some of that too. What else do I need? Let's hear some ideas, OK?? CiaoMeow >^;;^<

Reply to
Tia Mary
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Mary - how about sanitary napkins or tampons? And Poise pads forthe incontinent? I guess that all comes under feminie hygiene, but menalso have incontinentence, and they need protection as well. OtherwiseI think you covered it pretty good. Frances

Reply to
'Nez

Reply to
Brenda Lewis

One thing I heard about once that Anglos don't think about (or know about) is the little plastic combs don't work for most African-Americans. And I expect the same of brushes. I am woefully ignorant of what African-Americans do use besides the hair picks that were so popular in the 70s.

Barbara Clements

Reply to
Barbara Clements

How about wet wipes for times when a tap might not be available and maybe something 'frivilous' like gum or hard candy? Zip lock baggies would be more portable than a grocery bag to hold the items

Reply to
anne

Ok here are my suggestions in addition to Tia Mary's

Panties Bra Shoes - one of the first things I wanted to get as all I had were my bedroom slippers Socks Umbrella - maybe not one of the first things but definitely something you need Clock - battery operated - some people really like to know what time it is (like me) Purse, fanny pack, diaper bag Paperback books and bookmarks- they need something to do Hair spray Blow dryer

I'm sure other things will come to mind. I'm trying to think about the things I bought on my first trip to Wal-Mart. Seeing what these people are going through has made me very grateful for the care I received from Tia Mary, my siblings, and State Farm. By Wednesday after the fire on Sunday, State Farm had a furnished apartment for me. The people who had no insurance are going to need a lot of help financially and emotionally in rebuilding their lives. I hope the emotional aspect isn't overlooked.

Janet

Reply to
<stitch412

Plasters and some jodine or or disenfactant cream , Safety pins , maybe some mints, A needle and a Thread roll for small repairs, A bar of Nice soap. Amedium hair comb . any packing or filling can be eitther tissues or toilet paper. One folded Nulon bag , prefferably with handle [ can be used for trash or storing stuff.] a tamped envelope and a pen [ so they can write or notify somebody , something.] a phone card [ for public phones].

Reply to
Mirjam Bruck-Cohen

Ps i forgot to add matches and candles , if you can`t put a handlamp with batteries ...

-------- Plasters and some jodine or or disenfactant cream , Safety pins , maybe some mints, A needle and a Thread roll for small repairs, A bar of Nice soap. Amedium hair comb . any packing or filling can be eitther tissues or toilet paper. One folded Nulon bag , prefferably with handle [ can be used for trash or storing stuff.] a tamped envelope and a pen [ so they can write or notify somebody , something.] a phone card [ for public phones].

Reply to
Mirjam Bruck-Cohen

Reply to
Brenda Lewis

At this point, the people collecting the stuff are just worried about

**toiletries** -- having the bare necessities for the arriving evacuees. I am pretty sure the people will be sent to one of the large "convention center" buildings and there will be -- hopefully -- adequate water and rest room facilities for washing up. In an ideal situation we could provide them all sorts of extras right off the bat but this is certainly NOT an ideal situation. CiaoMeow >^;;^<
Reply to
Tia Mary

I do have a big bag full of paperback books that I will take and drop off. All the rest of the stuff IS necessary but right now, all that is being asked for are TOILETRIES, water, feminine hygiene products and brown paper bags. The e-mail I got said that, while they will accept $$$, they desperately need the above items -- even more than $$$. If you give $$ then someone will have to go out and buy the toiletries, etc. Better to ask for the toiletries up front and eliminate one of the steps. I'm sorry to say this Janet but, at this time and under these immediate circumstances, things like a blow dryer, hair spray and a clock are on the frivolous list! Once these people are not living in some huge convention center type building they will need these things. I am sure that clothing, etc. will soon be needed -- right now the people need their own toothbrush & deodorant. All the rest of the stuff

-- even the toiletries could be shared amongst several people if needed. CiaoMeow >^;;^<

Reply to
Tia Mary

Reply to
Brenda Lewis

Your mention of medical supplies reminded me that I was talking over the whole "toiletries" thing with my friend earlier today. That's when I realized that Band-Aids would be practical. Ointment would be good too but that gets expensive. Quite often, we (or the rug rats) will have minor cuts. A good wash with warm soapy water gets it clean enough and then a band aid is all that's needed. If it's really bad enough to need ointment then it's time to visit the "nurse's station" at the facility. CiaoMeow >^;;^<

Reply to
Tia Mary

Reply to
Brenda Lewis

GREAT idea, Anne, knowing how essential I find wet wipes (I can`t use soap and water on my face - ALWAYS use wet-wipes or it dries up too much), and they make you feel so much cleaner and fresher - whatever part of you you use them on! (And smooth as a baby`s bottom, as they say)

Pat P

Reply to
Pat P

I doubt if there will be many public phones or mailboxes in operation for some time, but the rest would certainly be useful!

Pat P

Reply to
Pat P

Reply to
Brenda Lewis

I've just packed a box full of tothpaste and brushes, deodorant, razors and soaps. Not much compared to the sheer number of people displaced, but it's what I could afford to spend today on supplies to send there. Next week I'm sure I'll be shipping out yet another box... and again and again.

I truly wish I could do more. I even (briefly) entertained the idea of taking in an orphan, but I quickly realized just how logistically impossible that would be with my own life situation coupled with the stress and trauma a child coming from the Gulf states would be going through. When I mentioned it to my boss, he told me that "G-d blesses you a thousand times for even considering it, so many more wouldn't have bothered".

Reply to
Jenn L

"Pat P" wrote in news:N1qSe.783$ snipped-for-privacy@newsfe3-gui.ntli.net:

Those who are sheltered in Dallas/Fort Worth have free local and long distance phone service for the next three months. SBC just installed 500 phones and 500 computers with high speed internet service.

Reply to
Fay

Good for you mentioning gum or hard candy. The melting point of chocolate is around 80 degrees, so at this time of year, as much as you'd love to send chocolate for comfort, it's not going to arrive intact. I found some choc-flavored hard candies a while back ... darned if I can remember the name of them.

Reply to
Karen C - California

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