OT - plus sized clothing donations needed for Katrina Victims

Wendy, where (geographically) are these folks? Winter in, say, Houston would be different from that in your locale or mine(upper midwest). Fleece, down, and turtlenecks, or just long sleeves?

TIA!

--Karen D.

What is the "SF" community? Never heard of it. Also, our shelter closed last week as the victims went home or relocated. If they've been in your area this long they should already have jobs to buy clothes.

"Salvation Army junk? Excuse me, but all the Salvation Army stores have stuff better than what's in the department stores. They will not accept anything that is not practically new with tags on it! If furniture donations are not in almost pristine condition, those are not accepted either.

Freezing???? Where are you?? The Yukon??

Science fiction.

So? Does that mean that it doesn't exist, or that it's not worthy of assistance?

*Yours* may have, but the group that Wendy is requesting aid for is not in an "official" shelter.

And where were they relocated to? Another shelter? and "went home" or "sent home"?

FWIW, Wendy is fairly well known in the SF community, and Misty and Larry are even more well-known. It's not a scam. It's a group of loosely affiliated people taking care of other people in their group who are in need of assistance. Does this make it "less worthy" than your Official Shelter which closed down last week? (Realise that one of the reasons your Official Shelter was able to close is that there are groups like the one Wendy is working with who are able to take in some of the people "relocated" when your Shelter closed.)

Maybe where you are, but I tend to see lots of junk in SA/StV/etc stores, especially in the plus sizes. More well-to-do areas have nicer stuff. You must live in a fairly well-to-do area.

Chicago. Ever been there in November? It's frequently below freezing, and damp, and windy. And if you're from the South, where it rarely, if ever, gets cold and damp and windy all at the same time.....

jenn

-- Jenn Ridley : snipped-for-privacy@chartermi.net

Ask Deborah at snipped-for-privacy@aol.com

She is treading a fine line between "enough info to get what they need" to "enangering their privacy".

WZ

Veloise wrote:

SF Community = Science Fiction fans.

Since we're usually geeks of one stripe or another, we tend to form stronger relationships with other fans than we do with our own families, who often do not understand us. As a result we try to "take care of our own.

More info on what we've done can be found at

orwww.gryphonking.com If you read the message I posted, you see that these people HAVE jobs, and they HAVE some clothing. Unfortunately what they have is "Salvation Army junk", not suitable work attire. If you lost everything you owned and all you have to wear is ratty jeans and Wal-Mart T-shirts, it will be that much harder to KEEP that job. Also, having a work wardrobe goes one step further towards a return to "normal life". Thirdly, these people are "non-standard sizes" which means that professional work clothing is harder to find and more expensive.

All I am asking is that if you are those sizes or know someone who is, ask them to consider a bit of closet-cleaning. If they don;t wear it often, someone else will and be happy for the priviledge.

I am not in that size range and I am unemployed, so the amount of help I can give directly is limited. I donated a bunch of sz 14-16 clothing, blankets and sleeping bags, and luggage, but I can't really do much to help these particular people what they need - except spread the word to help find a few folks who can do more.

------------------------------------------------------ Wendy Z Chicago, IL (Moo) Wench Wear Costumes

#525 AIM=wendylady525"Though she be but little, she is fierce""It's the little ones you have to watch out for...""I'm not short - I'm concentrated"--------------------------------------------------------

I have two sisters, a brother, and several nieces & nephews living in the New Orleans area, a nephew in Waveland, MS, plus family in MS where Katrina went right through the towns they live, but I've never heard of an SF community. One sister lost a lot of things because she had almost 2 feet of contaminated water in the house. When they arrived here in Houston, they realized it would be more than a couple days before they could go home, so we went to the Salvation Army store and a couple thrift stores and found some nice clothing very reasonable. They are rebuilding their home with the help from FEMA, Red Cross and the insurance company. The same with all the others.

The nephew and family in Waveland lost their home to a fire two weeks before Katrina. They had just got settled in a mobile home when the storm surge washed it away. Within a week, he and the two older children were back at their jobs. His wife isn't working because the storm surge also washed away the business. They have been helped as much as the ones in New Orleans and several churches have sent volunteers to help. I asked the other day if they needed any clothing, his wife said everyone has been so generous, they are doing well. She took her sewing machine in the van when they left, it was a new one, so she has altered clothing donated to them. The Salvation Army has set up a site in Bay St. Louis/Waveland and has some very good clothing, according to my nephew.

Right now, they still are using the a/c because it has been so very warm, same as Houston. One night, it did get down to 39, but today, it is in the

80s with last night lows of 69. By Wednesday, it may get down in the 40s and by Thursday night, it may be in the 30s. Emily

I did not say _nor_ imply that the shelter she was speaking of is unworthy. I was questioning what the SF stood for. When someone comes in and speaks in abbreviations, ALL of us are not privy to that persons jargon.

The victims ON THEIR OWN decided to go home although some decided they liked it here and wanted to make their new home here.

How nice.

I didn't say it was a scam. You're reading too much into my post.

No one but you has said anything about a shelter being "worthy" or "less worthy."

You're blowing smoke, you have no idea what you are talking about. Our shelter closed because the people decided to go home on their own to rebuild and help rebuild. Others liked it here and decided to start their lives over here and are most welcome.

Read another post. Someone else has said how nice the stuff is at their Salvation Army.

Wrong once again. It frequently gets cold, windy, and damp here and all at the same time.

Wendy, I will see what I can do to help. Misty and Larry have been long time companions of mine 9at least in book form!) and even if your message hadn't gotten my attention, th eir names alone would have. Will get back to you in a few days or so.

Larisa

zski wrote:

That's all I'm looking for! Thanks so much.

------------------------------------------------------ Wendy Z Chicago, IL (Moo) Wench Wear Costumes

#525 AIM=wendylady525"Though she be but little, she is fierce""It's the little ones you have to watch out for...""I'm not short - I'm concentrated"--------------------------------------------------------

Wendy, I re-read your letter after SF was explained and I reached the conclusion that these people must have been relocated because of KATRINA since you said they need wool/winter clothing and are freezing in summer clothing. My siblings said if they were on the Gulf Coast right now, they'd be wearing the lightest clothing possible because it has been so warm, like here. That is changing fast though since the first cold front is moving through as I write and it might actually go down to 45 here, but I'm not sure about the AL/MS/LA coast. I am sorry I don't have any nor do I know any one who has clothing in those sizes, especially woolens. Emily

And I'm trying to get in touch with family/friends who have thinned down a bit...BEFORE they ship their clothes out elsewhere. Not having too much luck, though

Larisa

Again, thanks to all who are hitting up relatives and friends in the appropriate sizes. That's all I had hoped for. So far I've tracked down a former sz 8 from the Wenches Guild who needed an excuse to closet clean, and two folks who may be able to help out the 3X lady.

If, as most people joke, I "know everyone". then i should use my powers for good!

CNY/VAstitcher wrote:>

A

I only have one set of clothes left from that era... and those are my 'never going back THERE again' WW story clothes! Now I'm within 10 lbs of my goal weight it's getting haaaaaard!