This update is courtesy of Sue!
Just a quick update to those of you who specifically asked me to keep them updated. Things have been quite busy and the generosity of our community is incredible. We were able to send Deborah and her Son Gian in Baton Rouge clothing (and give some to local relief efforts as well) and a little money for their immediate needs. Annette also has received some as well. We have a few EBay items to sell that will provide enough support for them both to move the remains of their homes to where they are now living (or end up living). They were both extremely touched and reluctant to accept any gifts but I explained to them that people really feel the need to help and they each could use a little help in these tough times. They both benefited greatly in spirit as well as the security of being able to pay the bills from people's generosity. The both say thank you from the bottom of their hearts. Annette is here in Buffalo and increasingly, it's looking like Deborah and Gian will be here soon as well. Annette was able to go back into her apartment in Metairie and retrieve some items last week. Her second floor apartment only had one broken window. A neighbor of Deborah also managed to get a pass to get back into her neighborhood last week so she gave him her key to look at her place. After wading through water all around the neighborhood, unbelievably her house was also dry. They are both some of the few lucky ones and sometime in the future will be able to get their belongings.
I've heard from all kinds of people who are doing wonderful things to assist people of the gulf area- Sandra Fink, a graduate of Creative Studies is working with her local church in Rochester to bring some families to that area and her and her trained therapy dog are planning to travel to the area to assist rescue workers. She has family in Hattiesburg where Katrina made a direct hit. I'll continue to keep in touch with her to see what the needs are from her end but at this time she says the generosity of the people of Rochester has been overwhelming. Another friend of mine, Debbie Chesna from Alden anticipates traveling down with an environmental company to work in the area so I've asked her to keep me updated as well. My former principal in New Orleans is now a councilwomen in New Orleans so I will write to her and tell her to let me know if there's anything we might do for the children of New Orleans in the future. We're still waiting to get word from our friend the US Marshall to see what he knows about rebuilding efforts and ways to help. Thanks again and I'll let you know when the complete set (1967 to 1995) of the Journal of Creative Behavior's goes on EBay through the generosity of Marci Segal!
Sue
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Monday, September 05, 2005
Friends in New Orleans
September 5, 2005 7PM EST
TO; My friends, colleagues and the good people of WNY
FROM: Sue Keller-Mathers kellersm@buffalostate.edu
RE: Help for My New Orleans Friends
My dear friends Deborah and Annette in my former home of New Orleans are still in shock and I feel a great need to do what I can. The tragedy of Katrina has affected us all greatly and there are many ways so many people have reached out to help through the Red Cross and other mechanisms for giving and volunteering on a larger scale- those are the most important ways to help. All of the people of the region will need our continued support. In addition, I'm emailing you with one small way you can help three people through me if you wish to. I am going to sell items on EBay to buy supplies for and raise just a little bit of money for immediate needs of three WNY natives who lived in New Orleans. A very close friend, Deborah Misso and her son Gian, who I consider part of my family and Annette German, a former student of mine and friend (recently finished her Master's in Creativity work at BSC) are both teachers in the New Orleans Schools (and didn't get their first check of the school year when Katrina hit). They are all safe but most likely have lost everything. Deborah and her 15 year old
son are staying with friends of mine in Baton Rouge and Annette is staying with a Creative Studies graduate Valerie LaMatina here in WNY. Both Deb and her son Gian and Annette left New Orleans with not much more than the clothes on their back. Although friends and families are assisting them greatly, I'd like to reach out to all of you to take a little of the immediate burden off them if you are willing and able. I've never asked people for anything like this before so I apologize ahead of time if you take offense to requests like that but this is what I felt I needed to do. Read on if you're interested.
Thanks.
Sue Keller-Mathers
885.7445 874 Lafayette Avenue Buffalo NY 14209 kellersm@buffalostate.edu
WHAT I'M DOING AND HOW YOU CAN HELP:
EBay- My friend Brian Brennan, an EBay veteran has agreed to help me sell items on EBay. I'm looking for things that can eventually be mailed to the buyer (so they can't be really big). Good items for EBay include things like recently published books, especially textbooks, collectables/figurines/limited edition stuff, old electronics and computers, old records and record players, anything pre1985 culture related, vintage stuff, etc) If you have items, they can be dropped off at my house (or I'll pick them up if you need me to). If you're not sure if it's a good item for EBay, but want to donate, go ahead and give it to me. I can always do a garage sale later or try to figure out what to do with it to continue to do some good in this time of need.
Clothing: I've sent a large container of clothes to my friend Deborah but I didn't have any to send to her son. Her son Gian, in Baton Rouge is in need of clothing. He's a tall (5'7” or 5'8”) skinny 15 year old who takes men's small shirts to give you an idea and somewhere between a 28 and 32 waist. Any clothing (or national store gift certificates) would be greatly appreciated. Annette is on her way to New Orleans as this is written to see what is left so I'm hoping her second floor apartment outside the city will at least be dry enough to retrieve her personal items. I can update anyone who wants to keep in touch to future needs if you want me to- just let me know. Drop off any clothing at my house (874 Lafayette) and I'll mail them out to Gian (and his friend from New Orleans staying down the block).
A bit more about our WNY friends in New Orleans:
I hope Annette will find her apartment intack when she gets to Louisiana but I will keep in touch with her and find out. Annette began the long drive down to Metairie in Jefferson Parish (right outside of the city of New Orleans) tonight with a friend to see what she has left. She'll go in, take what she can and get out. Then she'll drive back here to WNY, a 22+ hour trip each way.
I was just in New Orleans three weeks ago staying at Deborah's house in the Mid City part of New Orleans near City Park. I've seen the photos of her area on TV and it's unlikely she will have anything left when she gets to go back in a month or two to see her house. Chances are they all will be staying with friends and family for quite a while and begin the long process of rebuilding their lives. Deborah and Gian may come up here eventually but for now, they are safe in the good hands of my friends Jerome and Lynn Lohmann and their three children and I try to talk to her nightly. Just to give you an idea of what's
happening in the area not more than 60 miles from New Orleans, I'm told Baton Rouge is in crisis as well, with the constant sound of helicopters over head and a small city that has many people in need come to this good city for help. There are many, many houses in the Lohmann's middle class neighborhood filled with family and friends from New Orleans. The first night Gian was there he went out in the neighborhood and found a friend from his school in New Orleans who was also staying in the neighborhood. That friend spends 90% of his time at the Lohmann's house (as the house he is staying at has 30 people from New Orleans also staying in the same house). These stories of the good people who take in others are many and are a glimmer of hope in a horrible situation.
For those of you who know that I taught in New Orleans both in the 9th ward and in the French quarter (and my husband Gordon lived there for more than two decades), you know we have many close friends in New Orleans and many memories
of the fine people of New Orleans. We've heard from some of them and will continue to track what has happened to the people of New Orleans. My husband and friends throughout the country want to go down as soon as possible to do what
ever they can when the rebuilding process starts. His close friend, a retired US Marshall in New Orleans has been in touch and will get back to Gordon with ways to help as soon as the initial crisis has passed.
If you wish, I can keep you updated on what is happening- and ways to help the region- our hearts sink when we think of the people and place we love and all the very poor people, many of whom had no way out. Just send me an email if you want to continue to know whatever I find out about ways to help and let me know if you are going to bring something to my house.
Sue
MY CONTACT INFO:
874 Lafayette Avenue Buffalo (between Delaware Avenue/Gates Circle and Linwood Ave) I'm across from the side of Millard Fillmore Gate Circle Hospital. It's the brown house with the purple sheer material on the porch. Items can even be
left under the table on the porch if you're comfortable with that as we're inand out all day or we can set up a time and make sure we're home.
My phone is: 716.885.7445 email: kellersm@buffalostate.edu
TO; My friends, colleagues and the good people of WNY
FROM: Sue Keller-Mathers kellersm@buffalostate.edu
RE: Help for My New Orleans Friends
My dear friends Deborah and Annette in my former home of New Orleans are still in shock and I feel a great need to do what I can. The tragedy of Katrina has affected us all greatly and there are many ways so many people have reached out to help through the Red Cross and other mechanisms for giving and volunteering on a larger scale- those are the most important ways to help. All of the people of the region will need our continued support. In addition, I'm emailing you with one small way you can help three people through me if you wish to. I am going to sell items on EBay to buy supplies for and raise just a little bit of money for immediate needs of three WNY natives who lived in New Orleans. A very close friend, Deborah Misso and her son Gian, who I consider part of my family and Annette German, a former student of mine and friend (recently finished her Master's in Creativity work at BSC) are both teachers in the New Orleans Schools (and didn't get their first check of the school year when Katrina hit). They are all safe but most likely have lost everything. Deborah and her 15 year old
son are staying with friends of mine in Baton Rouge and Annette is staying with a Creative Studies graduate Valerie LaMatina here in WNY. Both Deb and her son Gian and Annette left New Orleans with not much more than the clothes on their back. Although friends and families are assisting them greatly, I'd like to reach out to all of you to take a little of the immediate burden off them if you are willing and able. I've never asked people for anything like this before so I apologize ahead of time if you take offense to requests like that but this is what I felt I needed to do. Read on if you're interested.
Thanks.
Sue Keller-Mathers
885.7445 874 Lafayette Avenue Buffalo NY 14209 kellersm@buffalostate.edu
WHAT I'M DOING AND HOW YOU CAN HELP:
EBay- My friend Brian Brennan, an EBay veteran has agreed to help me sell items on EBay. I'm looking for things that can eventually be mailed to the buyer (so they can't be really big). Good items for EBay include things like recently published books, especially textbooks, collectables/figurines/limited edition stuff, old electronics and computers, old records and record players, anything pre1985 culture related, vintage stuff, etc) If you have items, they can be dropped off at my house (or I'll pick them up if you need me to). If you're not sure if it's a good item for EBay, but want to donate, go ahead and give it to me. I can always do a garage sale later or try to figure out what to do with it to continue to do some good in this time of need.
Clothing: I've sent a large container of clothes to my friend Deborah but I didn't have any to send to her son. Her son Gian, in Baton Rouge is in need of clothing. He's a tall (5'7” or 5'8”) skinny 15 year old who takes men's small shirts to give you an idea and somewhere between a 28 and 32 waist. Any clothing (or national store gift certificates) would be greatly appreciated. Annette is on her way to New Orleans as this is written to see what is left so I'm hoping her second floor apartment outside the city will at least be dry enough to retrieve her personal items. I can update anyone who wants to keep in touch to future needs if you want me to- just let me know. Drop off any clothing at my house (874 Lafayette) and I'll mail them out to Gian (and his friend from New Orleans staying down the block).
A bit more about our WNY friends in New Orleans:
I hope Annette will find her apartment intack when she gets to Louisiana but I will keep in touch with her and find out. Annette began the long drive down to Metairie in Jefferson Parish (right outside of the city of New Orleans) tonight with a friend to see what she has left. She'll go in, take what she can and get out. Then she'll drive back here to WNY, a 22+ hour trip each way.
I was just in New Orleans three weeks ago staying at Deborah's house in the Mid City part of New Orleans near City Park. I've seen the photos of her area on TV and it's unlikely she will have anything left when she gets to go back in a month or two to see her house. Chances are they all will be staying with friends and family for quite a while and begin the long process of rebuilding their lives. Deborah and Gian may come up here eventually but for now, they are safe in the good hands of my friends Jerome and Lynn Lohmann and their three children and I try to talk to her nightly. Just to give you an idea of what's
happening in the area not more than 60 miles from New Orleans, I'm told Baton Rouge is in crisis as well, with the constant sound of helicopters over head and a small city that has many people in need come to this good city for help. There are many, many houses in the Lohmann's middle class neighborhood filled with family and friends from New Orleans. The first night Gian was there he went out in the neighborhood and found a friend from his school in New Orleans who was also staying in the neighborhood. That friend spends 90% of his time at the Lohmann's house (as the house he is staying at has 30 people from New Orleans also staying in the same house). These stories of the good people who take in others are many and are a glimmer of hope in a horrible situation.
For those of you who know that I taught in New Orleans both in the 9th ward and in the French quarter (and my husband Gordon lived there for more than two decades), you know we have many close friends in New Orleans and many memories
of the fine people of New Orleans. We've heard from some of them and will continue to track what has happened to the people of New Orleans. My husband and friends throughout the country want to go down as soon as possible to do what
ever they can when the rebuilding process starts. His close friend, a retired US Marshall in New Orleans has been in touch and will get back to Gordon with ways to help as soon as the initial crisis has passed.
If you wish, I can keep you updated on what is happening- and ways to help the region- our hearts sink when we think of the people and place we love and all the very poor people, many of whom had no way out. Just send me an email if you want to continue to know whatever I find out about ways to help and let me know if you are going to bring something to my house.
Sue
MY CONTACT INFO:
874 Lafayette Avenue Buffalo (between Delaware Avenue/Gates Circle and Linwood Ave) I'm across from the side of Millard Fillmore Gate Circle Hospital. It's the brown house with the purple sheer material on the porch. Items can even be
left under the table on the porch if you're comfortable with that as we're inand out all day or we can set up a time and make sure we're home.
My phone is: 716.885.7445 email: kellersm@buffalostate.edu
Thursday, September 01, 2005
Housing Help for Katrina Victims
Hi! I'm passing this along.. this organization came to my attention from jameslovin1 of Jossing Around Maybe there is someone out there who can participate in this.
Dear MoveOn member,
Hurricane Katrina's toll on communities, homes and lives has devastated the nation. Now victims must face the daunting question of where to go next—and we can help.
Tens of thousands of newly homeless families are being bused to a stadium in Houston, where they may wait for weeks or months. At least 80,000 are competing for area shelters, and countless more are in motels, cars, or wherever they can stay out of the elements. The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Red Cross are scrambling to find shelter for the displaced.
This morning, we've launched an emergency national housing drive to connect your empty beds with hurricane victims who desperately need a place to wait out the storm. You can post your offer of housing (a spare room, extra bed, even a decent couch) and search for available housing online at:
http://www.hurricanehousing.org
Housing is most urgently needed within reasonable driving distance (about 300 miles) of the affected areas in the Southeast, especially New Orleans.
Please forward this message to anyone you know in the region who might be able to help.
But no matter where you live, your housing could still make a world of difference to a person or family in need, so please offer what you can.
The process is simple:
You can sign up to become a host by posting a description of whatever housing you have available, along with contact information. You can change or remove your offer at any time.
Hurricane victims, local and national relief organizations, friends and relatives can search the site for housing. We'll do everything we can to get your offers where they are needed most. Many shelters actually already have Internet access, but folks without 'net access can still make use of the site through case workers and family members.
Hurricane victims or relief agencies will contact hosts and together decide if it's a good match and make the necessary travel arrangements. The host's address is not released until a particular match is agreed on.
If hosting doesn't work for you, please consider donating to the Red Cross to help with the enormous tasks of rescue and recovery. You can give online at:
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=859
As progressives, we share a core belief that we are all in this together, and today is an important chance to put that idea to work. There are thousands of families who have just lost everything and need a place to stay dry. Let's do what we can to help.
http://www.hurricanehousing.org
Thanks for being there when it matters most.
—Noah Winer and the whole MoveOn.org Civic Action Team Thursday, September 1st, 2005
Dear MoveOn member,
Hurricane Katrina's toll on communities, homes and lives has devastated the nation. Now victims must face the daunting question of where to go next—and we can help.
Tens of thousands of newly homeless families are being bused to a stadium in Houston, where they may wait for weeks or months. At least 80,000 are competing for area shelters, and countless more are in motels, cars, or wherever they can stay out of the elements. The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Red Cross are scrambling to find shelter for the displaced.
This morning, we've launched an emergency national housing drive to connect your empty beds with hurricane victims who desperately need a place to wait out the storm. You can post your offer of housing (a spare room, extra bed, even a decent couch) and search for available housing online at:
http://www.hurricanehousing.org
Housing is most urgently needed within reasonable driving distance (about 300 miles) of the affected areas in the Southeast, especially New Orleans.
Please forward this message to anyone you know in the region who might be able to help.
But no matter where you live, your housing could still make a world of difference to a person or family in need, so please offer what you can.
The process is simple:
You can sign up to become a host by posting a description of whatever housing you have available, along with contact information. You can change or remove your offer at any time.
Hurricane victims, local and national relief organizations, friends and relatives can search the site for housing. We'll do everything we can to get your offers where they are needed most. Many shelters actually already have Internet access, but folks without 'net access can still make use of the site through case workers and family members.
Hurricane victims or relief agencies will contact hosts and together decide if it's a good match and make the necessary travel arrangements. The host's address is not released until a particular match is agreed on.
If hosting doesn't work for you, please consider donating to the Red Cross to help with the enormous tasks of rescue and recovery. You can give online at:
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=859
As progressives, we share a core belief that we are all in this together, and today is an important chance to put that idea to work. There are thousands of families who have just lost everything and need a place to stay dry. Let's do what we can to help.
http://www.hurricanehousing.org
Thanks for being there when it matters most.
—Noah Winer and the whole MoveOn.org Civic Action Team Thursday, September 1st, 2005
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