MetroBoston Katrina Relief

This information is from an email recently received from this group. It may not be up to date, so please contact the group first.

NOLA Supply Drop Spots
We are an informal group of concerned citizens that have banded together to supply the Red Cross's smaller shelters just outside of New Orleans (NOLA). We jumped into action when earlier this week, we learned from my niece, who is working with the main headquarters in Lafayette LA that these small shelters were not being supplied. After several calls to "established" relief supply chains, it because clear that it could be a week before these shelters were supplied. So we started sending medical supplies and
toiletries (diapers, etc) via Fed Ex.

You can help by providing:

- donations (for fuel to NOLA, toiletries, medical supplies)
- toiletry and household items (see list below)
- help gathering and packing
- operations help at the drop sites (sorting and loading boxes, Friday
night and Saturday)
- sending Fed Ex boxes with medical supplies and toiletries

+ News from the front

1. The Red Cross in Lafayette says that they still have virtually nothing to work with. All of the large relief supply chains are supplying the larger shelters like the AstroDome. The hundreds of churches still have nothing. She is happy to distribute things once they get to her. She says that if clothes keep coming in the way that they have been that she'll be all set for clothes starting next week, so please switch gears to provide more household goods, like linens, towels, small tables, etc. Toiletries are still greatly needed as are toys and children's furniture.

2. KISS108 will be broadcasting the effort, and will sponsor a drop site in their parking lot.

3. We have a semi-truck driver and truck all set to go. It's probably on its way from Springfield right now. Donations have now amounted to enough to send the truck.

4. We have a warehouse in Lafayette LA and people ready to unload and distribute.

+ Monetary Donations

1. Go to: www.paypal.com, recipient is boston-nola@lycos.com
2. Go to: www.ottosangels.com
3. Send a check to Terra Friedrichs at 2 Wright Terrace, Acton, MA 01720

+ Fed Ex

If you want to buy toiletries and put them into a large FedEx box, we have the address and contact information for you to overnight deliver. This is what's needed the most...right now, real time.

+ Packaging Instructions, for deliveries to drop sites:

The truckers ask that we have everything in boxes, COVERED boxes, that can be stacked. They will refuse anything that is not boxed. They have to do this or they can't keep their schedules. And these trucks are REALLY expensive and we need to do the best we can to keep them moving.

The relief workers ask that we have the boxes marked: Men Clothing, Women Clothing, Kids Clothing, Baby stuff, toys, etc.

See the list below for what items they need most. NOTE that toiletries need to be NEW. Clothes need to be clean and VERY dry. If they are damp, they mildew faster than we can deliver.

+ Drop Sites:

a. Acton High School: 8-8 weekdays
b. East Boston, 6-9 Thursday, write for the address.
b. Carlisle Common: Saturday, hours unknown
c. KISS108 parking lot, Rt 16 Medford, 9-6 both Saturday and Sunday

+ Items of Need

I've *starred* the items that have been requested from the most locations. We'll know more each day, when the people down there check the boxes and tell us what they still don't have.

Household goods
* Linens
* Towels
* Small tables/furniture

Non-Perishable Food Items
Milk (powdered, canned, non-refridgerated, Parmalat)
* Baby Formula
* Cheerio's / O's for toddlers
Special Needs Diets (non-sugar, non-salt)

Toiletries
* Undergarments for Bladder Control
* Feminine Products (tampons, pads)
* Toothpaste
* Toothbrushes
* Floss
* Sunscreen
* Shampoo
Razors
Shaving Cream
Combs
* Hairpicks
Brush
Antiseptic Mouthwash
* Deodorant
* Eye care (saline)
Handi-wipes
Bar Soap
Conditioner
Products for Black hair
Non-abrasive skin creams (face/neck/elbows)
* Body Lotion
Body Powder
Toilet paper
Tissues
Eye Glass, Eye Contacts Cleaner
Denture Cleaner, Bond

First Aid Supplies
* aspirin
* baby aspirin
* band aids (strips to pads, all sizes)
* alcohol
* betadine
* mosquito repellant
peroxide
ben-gay , menthol vick's cream
insect bite anti-itch cream
cotton balls
Cotton Swabs/Qtips
Sterile gauze
Alka-Selzer
Milk of Magnesia, Pepto Bismol
Epsom Salts
antibiotic creams
Cold/Heat Wraps
Compresses
Sewing Kit

Baby Items
* Disposable diapers
* Wet wipes
Shampoo
powder
A&D Desitin
Bibs
blankets
Onesies
* toys

Men's Items
* Briefs
* Socks
T-shirts
Boxers

Women's Items
Feminine Products
* pads
* tampons
* new or gently used, but very clean bras
* new undies
Over-the-counter medicine (Monistat, Motrin, Tylenol, Advil)
Hair bands, ponytail bands
Hair pins

Children's Items
* Clothes
* Underwear
* Socks
* Shoes
* books/small toys/pacifiers
* bottles

School Supplies
* Notebooks
* Pencils, Pens
Pencil cases
Erasers
Glue
Tape
Safety scissors
Rulers
Looseleaf
Binders
Folders

Entertainment
Cards
Board Games
Puzzles
Crayons
Coloring books
Movies for children
Story books
Watercolors
Play-Doh
Construction Paper
Scratch Pads

* Cape Evacuee News

The Otis AFB effort to bring in evacuees is on hold. The evacuees from the large shelters (like the AstroDome) would not get on the plane. They want to be closer to NOLA to look for family, etc. "Too far, too cold," is the phrase I heard. The relief people are extending the offer now to churches, etc and are likely to have "takers" later in the week. Because this effort is not "real time", we are switching gears to focus on getting supplies to NOLA. So please ignore previous emails about getting warm clothes to drop sites. We will take what's already in the pipeline because the families that are on their way to New England will need these clothes. But please switch gears to NOLA supply chain (see information above). The cape distribution points are resorting/boxing clothes to send summer clothes to NOLA. A truck is picking up boxes tonight. If you want information on
where, please contact Terra Friedrichs. terraf@compuserve.com. There are some 100 boxes coming from that location.