Domingo Soto: Because Freedom Isn't Dumb

REPORT FROM CAMP KATRINA
There was an article on the front page of the Living Section today about Camp Katrina you might want to read. It will give you a pretty clear indication of how dire the situation is there.
We left the office a little before 7:30 and got there a little before 10. The functioning entity down there is the Christian Life Church in Orange Beach, along with some help from 2 other churches, I believe which are also from Baldwin County. There was no Red Cross presence that I saw and virtually no real FEMA assistance. There were some FEMA reps walking around and there was a lengthy line to file forms for assistance, but nothing being done by either organization to feed, house or supply people. That is what the Christian Life Church is doing.
We had a 26' foot truck from Flowerwood nursery substantially filled with supplies we bought based on the shopping list they gave us. I had been in touch with them on the ground there, and they told us exactly what was needed. Needless to say, we were very well received. We had tents, sleeping bags, air matresses, pillows, new clothing, radios, batteries, personal supplies, a ton of large cans of vegetables, beans, fruits, gatorade etc It went straight from our truck to the CL tent and then distributed to those in need. No wasted effort and no wasted time. In fact, all the tents,bags etc were gone almost by the time we finished unpacking. I can promise you there was and will not be a waste of assets or money in what we sent down there. On most of the stuff we also go very good discounts. For example, the Coleman outlet gave us 30% off on almost everything we bought.
When we finished unloading (and even some of our staff while the unloading was taken place) started assisting in unpacking and organizing supplies. It took us a little over an hour to unload the truck with about 8 of us doing it. Then we manned the kitchen for lunch from about 11 to 2:30. There were about 8 of us helping there out of 10 or 12 folks. Obviously they also need volunteers. If we had not been there today to help they would have been overwhelmed. The people we fed and gave drinks to were very thankful for our help. It was a very good, rewarding experience.
(FORWARDED BY RICHARD DORMAN, Cunningham, Bounds)