Praying for Oklahoma

On Monday May20, 2013 the nation watched as the town of Moore, Oklahoma was devastated by a deadly tornado. Here are just a few of the pictures media and others caught that day:

I am not currenlty in Oklahoma as a volunteer with the Red Cross. The pictures showing Red Cross volunteers are from their local chapter. I have updated my status so that I can deploy if they need additional volunteers.

GOD BLESS TEACHERS... a teacher in Moore, Oklahoma finds one of the students in his class, that he thought he'd lost in Monday's tornado.

From the Moore Community Shelter in Moore, OK. Pictures from damaged areas.

And please don't forget about all the lost pets! Pets are family too!

One thing we know for sure and that is in time of need Americans pull together to help each other out. That has certainly happened this week for those affected not just in Oklahoma but Texas, Missouri and other states where dangerous storms passed through this week. The media focus was primarily on Oklahoma because of the mass casualties including young students who parished while at school where there was no reinforced tornado shelter available. Rather than focus on blame, most Americans chose to open their hearts and wallets to help.

Although Kansas City was not affected directly by the severe weather on Monday other than some hail and high winds, Kansas Citians rose to the challenge to help those affected elsewhere. Numerous efforts began to collect money, bottled water and donations. One particular event included a telethon. KMBC Channel 9 (Kansas City) and H&R Block teamed up to host a telethon from 5-10:30pm Tuesday May 22, 2013 to benefit the victims affected by tornados in Oklahoma and Texas. The telethon was set up at H&R Blocks call center to raise money for the Red Cross specifically to assist those impacted by the tornados in Oklahoma and Texas. Way to go Kansas City for raising over $46,000 for the relief efforts! That number will actually climb once the mail-in donations are recieved. Folks could donate by credit card the night of the telethon or mail in a check. I joined fellow Red Cross volunteers as well as H&R Block employees to help man the phones during the telethon. We recieved well over 800 calls! Callers wanted to help in anyway they could and they certainly did that! Donations ranged from $10 to $1000. Every donation is appreciated. The calls came from all over Kansas City including Lenexa, Overland Park, Bonner Springs to name a few from the Kansas side and of course Kansas City, Sedalia, Maryville, Blue Springs, etc from the Missouri side. Thank you Kansas City!                                         

Here are some of my fellow Red Cross Volunteers in action at the telethon:

Linda Leach and I partner up on Thursday evenings to provide DAT coverage for KC. DATs respond to local emergencies such as fires, floods and yes... tornados!

Sherri Odell is one of our amazing volunteers that does everything from Logisitics to DAT to media relations! You may have caught her interview live from the telethon during the 9pm KMBC Channel 9 newscast.

If you look closely you can see Darren Ashlock under the Free Sign.

I did my best to avoid the cameras but I hear that some of my friends spotted me on the news anyway. Oh well, at least they caught my good side (backside)! :)  Have I mentioned how proud I am to be a Red Cross Volunteer?

Didn't catch the telethon and still want to make a donation? You still can! People who wish to make a donation can support American Red Cross Disaster Relief, which helps provide food, shelter and emotional support to those affected by disasters like the recent tornadoes in Oklahoma and Texas as well as disasters big and small throughout the United States by visiting redcross.org, dialing 1-800-REDCROSS or texting REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. You can visit the Red Cross facebook page for more information.

Currently, there many opportunties in the Kansas City area to help including a water bottle drive hosted by KCTV5 as well as an upcoming Royals game where donations will be accepted.

                         

"Take 5 to Care: Helping Oklahoma" launched at noon Tuesday. You can take your bottled water to their studio at 4500 Shawnee Mission Parkway in Fairway, KS until midnight Wednesday May 22, 2013.

                                  

Royals Charities will support local relief efforts for Moore, Okla., with a $10,000 donation to Heart to Heart International. In addition, the Royals will host fundraising efforts during the home series against Angels, May 23-26. All in-stadium fundraising will be directed to the American Red Cross. How to help: http://atmlb.com/10TFKOx.

Before making a donation please verify the organization is valid. Unfortunately with disasters comes thiefs, thugs and scammers. For official information from Moore Oklahoma, please visit their Facebook Page. https://www.facebook.com/cityofmoore. Please check with officials before volunteering or sending any donations.

And please if you haven't done so already and you live in tornado alley... please download the tornado app from the Red Cross. It's one of many useful resources during bad weather!

Be safe!