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        New Message Board Archives >> 2005 General Board Posts >> Need Help!!!! (Update 9-19)
        
(Message started by: catlind on Sep 16^th, 2005, 9:34pm)

Title: Need Help!!!! (Update 9-19)
Post by catlind on Sep 16^th, 2005, 9:34pm

Update:
Ok, just heard from Wardell. His wife is coming to Omaha on the train. The train fare is going to be $190. He went ahead and booked it on his debit card from the Red Cross. He told me that he had $361 left on his card, and Amtrak gave him a discount on the fare down to $150. This is all the money he has at the moment, he doesn't have access to his bank accounts yet. He went this morning to look at a 1 bdrm apt. here in Omaha and he is now able to start looking at a place to live and getting job. He wasn't able to do any of this before because he was so concerned about his wife.

Clark and I are getting some clothing together for Wardell and his wife, and we are going to pay for her train fare to get her here as well. If anyone is interested in donating to this family please email me and I will email you with the details on how to contribute and what sort of 'accounting' I can give to show that they received the money. You can either mail a check to me or paypal to catlind@cox.net, any amount is helpful and welcome, however no one is under any obligation or pressure to contribute. This is entirely voluntary and I will have Wardell sign each contribution and scan them so everyone knows the money was used for it's intended purpose. I know all to well that clusterheads are short on cash in order to pay for treatments.

Thanks again everyone for helping out in this. Wardell is just ecstatic now that he has found his wife and she is on her way here to be with him. I will drive him over to the train station to pick her up for the reunion.

Original Post:
Ok, everyone out there who wants to help with those affected by hurricane Katrina, here's your chance.

I was in WalMart here in Omaha yesterday, and we met an evacuee from New Orleans. The gentleman's name is Wardell Camper and he has been brought to Omaha by the red cross. He has not spoken to his wife since he had her leave the city after the hurricane. Through a relative he found out that she is in Arlington Texas. He has not been able to locate her through the Red Cross as of yet. Anyone at all, ANYONE who is in the Texas region and might have some way of finding some information for us would be GREATLY appreciated. We are helping this man out by providing him with some clothing and a few home cooked meals, and just showing him some general military and midwest hospitality. We are also looking into getting him travel arrangements to Arlington if we can't locate his wife so that he can hit the streets and search the shelters to find her. We will pay for his bus fare or air fare (if we can get a discount through the military agents) out of our own pockets to help this man reunite with his wife.

His wife's name is Evelyn Camper, but the only ID she had with her at the time of evacuation had her maiden name on it, which is Evelyn Birch. This couple lost absolutely everything. Yes, there are thousands of people who lost everything, and I've donated my share to the red cross, but this is not a faceless victim, this is a man whose eyes I've looked into and seen the despair and sadness at the pain he is suffering from not finding his family. As of now he still has not heard, nor has anyone else, heard from 2 of his brothers. The least we (Clark and I) can do is to try everything in our power to reunite this man with his wife to lessen his suffering.

If you are anywhere near the Arlington area, can you please canvas the shelters, contact your churches, call the news stations, anything, to help us locate this mans wife.

If you find any information at all, please contact me at catlind@cox.net or call me on my cell phone at 402-290-1941.

It would bring great joy to me to be able to show this family the love and support of the cluster community with something far more substantial than a t-shirt.

Thanks in advance for anything anyone can do.

Cat

Title: Re: Need Help!!!!
Post by Grandma_Sweet_Boy on Sep 16^th, 2005, 9:40pm

Oh Cat - that's such a sad story. I really hope someone can help that poor man.

Good luck with what you're trying to do for him.

Carol

Title: Re: Need Help!!!!
Post by LeLimey on Sep 17^th, 2005, 3:15am

Bumping for everyone to see.
Cat I think you are a star - I hope someone can help. 've emailed this to two friends in Texas both of whom are in law enforcement so hopefully we can get someone to help!

Title: Re: Need Help!!!!
Post by Jonny on Sep 17^th, 2005, 4:43am

Renny (From this board) not only lives in Arlington...she works for one of the major airlines. She dont post much but hopfully she will see this thread.

.....................................jonny

Title: Re: Need Help!!!!
Post by Svenn on Sep 17^th, 2005, 4:55am

Cat

I have tears in my eyes reading that story

You definatly has to be an angel

Praying for you and the victims down there and for a soon reunite with his wife

Thank you for telling us this Cat

Svenn

Title: Re: Need Help!!!!
Post by Sean_C on Sep 17^th, 2005, 6:56am

:'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(

Title: Re: Need Help!!!!
Post by Grandma_Sweet_Boy on Sep 17^th, 2005, 8:39am

Bump

Title: Re: Need Help!!!!
Post by Donna_D. on Sep 17^th, 2005, 8:45am

Cat,

I just saw this...Arlington is not that far from where I live.

I will do the best I can to help.

DD

Title: Re: Need Help!!!!
Post by catlind on Sep 17^th, 2005, 10:12am

I was up until 4 a.m. searching on the net and I FOUND HIS WIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just got back from giving him her contact information. She is at the North Davis Church of Christ in Arlington. Well, I should qualify that, an Evelyn Birch, who happens to have the same mother as Wardell's wife is at that shelter. It's a pretty safe bet it's the right lady :) I've called the shelter and given Wardell's contact info to them there, and drove over to see him this morning and gave him her contact info!!! I think the only experience I've EVER had that is close to the feeling I have right now was giving birth. Is there hope for humanity??? You bet your ass there is!!!!!!!!

Thank you so much EVERYONE for all your help. I would ask you to please keep your lines of communication open in case this isn't the right lady, but send out the vibes, prayers and any other stuff that it is :)

Cat

Title: Re: Need Help!!!! (Update)
Post by Melissa on Sep 17^th, 2005, 10:18am

WOOOOHOOOO CAT!!! [smiley=thumb.gif]

That is GREAT news!! ;;D ;;D ;;D

:)mel

Title: Re: Need Help!!!! (Update)
Post by Grandma_Sweet_Boy on Sep 17^th, 2005, 10:33am

That's great news, Cat. Way to go!!!

Title: Re: Need Help!!!!
Post by Pinkfloyd on Sep 17^th, 2005, 10:40am

on 09/17/05 at 10:12:46, catlind wrote:

I FOUND HIS WIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cat

Hell, I found a song online last night that I'd been looking for, and I thought I was good. ::)

Way to go Cat.....you're "the man"...so to speak! ;;D
Very Cool.

Bobw

Title: Re: Need Help!!!! (Update)
Post by Karla on Sep 17^th, 2005, 11:44am

Way to go! God bless you!

Title: Re: Need Help!!!! (Update)
Post by sassy_lady on Sep 17^th, 2005, 11:49am

GREAT JOB CAT!!!! ;;D ;;D ;;D
YOU gave me goose bumps!!!!
God Bless you Sweety!!!
Lots of Love Jolene

Title: Re: Need Help!!!! (Update)
Post by sandie99 on Sep 17^th, 2005, 12:18pm

Cat, that's wonderful! :)
Great job!

Sanna

Title: Re: Need Help!!!! (Update)
Post by Jonny on Sep 17^th, 2005, 12:31pm

[smiley=headbanger.gif] [smiley=me&mb.gif] [smiley=headbanger.gif] [smiley=shore.gif]

Title: Re: Need Help!!!! (Update)
Post by Carl_D on Sep 17^th, 2005, 6:19pm

AWESOME!

It is always good to hear something like this after such a major catastrophe. My friend Michelle volunteered in Houston and just came back yesterday. Her emails were hard to read though. So many tragic stories. I am still awaiting word on a couple of folks so it has been in my forethoughts and prayers.

:'(

Title: Re: Need Help!!!! (Update)
Post by TxBasslady on Sep 17^th, 2005, 8:21pm

Cat,

I knew when you and I talked on the phone about this last night that you would find her!!! ;;D

You have such determination 8)

Hey girl!!! Just 4 more months and I'll see you in Davenport!

Love you a bunch,

Jean

Title: Re: Need Help!!!! (Update)
Post by Sean_C on Sep 17^th, 2005, 8:59pm

Cat there's a spot for you in heaven you know ;;D

Your one of a kind ;;D

Cheers [smiley=me&mb.gif]

Sean...................................

Title: Re: Need Help!!!! (Update)
Post by Ree on Sep 18^th, 2005, 7:15pm

You are wonderful Cat... good for you honey... kiss him for me and tell him wooooooohoooooo... now how will he get to his wife??????? love ree

Title: Re: Need Help!!!! (Update)
Post by Charlie on Sep 18^th, 2005, 7:25pm

Nice, wonderful and terrific.

http://www.kolobok.wrg.ru/smiles/standart/yahoo.gif?SSImageQuality=Full

Damn. I miss all the good stuff.

Yer great. http://www.netsync.net/users/charlies/gifs/goodjob.gif

Charlie

Title: Re: Need Help!!!! (Update)
Post by catlind on Sep 18^th, 2005, 7:57pm

on 09/18/05 at 19:15:08, Ree wrote:

now how will he get to his wife??????? love ree

We are waiting to hear back from Wardell as to whether his wife wants to come here to Omaha, and then if the red cross will pay for the travel costs either to bring her here or to send him there. We expect that won't work out so well, so we are going to pay for his airfare to either get him down there or her up here. We will probably go to Clark's unit at the base and ask if they would be willing to contribute $10 each to help pay the fare. We aren't rich by any stretch, but we are more than happy to carry the majority of the cost, but are hoping that his unit will be able to help contribute. It's just too important to me to see this thing through to the end, reuniting Wardell and his wife Evelyn in person. A couple people suggested we consider calling the news stations here and seeing if they will pay for her fare to get her in Omaha for a human interest story. The main problem with that is that it would involve me explaining my side of the story and I didn't do this for any sort of media attention or anything like that, and I am content to have helped this family from the background. I don't do so well in the spotlight.

I really can't find the right words to describe how amazing this experience has been. Seeing the look on Wardell's face when I told him we found his wife is way more reward for doing this than anything. It was such an awesome thing, I was so excited when I found her brother at 4 a.m. that I was jumping up and down and yelling "Clark I found her, I found her!!!" hehe. He didn't appreciate being woken up at that hour but he was just as excited. Then when we got confirmation from the North Davis Church of Christ on Sat. a.m. that Evelyn was in fact there, I actually started to cry :)

It's easy to go through life minding your own business and contributing financially to help the Katrina survivors, and that is definitely important and needed, but if anyone finds themselves with an opportunity to help these folks on a personal level, do it. The feeling you get is truly priceless.

Cat

Title: Re: Need Help!!!! (Update)
Post by Cathi04 on Sep 18^th, 2005, 9:20pm

Cat-Would it be possible for those here who wished to contribute????
Let us know the details, please?

Cathi

Title: Re: Need Help!!!! (Update)
Post by catlind on Sep 18^th, 2005, 9:31pm

Cathi, once I know the details I'll go ahead and post them. I'm sure that anyone who wishes to contribute would not be turned away, but I don't know yet what the plans are. Once I know what he wants to do, then I will let everyone know and something can be sorted out from there.

Thanks so much :)

Cat

Title: Re: Need Help!!!! (Update)
Post by Jasmyn on Sep 19^th, 2005, 4:14am

Cat

GREAT JOB! WELL DONE!

[smiley=thumb.gif]

Title: Re: Need Help!!!! (Update)
Post by LeLimey on Sep 19^th, 2005, 6:12am

Well done from me too! Reading how this is going has made my day.
Thank you :)

Title: Re: Need Help!!!! (Update)
Post by catlind on Sep 19^th, 2005, 12:49pm

Ok, just heard from Wardell. His wife is coming to Omaha on the train. The train fare is going to be $190. He went ahead and booked it on his debit card from the Red Cross. He told me that he had $361 left on his card, and Amtrak gave him a discount on the fare down to $150. This is all the money he has at the moment, he doesn't have access to his bank accounts yet. He went this morning to look at a 1 bdrm apt. here in Omaha and he is now able to start looking at a place to live and getting job. He wasn't able to do any of this before because he was so concerned about his wife.

Clark and I are getting some clothing together for Wardell and his wife, and we are going to pay for her train fare to get her here as well. If anyone is interested in donating to this family please email me and I will email you with the details on how to contribute and what sort of 'accounting' I can give to show that they received the money.

Thanks again everyone for helping out in this. Wardell is just ecstatic now that he has found his wife and she is on her way here to be with him. I will drive him over to the train station to pick her up for the reunion. If there was a way I could let the news stations know about the reunion without me being included I'd do it in a heart beat so that people can see some good news after such a catastrophe.

Cat

Title: Re: Need Help!!!! (Update)
Post by Frank_W on Sep 19^th, 2005, 12:53pm

FANTASTIC!! Hooray!! :)

Title: Re: Need Help!!!! (Update)
Post by Redd715 on Sep 19^th, 2005, 1:32pm

Cat,

You can simply request that they make the story about the reunion and that certain private partys who helped to make this possible wish to remain annonomus. The story should be one about hope for the victims...

Title: Re: Need Help!!!! (Update 9-19)
Post by catlind on Sep 19^th, 2005, 5:29pm

Pegg, yes I could say it is wanted to be done anonymously, but I'm fairly sure that Wardell would insist on naming us and I don't like that kind of spotlight. I may consider the human interest story only if contributions from CH'ers could be included because it would get press exposure for sufferers. I'll wait and see how things go :)

Cat

Title: Re: Need Help!!!! (Update 9-19)
Post by catlind on Sep 21^st, 2005, 7:33am

Bump

We've raised $115 so far :) :) :)

Cat