Rita Relief Efforts - An update

FROM DALLAS SATSANG

As hurricane Rita approached and the cities of Galveston, Houston &
Beaumont hundreds of thousands of people were evacuated. Hwy 45 was filled with cars as weary travelers couldn't move forward or backwards and the 4.5 hour trip became anywhere from a 15 to 24 hour trip. Satsang devotees opened up their homes to evacuees.

While awaiting Rita's arrival, the satsang continued its efforts towards Katrina Relief. Working with a community center in Garland that was serving as a temporary shelter for hurricane victims, the satsang provided Toys, books, games, & balls for the children. Upon discovering the further needs of the shelter residents, towels, plates, cups, bowls, personal hygiene items, medicines (tylenol, advil, maalox, etc.), diapers, can openers, and cooking utensils were acquired and distributed. Evacuees are also needing transportation to and from job interviews, the store, etc and so devotees have stepped up to make use of this opportunity to serve and interact more intimately with the evacuees.

The idea was also brought up that each week's satsang woud have a "theme" - one week we'd have a diaper drive, the next week- pots & pans, the next bedsheets, etc. depending on the needs of the evacuees as they move out of the shelter into area apts and homes. The satsang has found that in working with a small shelter there is more of an opportunity to actively interact and get to know the evacuees. Several Dallas area school districts have taken on Katrina- students. As the satsang members learn about the needs of the students in their area, we are individually attending to those needs as best as possible.

While we are working on these efforts, our prayers are with those brothers and sisters who are stuck on hwy 45 - unable to move forward nor return home - going hours without a RR break, running out of gas, and trying to patiently make the best of a horrible situation. When they return to their homes in Houston, Galveston, beaumont, etc. our prayers and efforts will be with them as they pick up the pieces left behind by Hurricane Rita.

The Dallas Satsang

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