Hello And A Request

[Marie-Therese]

Hi guys. I know I haven't posted in quite some time, but I want to ask you all a favour which is very important to me.

Most everyone is aware of the tornadoes that destroyed much of the south about a week ago, but the hardest hit was my state, Alabama. The largest of the tornadoes, the one which destroyed most of Tuscaloosa, missed me by 5 miles. I cannot begin to convey to you the breadth of the destruction. I have spoken with relief workers who worked in Katrina and Haiti and they all told me to a person that the tornado damage is by far the worst destruction they have ever seen.

North Alabama is a beautiful place but a large majority of it is rural and large segments of the population are relatively poor people with little in the way of resources. The only reason that many of them survived was by God's grace and the mindboggling hard work and dedication of the meteorologists in the area (I mention specifically James Spann who works for ABC 33/40 out of Birmingham). The death toll could have easily been 10 times what it is.

Since the death of Osama bin Laden, the state of Alabama has been largely forgotten by the mainstream media. A bunch of poor Southerners don't have the glamour factor of a dead terrorist. While other natural disasters garnered days of media coverage and celebrity telethons, Alabama specifically and the South in general just don't seem to rate the same sort of attention. That is why I am appealing to all my friends and neighbours on the internet.

My first request is please, please pray for the victims, the affected areas, and especially for the repose of all of those who were not as fortunate as I was to make it out of the storm unharmed. I would like to link you to a brief piece written by sports writer Rick Reilly that might give you just some small idea of what the people here are struggling with. I ask you to read it, and keep these and all the state in fervent prayer. [url="http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=6470969"]Shelter from the storm[/url]

Second, if you are able, please donate in some way to the relief efforts. You can text REDCROSS to 90999 for a $10 donation to the American Red Cross which will be applied to your cell phone bill, or you can visit [url="www.redcross.org"]redcross.org[/url] to donate another amount via the website. You can also visit the Facebook page [url="https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Toomers-for-Tuscaloosa/127019264041188"]Toomer's for Tuscaloosa[/url] to see specific relief efforts and videos and interviews related to the aftermath of the storm. For those on Twitter, follow #wearealabama for the latest news on relief efforts.

I am not the sort to try to drum up donations online, but in this case I do it humbly and ask for your help. There are thousands of people homeless and suffering right now and we have nowhere to turn for help.

Thank you for reading this, and may the Lord bless you abundantly for your prayers.

Edited May 6, 2011 by Marie-Therese

[Jesus_lol]

For shame people, at least look at the thread.I already sent enough for 12 construction workers to have a cold one after work









for every conservative here who advocates reducing taxes and letting people send their money to private charities, it would be about the time to put your money where your mouth is, as a good swath of your country has been razed, and people need help.

[MIKolbe]

done and done!!!!

thank you for letting us know about this.

I will post this to my facebook page as well!

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='Jesus_lol' timestamp='1304727888' post='2238154']

for every conservative here who advocates reducing taxes and letting people send their money to private charities, it would be about the time to put your money where your mouth is, as a good swath of your country has been razed, and people need help.
[/quote]
We all want to, but the government took too much.

Nah, j/k. ^_^ You are correct.

[MIKolbe]

my company decorates coffee mugs and water bottles....not sure if the Red Cross could use some, but I am sure we could donate some too.

Thanks again for posting this, Peyton!

[Lil Red]

[quote name='Jesus_lol' timestamp='1304727888' post='2238154']
For shame people, at least look at the thread.I already sent enough for 12 construction workers to have a cold one after work









for every conservative here who advocates reducing taxes and letting people send their money to private charities, it would be about the time to put your money where your mouth is, as a good swath of your country has been razed, and people need help.
[/quote]
What are you talking about? just because someone hasn't posted doesn't mean they aren't praying and/or doing something.

[ardillacid]

[quote name='Lil Red' timestamp='1304745038' post='2238324']
What are you talking about? just because someone hasn't posted doesn't mean they aren't praying and/or doing something.
[/quote]
He is canadien O_O

Of course it has to be politics

Edited May 7, 2011 by ardillacid

[ParadiseFound]

Um...I may have to change my avatar now

[Archaeology cat]

Praying.

[Jesus_lol]

[quote name='Lil Red' timestamp='1304745038' post='2238324']
What are you talking about? just because someone hasn't posted doesn't mean they aren't praying and/or doing something.
[/quote]

i know that im just busting chops and bumping this thread, cause it didnt have any views after several hours

[Lil Red]

[quote name='Jesus_lol' timestamp='1304776702' post='2238396']
i know that im just busting chops and bumping this thread, cause it didnt have any views after several hours
[/quote]
the views thing has never worked properly here. As soon as M T posted this, I looked at it. I am posting from my streak though and it is not exactly easy to type

[Amppax]

I'll add prayers, and see what i can drum up at my school... quite honestly i'm surprised that we haven't done anything yet. Would send money if i had any...

[Vincent Vega]

Glad to see you around and alright, MT. I don't have much spare cash right now, but I'll send some prayers your way.