Another hurried call....
Jon called this afternoon - in the few minutes that I was home for a washroom break. How perfect is that?!
The call was rushed and Jon was breathless - though more emotionally than physically so. He spoke so fast, I couldn't take notes that made any sense. They just got a mobile line hooked up to a generator, so he had to talk over that.
He was extremely clear that the situation is still in "emergency" state. He commented that supplies arrive, however they don't go far enough. They finally have chlorine, though not sufficient quantities. They can't find enough tents. Mops arrived, though they were dispersed in a minute and hardly made a difference. Clothes have to be sorted, because a lot of it is garbage (other people's rags, so to speak). Some people even sent nice things to hang on the wall - THERE ARE NO WALLS!!
Jon is staying in Mississippi until at least Sunday. All the other volunteers who have worked together with him this week and created some semblance of order in the relief efforts had also planned to leave today. Jon couldn't bear the thought of leaving the residents stranded (again!), so he will be the one to hand off when a new group of volunteers arrives.
"Ask them to pray for these people. They have nothing left. Tell them to ask God to send more hands! We need more help," he said.
Jon was emotional on the phone, and admitted to needing a good cry. However, he said there was no time for that, there was still so much work to do. He promised he would cry tonight - he needs the release.
While he works night and day in a destroyed town that has been mostly ignored by larger agencies; while he tries to support people whose lives will never be the same again; while he hides his own anguish at their losses, so that he can put their needs first; he apologized for spending two more days away and asking me to make some phone calls to cancel half of his work week.
I am so proud of Jon that I can hardly contain it. He certainly knows how to walk his talk.
posted by Jon White at 9:15 PM
13 Comments:
Blessings, many blessings.
Saeed
6:29 PM
Tell Jon to get the old Karaoke revved up so he can sing the cares away. Is he going to make this into his new fundraising effort? - thought so!
Blessings, many blessings.
11:56 PM
Finally figured out how to comment!!! God speed
Terry
8:26 AM
Hello there from the Gulf Coast. I too came down here for a week to help with the relief effort. It's pretty organized where I am, children are back at school and families are recovering well. The next problem, of course, is getting people back to into homes. Habitat for Humanity is a good charity to donate to - I work for them and they are very effective.
S.
1:19 PM
Hey guys/gals - an amazing way to contribute to the relief efforts - and very creative. Go to Oprah.com and check out her system for contribution, announced today on her show. She herself is giving $10 million - good woman Oprah, we know you're a giver. One thing to keep in mind - Oprah will make sure your money goes where it's supposed to, guaranteed.
8:22 PM
Here's something to think about!
Sure, Katrina is/was a disaster, but don't we have plenty of hungry people here in Canada that need food, clothing and shelter, especially in our cold cold winters? It's not that cold in the South, so they've got that going for them there. I've seen many people sleeping on the streets here in Canada for years and I've never heard Jon rallying for them. The Asian Tsunami was a much bigger disaster and it's almost forgotten here now. America can raise taxes, stop giving breaks to the rich and work on developing alternate sources of energy, which it should have done 30+ years ago, and so save on having to invade and befriend rogue nations who have oil, just to keep the US supplied.
Jon, if you're looking for a cause - charity begins at home. Glad you're financing this yourself, but why the blog? Could it be that this is going to be your new "cause?"
9:00 AM
Such a cynical response from someone who can poke a finger at someone doing some good and not even leave a name! Step up to the plate and find out what Jon has done with his life - at home and internationally! Just because you haven't "heard" Jon speak of his work doesn't mean you know anything.
And just because you have "heard" of the homeless doesn't mean you know anything. Try on someone's shoes.
3:16 PM
We have more than "heard" of the homeless and hungry here in Ontario, we've seen them with our own eyes, as late as this morning. What would you say we should do about them? Do they matter less? Are they not deserving of help? Oh, forgot - they are not in the news.
Maybe a bit of cynicism is good to add dimension to the "blessings" crowd.
Charity is good, but shouldn't be talked about too much or blogged about. Do it quietly and go home.
7:27 PM
Greetings, all.
I am on my way home. If I weren't so exhausted, I would post the delayed ones I've been saving on the computer since I got to Pearlington. I will send one, at least, in the morning. I am in Kentucky now and will leave early.
As to the individual with the interesting comments about the homeless in Ontario:
This blog is meant to share the struggles and determination of some of the bravest people I have ever met. Down here, as Rita approaches and volunteers from all over the continent stand shoulder to shoulder with our brothers and sisters, we call people such as you "clipboards."
You seem to have time to criticise. Drop the clipboard and stand a watch. The world needs your action, not your cynicism. If you have time to lobby for the homeless of Ontario, then get off your ass and go do something for them. Instead of filling your pockets with judgement and armchair observations, load up with a pair of work gloves, a roll of duct tape and a stethoscope.
Get dirty, cry with a total stranger, break your own heart on purpose, and THEN we'll talk.
Good night, all. I'm going to rest. I'm getting cranky...
Love to all. Wait until you hear the stories of their valour and strength. This isn't my "new cause." This was ALWAYS my "cause."
This says it all: a spray-painted sign on the side of what was left of a man's house:
"Hey, Katrina. That all you got?"
God bless.
Jon
10:56 PM
OK Jon, cynical here - let's do the numbers. One or more weeks off work, renting a truck, gasoline for the truck, over-nighting along the way to and fro. Must have cost at least $1000, outside of the money you could have earned for that amount of time off work. The food you received from the Salvation truck was one less portion for someone there, the tent ....... who knows what else you needed. What if you had stayed, worked for those two weeks, donated the money you earned, plus the money it cost you to get there, to the Salvation Army relief, or any other relief organization? Jon, that's what we did and it is no less than what you did, but we're not blogging about it. Strangers rolling into town creates added stress for the authorities in trying to maintain law and order in chaotic situations like this, so there's energy expended by the authorities that could be diverted to their more productive activity. It's
simplistic to think that we can, or should, all drop what we're doing and head off to help. Our society has now organized structured relief organizations to do this work. If one wants to make that one's life's work - join one of these organizations - there are many and they're not all badly run. Contributing money to a reputable relief organization is the best way to go, the relief workers are employed, the work is co-ordinated, the security clearance is visible to the authorities, the bulk purchasing power is available etc. etc. Doing what you did is definitely not the best way to go, in my opinion, and could have got you hurt, or sick. Clipboarders are needed also in life, they can see with a wider lens and see what's the best approach.
10:53 AM
One of the causes of the problems in this world is that too many people want to "do the numbers" before taking action.
You, cynical, seem to have a pretty good grasp on the numbers -- or at least the ones that suit your purpose, which, frankly, is typical of "numbers people." It's also typical of people who are, as Jon noted, unwilling to get off their asses and actually DO something, instead hiding behind their chequebook.
You suggest that we give our money to agencies, such as the Salvation Army because they are reputable, and the people working there draw a salary. Where is you think that salary comes from? From your donation, right; so exactly where is the difference in effectiveness of this money spent versus Jon's? In a time when all relief efforts, or at least the vast majority, are being focused around the major centres, and the outlying areas are being largely ignored, how can one be sure that donated funds actually ARE helping those who need it most. It could be that you only get Fox News and CNN in your area, in which case the belief that relief organisations, along with local, state and federal governments, successfully responded to this situation could possibly be forgiven.
I do agree with you that not everyone can, or rather, is willing, to drop everything to go down there and do whatever they can, whatever is needed, even if that means borrowing a tent so that there is an extra pair of strong, healthy hands available in the morning. But why criticize those who do? Why criticize them for recording their efforts? You, too, seem to want your say recorded. What makes you any different, let alone better?
Jon, if you know him, wears his heart on his sleeve. Always. He doesn't care what YOU think. He cares about the look in people's eyes when they see him running to help. He cares about helping other people open their own hearts to find the joy in the world that is too often veiled by "the numbers."
And you're right on one other count: doing what Jon did could have gotten him sick or hurt. How selfish of him to put himself at risk in order to give help to other people. How terrible a thought, that someone might ignore their own discomfort in the aid of someone else.
The first thing I suggest and ask of you is to get out from behind your blanket of anonymity - it doesn't become you, and it takes away from your credibility. The next thing I ask is that you look at WHY you've even bothered to comment here. Are you so dissatisfied with your own life, your own lack of action and attention to the matters of importance in your own life, that you feel you need to compensate by speaking down on someone else?
My name is Paul. And I will not respond to further anonymous posts on this topic - I like to know who I'm talking to.
One final thought. It could be that the "wider lens" afforded to you by your clipboarder's perspective has you paralysed with fear and vertigo. The problem with seeing with such a lens is the rose-coloured belief that you can actually see the "best approach" in a world where "best" isn't always "right."
1:45 PM
"How selfish of him to put himself at risk in order to give help to other people. How terrible a thought, that someone might ignore their own discomfort in the aid of someone else."
What was the name of that young man from the US who went to Iraq, thinking he had something to offer in helping to re-build the communication system there? - Nick Berg, I think, was his name, the young man who was beheaded. Sure, Nick Berg was idealistic and helpful at heart, but his family will forever miss him.
Going into war zones or disaster zones, alone, is not a smart thing to do. Go with the group in these situations,you can cause more problems than you'll solve.
You're sounding a little defensive - why?
4:22 PM
Oh, anonymous clipboard, you are becoming so tiresome....
What I really want to know is when is the last time you:
1. Gave time/money to a relief/peace effort in your area or abroad.
2. Gave time/money to a homeless shelter, food bank or crisis centre in your area?
3. Gave volunteer time to any of the following: a hospital, clinic, library, humane society, abuse centre for women or men, aids clinic or anything that you believe in.
The news broadcast tales from the dark side every night in living colour. We are all embrolied in a daily struggle against the darker forces in our lives - like greed, selfishness and dishonesty.
Let us know when you build up the courage to actually do something with your energy and time - you know, head downtown to wash the feet of the homeless, bake cookies for the guys over at the firehouse, fill in for a school bus driver who has a kid that needs to get to the doctor - oh, and that unconscious squirrel in your driveway - make sure to get him a splint for his broken leg and don't forget mouth to mouth.
Sarcasm my ass - you amateur....
As for your comments regarding rogue invasions of other countries, I paraphrase the following: "The military uses words like honour, code and loyalty - they use these words as a backbone to a life spent defending something. These men and women have neither the time nor the inclination to explain themselves to someone who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom they provide, then questions the manner in which they provide it. I think they would prefer you just said thank you and went on your way. Otherwise, pick up a weapon and stand a post."
Hey clippie, something tells me when the shit really hits the fan, you'll be under the couch.
This whole bantering reparte of bashing someone who chooses to try and do some good in this world astounds me - make better use of your time or shut up.
Jon - you answer to a higher authority - enough said.
Not afraid to sign my name...
Shani
11:26 PM
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