Soaked Tags

Hello, my name is kimberly and i dont know where else to turn so i am posting on this website. I am a survivor of the joplin may 22nd tornado. I was working at walmart when we got a code black and we all went to the back of the store. We were all joking around not really thinking much about it. We never thought walmart would get hit. My brother called me and told me that there was a tornado in joplin and that it was big and not to panic. I still didnt think walmart could get taken down, we were in a busy populated area in the middle of the city. The power went off and i told my brother i had to get off the phone. It got pretty loud and sumone yelled that it was here. I looked up and seen the roof getting ripped off. Everyone then screamed and we got down on our knees and prayed. All i could do is pray to see my little boys again and my husband and the rest of my family. The winds were so fast and i was getting hit with all sorts of things and something was on my back and was very heavy and something hit me in the head. It got quiet and people thought it was over and i was yelling at everyone to stay down for a little while to ensure it was over. After about 5 minutes we got hit with the end of the tornado and was just holding on to whatever i could and telling everyone that i loved them, even if i didnt know them. We were very crammed together as some people were on top of each and there was zero moving room and we were getting heavily rained on and hailed on. I found a small hole to put my hand through so that hopefully someone would see it and help us out. After about 30 min sumone was able to help get me out and i started helping others get out as there were many injured and many children. I started ripping open blankets to give to people because we were all soaked, filthy and freezing. Once i finally got out of the store and to the parking lot, i was in shock. Everyones cars were on top of each other and crushed. And i looked around and everything was flattened for miles. I dont know how any of us survived because walmart was totaled where we were. I have dealt with alot of anxiety since then and am dreading spring this year. I would really like to raise money for a shelter to have peace of mind and to ensure my kids safety. I never want my familys safety. Going through this tornado has made me realize how important things are in life and to have fun with my family and to appreciate life. I am going back to school andd my car just broke down and we think its the cadillac converter which i cant afford. I also want to help my dad out. He is disabled and raising my 3 teenage brothers. He is hurting financially as well and i love to help him when i can. I have a new found look on life now and love my kids so much and im so happy i was able to go home to them. There were many people that didnt make it that day and that easily could have been me. There are many heros from that frightful day. I dont like asking for help but i didnt know where else to go. I appreciate the people that help out people like me. You are wonderful people and god bless. Anything at all would help me out at this time. Thank you for taking time to listen to my story and thank you for donating. You are amazing and cherish those you love because you never know what could happen. Thank you!

last night while he was in town, he was told his house was on fire, he rushed home hurried to grab the
garden hose to save what he could, only he fell and had to go to the hospital where he fractured
several ribs and tore something in his for arm,which is wrapped and in a sling.
today he can hardly move for the pain.
he lost 4 kittens and the mama cat, every photo he had of his kids and so much more.
unfortunatley he didnt have insurance on the house.

he has a 19 yr old son living with him.

the fire dept probably did as much damage as the fire. they didnt try to seal the section off and work
on it, they soaked everything , every room.. so much that the ceiling fell in.
no one has contacted him most of the day, no one offered to really help these people..

i came home, got on the phone and called the red cross in albemarle nc, the lady said we cant do anything
till we hear from the fire marshall,
so we tried to call the fire marshal.. this was like 2 pm today..(friday) no answer left a message, it is now 11:30 at night.
.still no reply back.
someone did tell us he wouldn't contact them till he finished his investigation, that could be days,
called a church here, they said yes we help but we go through stanly county christian ministries call them.. so i called them
they said well, he needs to bring something showing his house burnt..i said lady its not as if they give to a certificate to hand out
when your house catches on fire.. i can give you the norwood police number, or the fire marshal to verify it..
around 5-6 red cross call's my friend.. tells him they are going to put he and his son up in a hotel in albemarle for the weekend.
. and he never heard back from them.. its now 11: 30 at night. i called the hotel they said red cross did call, but they didn't
send the paper work or call back.
thank god for the one friend he does have who is letting them stay at his house tonight, and giving them a hot shower,
and a place to rest. if left to the red cross i guess they would be sleeping in the yard.

this is crazy.. his house is totaled from one end to the other, nothing is untouched by smut and water,
no power, no clothes..not even a pair of socks.
charities are so eager to take your money, .but it seems to take an act of congress to get help if your the victim,
this is a good guy, he has volunteered his time endless times, days on end at the community table to feed people just
down the road. he'd help anybody he could,and has a wonderful son.

things they could really use,
clothes,
if there is anyone who might work in construction that has left over wood 2x4's, 2x6's
plywood, sheet rock, flooring,
anything it doesn't even matter if its scrap.
if anyone has some gently used furniture, beds, blankets.

thank you for taking the time to read my post, i know there are alot of good people out there who
still believe in helping, you just have to find a way to let them know you need it.
any help you can give would mean so much.

i can provide proof, phone numbers, photos, and address.
all i ask is please be serious in offering to help,
my name is tina..

Updates: September 11, 2011 - I have been able to get a part-time job which is good news, but the rest is just about the same. Thank you for your help Malum Designs
and Pete B.
Since my previous posts have yielded only four donations over the last five months I thought I would try this approach. My financial problems are quite real. If you find my fable entertaining please send a small donation.
- Fortuna vitrea est, tum cum splendet frangitur -

The Grasshopper and the Ant
A Classic retold by Joseph the Beggar King
Part One

Once upon a time, not so very long ago, there were two friends, the Grasshopper and the Ant. Why these two became friends is a bit of a mystery. The Grasshopper was a dreamer and a drifter. The Ant was a believer and an achiever.

In school the Grasshopper would look out the window without thought and only learned the subjects he found interesting. Sometimes he would fall asleep in Math class, other times when a angry teacher would jump him with a pop question he would give the correct answer in way that would confound them.

The Ant was a teachers dream, he soaked up every subject the system taught him, gave the correct answers in the correct way and got straight A s. He would delight his Math teacher by doing compound interest in his head. The Ant believed that what they taught him would help him succeed and was very completive. After graduating High School the Ant got an Academic Scholarship and the Grasshopper got a Pell Grant.

Within four years the Ant got two BS degrees in Business Management and Engineering. The Grasshopper dropped out after the first year. He went to live with the Rainbow Tribe for a few years. On the way to the bus station he found an old fiddle in a trash pile along the road and when he got station he was able to panhandle his bus fare. That was the Grasshoppers first beg.

The Ant took the College like a fish to water. During open Rush some Greeks invite him to be a brother in their Fraternity. He earned his dues by being the Frat Houses Accountant and made beer money by writing term papers. One day while visiting the Tri Deltas he watches the girls play volleyball and is amazed that even though they are playing a vigorous game not one of them breaks a sweat. It is there he meets the girl of his dreams, Polly Fishbane.

While the Grasshopper was living with the Rainbow Tribe he never meets the girl of his dreams, but it does not really matter too much because they believe in Free Love. So free, in fact, that after what you might call the Honeymoon he found himself getting a little bored with it. From the Rainbow Tribe he learns to live off the fat of country and from his new friend, Buffalo with Runs, he learns to live off the land. Buffalo with Runs was an very old Indian that was adopted by the tribe. He taught the Grasshopper what wild plants were safe to eat or use for medicines. He showed him how to set traps and hunt small game. Then, during one winter Gathering four people froze to dead because they were too stoned to come in out of the cold. The Grasshopper became very sad and hopped away.

The Ant is recruited by a Aerospace firm even before he graduated college and goes to work on the Apollo Program. He and his new wife Polly loved the Florida sunshine and settle down to start the American Dream. They decide to have two and half children. Even though the third kid looked a bit odd the Ant loved him as only a father can. With easy money down and mortgage tax deductions compliments of Uncle Sam, they get a house with a two car garage. Next they get two cars and the Rat Race is on. The Ant loves it! Working on the Apollo Program is more than a job, it is being part of history. Polly loves it! Raising their kids and Keeping up of with the Jones. She starts selling Avon products on the side. The Ant buys the best bass boat in the neighborhood, but only uses it once a year because he too busy working. He sets up his retirement funds and a small stock portfolio. Life is Good!

After leaving the Rainbow Tribe the Grasshopper panhandles his way across the country. He sets up in parks and subways where he pretends to play his fiddle while selling jewelry made of deer anthers and beads. The noise he makes with his fiddle sounds like a cat being killed and people give him money just to make him stop. Before the Cops run him off, the Grasshopper usually made enough in one day of begging to cover his needs for the week. When he is hungry he goes to a Soup Kitchen and when he needs clothing there are the Sharing Centers. Every now and then he lets some good hearted woman try to save him. Life is Good and he hops away.

The Apollo Program ends and the new Shuttle program does not start for a couple of years. The Aerospace company were the Ant works at does not win any of the new bids. They offer him a job in California at 20% less of his salary. Polly and the kids are in a rage. Nobody wants to move and leave their friends. The Ant sells his house at a loss because the real estate market in flooded by the laid offs. The one car and the boat are reprocessed. He sells off his stock portfolio for the down payment on the new house in California and even though money is tight the Ant decides to take the family on a short vacation to Key West to uplift their spirits. He finds the Grasshopper selling deer antler jewelry at the Front Street Market. While Polly and the kids go shopping, he and Grasshopper catch up and have a couple of beers. The Ant tells his friend about the laid offs and the move. The Grasshopper asks him - Are you Happy - ? The Ant says - Yes -. His friend says, - Good - . They watch the sunset and see a green flash on the horizon.
To be continue.