People in the area immediately stepped up to offer their assistance. Facebook and Twitter were overflowing with people offering their homes, their trucks, food, supplies, you name it, to people they have never met. People over on this side of the mountains have offered to let people bring items to their house to be donated and are driving the items over there this weekend.
They brought in nothing. Absolutely nothing.
I'm so ashamed to be apart of this work group now. It's been hard working here because of all the neurotic personalities, but the fact that they couldn't take the time to do something like this, just astounds me.
It makes me sick.
I couldn't donate much more than a few blankets, some t-shirts, a few bags of dog and cat food and some tampons and pads. I felt like that was not enough.
It's just so sad. I actually berated a co-worker who wanted to just give me money to buy things for him. I told him it would have taken him only 10 minutes to find something. I took that 10 minutes yesterday when I didn't get home until after 9 pm and was tired and ready to go to bed.
He looked so ashamed, and so did the other co-workers that over heard me.
You should feel ashamed. You couldn't take the time out of your life to help people who just lost their homes, their pets, their clothes, their things.
I almost want to tell them all, how would you feel if no one came to help you when your house was burning down because they couldn't take 10 minutes out of their day to find a few things to give you? You would feel helpless. You would be angry. You would be wondering why people didn't come help you.
But no, I'm going to be my usual self and keep quiet. I believe in karma and in helping others in time of need. If any of them get in trouble, I will NOT help them.
When cards go around after a family member passes for someone in our group, I'm usually the only one that sticks in a few ones or a five. It's not much, I know, but it's something. They put in nothing. Not even a dime. Nothing.
It's just sickening.
I guess what I'm getting at is if you have the opportunity to spend 10 minutes to do something good for someone, without expecting anything back, take it. You will make someone's day much better!
All photos from komonews.com
Hi Katy,
ReplyDeleteI live in an area that was evacuated, but has now been allowed to return home on the eastern edge of the Taylor Bridge fire footprint. I just wanted to tell you I read your post and appreciate your spirit! It must have been frustrating for you to get that kind of response.
Fortunately, we have an amazing community here in Central Washington, perhaps it's because in small towns there is no anonymity, but regardless of why, people have really come together here to help each other in every way imaginable! Nearly every one of my co-workers offered their homes to me and my family and animals while we were displaced. Friends I haven't had conversations with in years came out of the woodwork to offer help, places to stay, and even money. Neighbors who'd never met helped each other round up horses and cattle. Strangers now congregate on corners, talking to each other, sharing information, sharing encouragement and offering what ever they have to give. Roadhouse restaurant gave anyone displaced a free meal, and donated 10% of their profits from day 2 to the fire fighters. The university opened its dorms to displaced people and small pets at no cost. The fairgrounds and local vets have all been boarding horses, cattle and other livestock at no charge. People have volunteered to help complete strangers sift and clean wreckage from their burned properties.
Sometimes the decision to live so far away from the city is one I question. It's not always convenient. But your post reminded me of why I love living here in the Kittitas Valley. Locals who've been unaffected by the fire have now donated so many household items and copious amounts of clothing that the organizations accepting donations are now asking for cash only, because there is nowhere left to house the huge volume of items already donated. People like yourself have organized food drives, car washes, lasagna dinners, and benefit concerts to assist the victims. Costco donated an entire semi truck of Gatorade to the fire base camp to help keep firemen hydrated. The Cattle Association donated a huge beef tri-tip meal to everyone displaced and any other community members that came out to the first community meeting intended to deliver official information to the public and fed over 700 people for free. Today our little food bank was bustling with activity, and had several big trucks waiting in line to deliver donated food items. The list just goes on.
This community really came together, and we practically sang Kumbayah together while the fire rolled through our valley destroying much, but not our spirit. So don't lose hope, people here are pulling together and helping each other and we're closer now; what hasn't killed us (not a single human life lost so far) has served to make us stronger.
Thank you for thinking of us and for your efforts to assist in the aftermath of this disaster. People like you make a difference!