I Can't Think of a Clever Title

Thank you so much to those of you who have contributed needed items or have helped to spread the word to others!

I finally have the chance to send out an update about the needs at the San Antonio shelters. I have been put in charge of distribution of clothes and toiletries for the Building 1536 shelter at Kelly. I am working closely with the clothing and toiletry coordinator for all of the shelters. We are having a hard time getting the word out on a large scale about the things that we need. The news stations are not getting accurate information. Some of these needed items are trickling in, thanks to those of you who have helped to spread the word, but we need more assistance!

We still need volunteers! There are many people scheduled, but not nearly enough, and many who are scheduled are not showing up. We have been told that the Red Cross is working to correct this, but I have seen no results yet. We need approximately 30 volunteers minimum at any time throughout the day *just in our distribution area* in order to be meeting the basic needs of the residents of the shelter. We have to unpack and sort all of the items coming in to us (a monumental task by itself!), stock them in the "store", assist shelter residents in finding what they need, and transport items to the sick and elderly who are unable to come find them for themselves. This becomes a more difficult task as they have placed our distribution center on the far end of the building, which is a good half a mile from the front of the building where the most sick and elderly are in the infirmary. We don't have enough volunteers to be finding those in need and bringing them what they need.

The process for volunteering is being made stricter for safety reasons. If you want to volunteer with the Red Cross, you will have to go to Freeman Colliseum to fill out a form and attend a brief orientation. All volunteers must now wear a red or white shirt to work in the shelters. We *may* not have to send volunteers who wish to work in the "store" to that orientation. We have been told that we may train our own group of volunteers so that we can get people in with the least hassle for this necessary task. If you are interested in volunteering, please let me know so that I can update you with information about the procedure.

We are having a hard time getting all of the supplies in that are needed. Neither the Salvation Army nor the Red Cross seem to be able to move quickly to receive the things we need- they have to fight a lot of red tape. Also, no matter how hard we try to get the list of needed items out on the news, it doesn't seem to be happening.

Here is the updated list of items that we need immediately:

- clean pillows
- clean blankets
- African-American hair care products
- hair brushes
- eyeglasses repair kits
- backpacks, totebags, suitcases, bags of any variety
- Mens and womens LARGE shoes- above 9 for ladies, above 8 for men -particularly tennis shoes, flip flops, sandals
- athletic shorts for all sizes (no privacy, so comfortable to sleep in)
- men's pants and shorts, sizes 28-38
- men's underwear sizes 28-38
- men's plain undershirts (t-shirts or a-shirts) sizes small - 2XL
- belts (all sizes)
- women's plus sized underwear and bras
- robes
- pajamas of all sizes
- house shoes and slippers
- toddler boy underwear
- adolescent boys and girls socks (between toddler and adults sizes)
- deoderent
- liquid soaps (NO BAR SOAPS!)
- baby powder
- vaseline, petroleum jelly
- shaving cream
- mouthwash
- denture care items (cup, cleaning products, adhesive products, etc.)
- any products with fragrance- perfume, cologne, scented lotion, etc.

As of yet, there is no laundry system in place in the shelter, and so to avoid the risk of spreading disease, dirty clothes and linens are being thrown away. This means that these items will be needed repeatedly for some time.

We have plenty of children's clothing and toys, diapers and the like. We have to sort through everything that comes in, so please try to limit donations to the items that we specifically need right now. We just don't have the manpower to sort through to find the things we need. I know that the news stations have said not to take donations directly to the shelters, and if you do show up, some people are being turned away by the Salvation Army even when they have needed donations! There is a real lack of communication issue. To ensure that we receive them, these items can come straight to us in the store at Bldg. 1536 through Loading Dock 9. If you would rather, you can contact me so that I can take the needed items exactly where they need to go.

Please do what you can to spread word of mouth about these needs! These poor people are sitting there without having their basic needs met because of a lack of communication between organizations. I'm personally having to turn people away and tell them that I don't have any pants of underwear in their size, or that I don't have any pillows to give them and no clean blankets, so they'll just have to make do a little longer in dirty clothes with no pajamas and no clean bedding. This is not acceptable to me! I have promised these folks that I am doing everything I can to get them the things they need. You can absolutely make a difference in these people's lives by sharing their needs with others.