Letter to the Editor from Mary Ann King

To put a personal twist on the tragedy of Katrina….my niece, Janene, and her family lived in Diamondhead, Miss. A small town you just don’t hear anything about on all the newscasts. There were other places of devastation besides in New Orleans. Their house is still standing, but they lost everything. It had nine foot of water in it…with mud and slush and critters, etc. A lot of their friends didn’t even have a house! We have been able to get pictures from Janene via a friend’s computer.

To add to the sadness, as of today they have not seen one thing from Red Cross…FEMA just came in on Monday (and that was just to get paperwork started)…and the National Guard has delivered one meal to the residents of their town.

Our family and friends have been trying to do what we can and our First Christian Church family has been awesome, with donations of food, clothing and money, and also the Olive Baptist Church. Janene is amazed at the generosity from a town where people don’t even know them would be so generous. At least we all know where these donations are going.

They sent the children to Kansas City to my sisters as it is not safe down there. They can’t even be on their own property without having something to protect them, #1 from all the snakes and #2 from the looters! It is just so hard to imagine what they are going through.

Please keep our family and all those who lost so much and their lives in your prayers.

Sincerely,

Mary Ann King