09/12/05 Water's going down.  What can we do?  New Katrina relief effort forming.

As my friends know, I am very passionate about a lot of things.  I am most passionate about neighbors and community.  What we have seen in the past few weeks has been really devastating for all of us.  Our neighbors in the South lost everything.

Personally, I had family and close friends down in the New Orleans area.  I was worried sick about them because we lost all communications with everyone.  Gradually, we heard from all of them except one close friend and her husband.  They were from Slidell which was one of the hardest hit.  We got in touch with her sister and learned they evacuated okay, but were stuck in Jackson, MS without any gas.  They were fortunate to find a hotel, but were going to be kicked out the next day because they did not have a reservation. 

I got into my Jeep and took a 30 gallon reserve tank to Jackson and got them out of there. I felt bad as we were leaving because so many people had no place to go.  Even if they did, they would not have money or
gas to get them there. I wish I could have helped more.

The Red Cross and Salvation Army has done so much to take care of all the people who lost their jobs and homes, but their effort will only go so far.  Eventually, the Gulf Coast will have to be rebuilt.  Who is going to do that?

40 HOUSES IN 4 DAYS

It may sound impossible, but I know we can do this with enough help and planning.  Sure, insurance and FEMA are trying to do everything possible, but there are several people out there who did not have flood insurance and will not fully recover everything.  Those are the people we need to help. This is a all hands call to people out there.

Regardless of what you do for a day job, this is your chance to contribute to the relief. The plans are to go down on a Wednesday night and come back on Sunday evening with 40 houses completely finished. We are making plans right now.

We will need money, materials, workers, and of course a lot a prayer.

If you feel you can help with the planning of such a large event, please contact me a soon as possible. We are starting soon and need all the help we can get.

Thanks

Matthew S. Murphy, President/CEO
HenningsMurphy Corporation
3733 Dunhaven Rd., Dallas, TX 75220
214-289-4653; 214-722-0344 fax