Mobile Food News » Joplin

Blog: Social Media & Tornado Relief

MobileFoodNews.com — Sat, 28 May 2011 20:59:35 +0000

: Dale Blasingame

SAN ANTONIO — Remember a couple of weeks ago when I said social media manage to amaze me on a daily basis? Today was one of those days that showed the true power of social media – not as platforms to post pictures or talk with friends, but to help people going through an unimaginable tragedy.Let me backtrack a bit and explain.

: Wheelie Gourmet Truck to the rescue!

Around 1pm yesterday, I retweeted a message that two San Antonio food trucks, Tin Can Tacos and Wheelie Gourmet, were headed to Oklahoma and Missouri to cook for tornado victims. The companies were doing this out of their own pockets, and my friend Krys from Yelp.com was helping gather donations to offset some of the costs.

No fewer than a few minutes later, Krys sent me a message on Twitter asking if Champion AC, one of my clients, would like to sponsor the trip. Champion’s general manager quickly jumped in to help. We donated $500 and challenged other small businesses to match or beat our donation.

: Tin Can Tacos trailer

I didn’t quite realize the magnitude of this little mission quite yet, though. Over the next few hours, thanks to many messages on Twitter and a few phone calls, we (by “we” I mean Krys) managed to organize a donation drive to help these two food trucks feed the tornado victims. Two television stations (including KSAT) noticed the talk on Twitter and went out to interview Tin Can Tacos and Wheelie Gourmet at the Boardwalk on Bulverde. Sammis and Ochoa, a San Antonio public relations firm, made phone calls and emailed radio stations to get people on the air. Yelp created an event page to let people know where to donate online (where donations are still gladly being accepted). A company donated propane tanks. Several other companies matched or beat the small business challenge we presented. Olmos Perk offered to host the donation drive and give free coffee to anyone who gave money. The Art Shack offered art classes to people who donated a certain amount. Blogs were written to spread the word.

All that happened in two or three hours. It truly was a team effort for a great cause.

Please be clear, I’m not writing this to pat our group on the back. It does, however, show how a handful of people, a good idea and the proper social media tools can result in a lot of good for the community.

I realize a few meals are not going to make the tornado victims’ homes or loved ones return. What it does, though, is maybe put a smile on their faces or take their minds off of reality, even if just for a few minutes.

Standing there at Olmos Perk today and hearing all the amazing stories of people who were donating money was truly humbling. Krys nearly broke down in tears a few times. I wasn’t far behind. Everyone had a different story – from the woman whose family lived through Hurricane Katrina and wanted to help any way she could to the young mom who brought her little daughters in to drop off a few dollars. There is no other way to describe it. It was awesome.

Thank you San Antonio for making this happen. This city is ALWAYS ready to help people in need. That was never more evident than the past 24 hours, thanks to a little organizing done via social media.

In less than one day, we raised several thousand dollars. Any money above and beyond the needs of the mission will be donated to help people get back on their feet.

Several thousand dollars. Less than 24 hours.Think about that for a second. And again, I offer a humble thank you to the people of San Antonio.

http://www.ksat.com/news/28039996/detail.html

http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/2011/05/blog-social-media-tornado-relief/

Mobile Kitchen Heads To Joplin, MO

MobileFoodNews.com — Fri, 27 May 2011 00:50:13 +0000

by KETV.com

Volunteers To Cook For Rescuers & Victims

OMAHA, Neb. — Omaha Kids Against Hunger has organized a group of volunteers who will cook for rescuers and victims in Joplin, Mo. The town was hit by an EF5 tornado Sunday, and money, food and volunteers are pouring in.

The help offered by Omaha Kids Against Hunger usually goes to another part of the world. This time, 50,000 meals will go to help people in the same time zone.

“It’s not about us or our own agenda. It’s about going and serving with our mouths, hands, everything tangible when we get there,” Kelly Jo Yaksich said. But the volunteers couldn’t do it without a mobile kitchen, which was donated by Chicago Dawg House restaurant.

[Learn how to help Joplin]

“When you are busy doing things — trying to help people — the last thing on your mind is getting something to eat,” Chicago Dawg House owner Troy Drews said.

The truck will be leaving Friday morning full of food, supplies and other items donated by people from the Omaha metro.The top three items needed are money, bowls and utensils.

Short URL: http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/?p=14653

As Disasters Continue, Danville Group Keeps Help Rolling

MobileFoodNews.com — Wed, 25 May 2011 02:34:06 +0000

By Denice Thibodeau | GoDanRiver.com

R. Gary LeBlanc, who founded Mercy Chefs, prepares meals in a mobile kitchen

For more than six weeks, the volunteers at God’s Pit Crew have been responding to areas devastated by tornados — and this week is no different.

Randy Johnson, founder and executive director of the disaster relief organization, said a team of 10 will leave Danville on Wednesday morning, heading for Joplin, Mo., where a tornado flattened a half-mile swath through the city Sunday night.

Johnson said tired relief workers finally returned to Danville about a week ago from Tuscaloosa, Ala., and began working on getting trucks ready to roll again.

“They really haven’t had a break yet,” Johnson said, rubbing a hand over his own obviously tired eyes. “Half of them have been on the road for over six weeks.”

Some of the trucks are being repaired and volunteers worked late Tuesday getting the equipment truck packed up. Some of the chainsaws are still being repaired, but all that can make the trip will be loaded.

: Dwindling food and supplies sit at God’s Pit Crew.

The shower truck still needed to be cleaned early Tuesday afternoon, but the Mercy Chefs mobile kitchen was already on the way, Johnson said.

Overall, the crew and trucks have traveled more than 25,000 miles over the past six weeks, responding to 13 locations in five states.

“We’re not really ready, but we’re going anyway,” Johnson said. “The need is great, so we’re just going to have to go.”

Later this week, Johnson said, more volunteers will follow with supplies, including water, food and the group’s signature “blessing buckets” — a can opener, a small blanket, canned food, water, cleaning supplies, grooming items (toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, soap, comb, brush), washcloth and towel, a flashlight and batteries, toilet paper, paper towel, a small Bible and some wound cleaners like alcohol and peroxide.

Some of those volunteers members of God’s Pit Crew come from other states — Tennessee, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi.

“They all come together to help; it’s neat to see that happen,” Johnson said.

Another truck will make its way Louisiana, south of Baton Rouge, where storm damage has also left residents in need of food, water and the blessing buckets.

“For kids, we try to include a little puzzle, toy or stuffed animal,” volunteer Bill Holley said. He has been trying to keep the warehouse tidy while David Willis, the warehouse manager, has been away at disaster sites for the past five weeks, Holley said.

Johnson said people sometimes ask if the blessing buckets are really important, and he always tells them, “If you don’t have anything, that five-gallon bucket it worth its weight in gold.”

Skid steers will be loaded onto flatbeds and hauled to Missouri, so debris can be pushed out of the way; chainsaws will cut down trees or trim off dangling branches; houses that lost their roofs will be tarped and victims will be offered showers and hot meals while God’s Pit Crew is there.

Johnson said he finds this year’s weather-induced disasters overwhelming.

“It’s unreal; I flew to Georgia Sunday morning to speak at a church and see the damage there (from tornados and thunderstorm in late April),” Johnson said. “I got in Sunday and see this; it looks like Tuscaloosa, and that was some of the worst I’ve ever seen.”

Low supplies

Supplies are low at God’s Pit Crew’s warehouse on North Main Street. Johnson admits the past six weeks have put a huge hit on supplies, but has faith it will be taken care of. The blessing buckets worry him the most, because he expects to be out of them by the end of the week — that, and being unable to help everyone who needs help.

“The most difficult thing is not being able to meet every need, because there are so many and the need is so great,” Johnson said. “But we can’t let what we can’t do paralyze us from doing what we can do.”

More than 1.1 million pounds of relief supplies have been shipped out to disaster areas in the past six weeks, and the supply is dwindling.

Food and water, paper goods, blessing bucket supplies and just about anything someone with nothing could use is all needed, and Johnson said he simply has not had time to set up extra drop-off sites around Danville.

“I’m hoping churches, organizations, businesses and people who want to help get in touch, collect items and get them to us,” Johnson said. “That would be very helpful at this point.”

Help out

Donations to God’s Pit Crew can be made by calling (434) 836-4472, visiting the organization’s website at www.GodsPitCrew.org or by stopping at the office at 2499 N. Main St., Danville.

http://www2.godanriver.com/news/2011/may/24/disasters-continue-danville-group-keeps-help-rolli-ar-1062165/