attempting kindness to strangers: failed

[boygirlparty]

at about 8am this morning, i read a craigslist ad from a stranger desperate for help, an animal rescue organization with about 70 animals in tow in the parking lot of a borders book store in need of emergency assistance and supplies due to their recent evacuation. this san diego fire has of course inspired us as a community to come together and

Comments

[cecerose]

I'm sorry you had a bad experience... But I still think your less compassionate friends are wrong. The scale of this disaster is so huge that it's inevitable there's going to be a mismatch of needs and what people have available. I'm waiting until things die down a little so I can make a donation to the Red Cross...

God bless you for your good intentions...

[cecerose]

great, thanks!

[boygirlparty]

thanks for keeping things positive.. we just feel so crappy right now :(
we feel really taken advantage of by the craigslist person in particular, although i'm sure she meant no harm.

[itslily]

Maybe try to ask one of the more recently opened shelters, maybe down here in South Bay? That's such a horrible experience and I'm sorry you've had to deal with that. You'd think they'd be welcoming of any donations...

I think part of it is that people are starting to be allowed to go home in certain areas, rather than more people coming in. :\

[boygirlparty]

it might just be a space issue.. but i wish the news and radio would stop telling us to help since our help is clearly not needed. i feel really taken advantage of by the craigslist person...

hey, if anybody has a need for woodchips...

[itslily]

What kind of wood?

[boygirlparty]

i'm not sure - they're flavored so i guess for a bbq or something -- we got the only ones we could find. we have five bags of the stuff...

[onelargecat]

Ack. :( That sucks. Maybe try calling some of the other evacuation centers to find out if they're interested? Or maybe this:

NEWS 8 SALVATION ARMY PHONE BANK OPEN
The Salvation Army and News 8 have opened a phone bank for donations. The phone bank will be open between 5pm to 7pm. Call 858-570-1001

[boygirlparty]

is that for item donations or money donations? we have a car full of the supplies requested on the news (toothbrushes and toothpaste, razors, deodorant, soap, hand sanitizer, tons of sunblock, sunglasses, crayons and coloring books for kids, feminine hygiene products, paper towels and toilet paper, aspirin, antacids, paper plates and plasticware, garbage bags, first aid kits, batteries, combs, etc.etc.etc)

even crossword puzzle books for the elderly. ok, that's a little bit of a stereotype, but we thought it would be really helpful for people stuck at qualcomm thinking about misery and doom.

[onelargecat]

I have no idea. That's all the information that was on the CBS website.

It's great of you to try to help out...it totally sucks that you got turned away today by everyone. :(

[latenightdrives]

Maybe contact one of the shelters in south county? I know that Spring Valley recently had to evacuate so they might still be needing supplies there.

[boygirlparty]

if only we knew which shelters to go to... after driving around for 7 hours today looking to bring relief for somebody, ANYBODY!, we're a bit tuckered out.

[latenightdrives]

You have internet access, why not just look for shelters and then call the ones that are in your area?

Honestly, I'm not trying to be rude here but this post seems more like you whining than you actually trying to share information.

[boygirlparty]

here's the information we're sharing:
1. be aware that people asking for help on craigslist may not need your help, even if you speak to them directly on the phone as we did. individual to individual.
2. qualcomm is not accepting donations even though it is PLASTERED all over the internet and television that they do.
what i'm saying is that websites saying this and that shelter need help are OFTEN WRONG and i'd really like to hear first hand from someone who has been to a shelter today of one that DOES need our help. we had a long and difficult day, and i hope it is clear that i'm not trying to whine, i'm saying that there is MISINFORMATION on the internet and the television about the needs in this county at the moment and to be cautious before wasting time, money and effort the way we did.

nobody spends all their money and time to help people just so they can pathetically blog about it to strangers later for sympathy.
seriously.

Re: two places

[boygirlparty]

is there a number where we can reach the rock church that you know of?
we just want to be sure before we head out. we don't want the qualcomm situation to happen again.
the rubber rose may experience the same thing we did since they themselves are not an evac center.
sorry to hear it happened to you too.

Re: two places

[keepinitcool]

http://www.therocksandiego.org/wildfires/

Re: two places

[boygirlparty]

thank you so much, i'll give them a call tomorrow morning and i'll email them now.