I know from my main board, Due In October, we had several mommies who were affected by the hurricane, 2 of which had to evacuate entirely (to Nashville and Jacksonville) and one of which we still haven't heard from yet. I was wondering if maybe we could get a list of the people who need help and the people who are still missing, in case someone from one of the other boards has heard something. In Misty's case, it was her sister-in-law who told us she was alive and okay (albeit without a house!) and with Stefanie, we still haven't heard anything at all. We could also list what these people may need (Misty lost all her cute baby stuff, including her cloth diapers) and we're working on collecting stuff on our board, but I thought maybe it could be set up here as well, for anyone who wanted to directly help people who were affected. I think Lisa is the one who is in charge of collecting money for our girls, and has said that it would be given directly to the women and I saw a post somewhere about a place to donate where ALL of the money goes to the people affected.

Our mommies affected are Misty, Erin, and Stefanie. Misty (mommypatton521/from St. Pernard Parish) and Erin (degemama/can't remember where she was from, I think it was closer to Lafayette) are accounted for and safe, although Erin's dad had to go to New Orleans to help with the rescue effort and Misty lost her house and everything in it. Stefanie (paigesmommy/from New Orleans) evac'd to Jacksonville, but her husband is a fireman and stayed behind.

I honestly don't know if Erin or Stefanie need anything, but since Stefanie won't be going back home anytime soon, she probably at least lost a fair bit of her baby stuff. Misty's having a girl and Stefanie is having a boy. We have several stickies on Due In October about what people can do to help out. Listing any other people affected by the hurricane (here?) can get all of it together to help for people who want to do something to directly assist people.

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One of our mommies from the Born in April 205 board, Donna - mommiemouse, who is also Misty - mommypatton521's SIL, is in the Nashville, TN area. They do not know when they will be able to return home. Our board has been sending items needed by the family, and we have collected money and sent it to them via paypal it to them to help with other expenses, since her dh won't be able to work.

I can't even imagine being out of my house and without an income. My heart goes out to all of those affected by this monstrous storm.

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Just as an update, we heard from Stefanie and she said her house wasn't very badly damaged and she doesn't think they lost much of anything. She had moved out of New Orleans just a little while before Katrina hit! So she wasn't as badly affected as most of us feared. She's said that anything anyone wanted to send to her they should send to someone who needs it more.

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hiya - I don't know if you've already checked the National Center of Missing & Exploited Children, but they have a website and hotline dedicated to victims of Hurricane Katrina - it might be worth checking - www.missingkids.com or 1-888-544-5475.

I hope everyone is doing well and/or recovering from the hurricane. The devestation is awful.

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