While in the Gulf of Mississippi doing animal rescue, I was deeply moved by a young woman I met at our animal supply station, Nalaysha Finklea (NaNa). She suffered damage to her home but was more interested in helping those who had lost everything in her community. NaNa came back the next day to the station and invited me to come to her home. I met NaNa's family and neighbors. I also watched video of the devastation in their community. I was taken on a tour of the surrounding area and what I saw was beyond comprehension. The shock, magnitude and horror of it is impossible to fully explain or properly convey in any photograph. 

     Many people need many things and you can become overwhelmed. My focus became the welfare of the people and animals of Jackson County, MS. The Abundance of Blessings Church in Moss Point, MS. epitomized the concept of community relief. Pastor Cleveland Shearls and his wife Lannie have gone above and beyond the call of duty to bring back structure and security to the church and it's surrounding community. Matty Thompson is coordinating supply drives at the church and has been working night and day. Our efforts to help this small community will make a HUGE difference in their lives.

     Attempting to be a precise relief, Adopt-a-Community is working closely with the Church to insure the community receives what they need. We have a general needs list and have also created a list of individual families with their sizes and particular needs. We believe this will be a model for future relief efforts.

Please contact the Adopt-a-Community Coordinator, Joanne Gerow at indianhillfarm@hughes.net with any questions, concerns or sugestions!

Please ship items on our Current List of General Needs (below) or send cash donations to the following address:

Abundance of Blessings Church

4031 Washington Blvd.
Moss Point, MS 39563
ATTN : MATTY THOMPSON

• Back Packs
• Notebooks
• Pencils
• Pens
• Folders
• Loose leaf

  FOOD

• Ramen Noodles
• Macaroni & Cheese
• Canned meats, fruits & soups
• Snack bars
• Rice
• Sugar

  GENERAL

• Children's toys & stuffed animals
• Duct tape
• Garbage cans & waste paper baskets
• Mops & brooms
• All-purpose cleaner
• Dish soap
• Laundry detergent
• Bug repellent
• Flashlights & batteries
• Candles
• Zip-Loc Bags - gallon size
• Paper towels & toilet paper

  CLOTHING

• Women's hosiery: knee highs & panty hose (all sizes: Please concentrate on plus sizes; 1X, 2X, 3X)
  
  
• T-shirts (all sizes including 1X, 2X & 3X: girls, boys, womens (Please concentrate on plus sizes) & mens)


• Underwear (all sizes including 1X, 2X & 3X: girls, boys, womens (Please concentrate on plus sizes) & mens)

• Socks (children & adult)


• Used clothing, footwear and linens in excellent condition

  OTHER

• Gas Gift cards for Exon, Chevron,
  BP and Shell
• Toothbrushes and toothpaste
• Brushes, combs and hair picks
• Women's personal hygiene items
• Baby diapers
• Sheet sets and blankets
• Towels

In order to maintain efficiency in our efforts, we are asking that an e-mail is sent to indianhillfarm@hughes.net whenever a package is sent to the church with a list of items sent so that we are able to keep an approximate inventory. This will prevent too much or too little of the same item.

 

If you are interested in adopting an individual family or family member who has survived Katrina but lost everything, please contact Joanne Gerow at indianhillfarm@hughes.net.