News and Views
In Katrina's Wake: Organizing to Serve
At 6:50 AM on Saturday, September 11, a group of about 50 students gathered in front of the OWU sports center. After a hearty breakfast of Krispy Kreme doughnuts and orange juice, they loaded supplies into vehicles, held a brief prayer, and piled into a caravan destined for Camp Gruber.
Roughly two hours later, when the troop arrived, they were allowed into the gates without hassle. They parked as directed and waited for further instructions. Soon, an official from the American Red Cross approached the group. Instead of telling them where to go next, however, he accused them of lying to get into the gates in order to conduct religious services. He said that he would have allowed them to stay, but he knew that the group had religious intentions. Oklahoma highway patrol was on the way. He ordered the students to unpack their donations and leave.
In the next few awkward moments, students carried clothes, Bibles, toys and other miscellaneous items to their respective drop-off points. Red Cross volunteers were grateful, thanking students and telling them “God bless you.”
As they headed back to their vehicles, a National Guard official approached the group. He apologized and informed students that security had turned away the highway patrol at the gates. As the group listened, he explained that there were about 1,200 volunteers at Gruber and only 1,000 hurricane refugees. He assured the students that they were not the first group to be turned away, although they were the largest. Finally, he instructed those who still wished to volunteer to contact the Red Cross and place their names on a list.
This turn of events proved frustrating to many students, who simply wanted to help. The situation reflects an important new turn in the efforts to assist the evacuees.
Debbie Crume, office manager for the Bartlesville Red Cross, said, “They’re really tightening down on security. They really don’t want any more spontaneous volunteers.”
The trip to Gruber was not merely spontaneous. Oklahoma Wesleyan University was on a list of volunteers. The recent switch to a new list of requirements could help explain why our students were turned away. According to Crume, the new policy requires volunteers to have taken a Red Cross training class. These classes are not pre-scheduled, but six classes were offered in the two weeks following hurricane Katrina. Once a person is trained, he will be placed on a waiting list to be sent to Gruber or New Orleans. The Bartlesville Red Cross is currently sending 6-11 volunteers daily.
Meanwhile, there are local opportunities to offer much-needed assistance. Students in the Bartlesville area should contact Mary Martha Outreach, which serves as the local collection site for all donated items. Volunteers are needed to sort items into palettes destined for Camp Gruber or New Orleans. Mary Martha is open to volunteers between the hours of 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
There is still need for donations. Currently, Mary Martha is asking for hygiene products and clothing of all types sized 2X-4X. Donations may be delivered to:
Mary Martha Outreach
337-3703
1845 SW 4th Street (their new location)
near Fifth Street and Sunset Boulevard (just east of United Supermarket)
Many local churches will also accept donations and deliver them to Mary Martha.
Editor's Note: We have heard, but not yet confirmed, that most of the evacuees who were brought to Camp Gruber have relocated to surrounding communities -- resulting in a situation where most of the assistance needed is now in local communities who are adopting and supporting newly arrived families and individuals. Some local churches, such asreported in the Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise, have organized to "adopt" and support evacuees who are leaving Camp Gruber to relocate to surrounding communities. Other groups are organizing trips to help clean up and re-build New Orleans and other devastated communities.
For more information, see the Bartlesville Area Katrina Project web pages.