[JPop's Mom]

Hi all, my internet has been down, but I'm sure all of you know or have seen the tradigy here in Louisiana, as well as MS & AL. I'm in a small town in west central LA. Even though we were not physically effected by Katrina, the effects we are feeling are so real. We have hundreds of people here that have left their homes, and can't get back to them, and may not even have anything to go back to. Several of our churches with means to help have set up shelters, and the local vets (we only have 2) have accepted as many animals as they can. I know several families that have taken in strangers and their pets. We are all contributing food for pets, money, supplies, toys, puzzles, etc. to make their stay as comfortable as possible, as it may be for quite a while. We heard earlier, our local nursing homes are now full...its so sad, where will all these people go? Our library has met with the kids in the churches and read stories and put on puppet shows for them; anything to make them forget for a little while. Several kids have already enrolled in schools, and we're trying to find out if they even have clothes and shoes to wear to school. I don't mean to babble, but we have a really serious problem here in LA, with not much light at the end of the tunnel yet. Please keep us in your prayers.

Linda