Re Pat in Bastrop: Larry suggested we ask her for a "wish list" to

marilynfl

Moderator
prioritize her necessities.

I'd imagine when you've lost everything, you would need everything...but he felt there may be items that are more critical right now.

 
Also, Amazon gift cards might be a good thing

You can get almost anything on Amazon, and once things have settled down, they will mail to her.

 
-Haven't been able to reach her; Here's what's going in OUR GROUP gift box...

First off, all the cash collected is going directly to her and ended up being $400 put on a Visa cash card

Additionally I added a few new things I've either shopped my house or purchased. I wanted to keep it to small things given it's likely she isn't settled yet, I've containerized them into ziploc bag "kits" (and if I can find my Swiss Army knife I'll toss that in too but so far it's been elusive -- never found it) They are:

* Sunscreen
* Lip balm
* Mascara
* French soap
* Hair bands
* Nail file
* Tom's deodorant
* (didn't get Toothbrush - she said she has hers)
* Toothpaste
* Dental floss picks
* Hand lotion (purse size)
* Hand sanitizer (purse size)
* Purse size facial tissues
* Cotton swabs (travel size)
* Small first aid kit
* Tylenol type pain reliever (travel size)
* Perlier shower cream & body balm (travel size)
* Wide tooth comb
* Travel pop up hairbrush w/mirror
* Purity Made Simple face cleanser/doubles as eye make-up remover (travel size)
* Bumble and Bumble shampoo/conditioner (travel size)
* Mini emergency kit for Her from Sephora (purse size - needle/thread, you name it, it's in there)
* MASS quantities of sample stuff from Sephora and others after I told them what/who it was for.
* Book mark
* Cat treats
* Slipper socks (wanted to get her pjs too but don't know what size)
* Scotch tape
* Notebook with pad/pen and expandable file (to deal with insurance/FEMA etc. papers)
* Purse size notebook/pen
* Paper clips
* Post its
* Dust masks
* Work gloves
* Paper plates
* Assorted healthy snacks from TJ's
* Some candy (was going to send chocolate but fear it will melt)
* Can opener
* Cutting board
* And because it's us - a chef's knife (not $, a ceramic one I got at Harbor Freight, but they are quite nice/sharp) because that's an a essential, right?

 
Wow! Nice list of stuff. I already sent something but I'd like to know if she has a wish list

 
Unless we know she has a place shouldn't we wait to send

lots of gifts? She may not have a place to put them and also might not want to have to move them if they are in temporary housing.

 
I agree, last I heard she didn't even have a place for the night - hence small stuff I'm sending.

What I'm sending can all fit into one tote bag in case she's in a shelter or something.

I hope she has a motel or something as of now (but then again 1400 homes burned and how many hotel rooms?) and FEMA was late to the party because the Gov was out running for President. Hence a snafu declaring it a disaster area.

Reading the attached link makes is sound like things are still fairly discombobulated.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bastrop-County-Office-of-Emergency-Management/193202960708177

 
Using attached link/story/list of needs by someone who lived through this as a guide...

A friend at another site posted this for me and I used it when coming up with the list of things we are sending as our group gift along with the cash.

My thoughts are once she is settled we could get her some items and things she'll need at that point.

http://www.abc.net.au/emergency/stories/s2489763.htm

 
I know, tomorrow I call the Spec Ops dept of Fed Ex because I'm ticked at the PO....

Because the PO is showing delivery of both Express Mail and Priority Mail as the same delivery date from my zip code. So I called Fed Ex back and said surely you must have a disaster plan, and apparently they do have some covert disaster planning dept ("we don't even *have* their phone number") that will be opening in the am. If that doesn't work, no choice but USPS.

 
Ok, FYI here's how to ship FedEx to a PO Box

This took a whole lotta phone calls, but since Express Mail will not overnight ship there from here (and was almost $50 more than the discount I get from FedEx) it was worth investigating.

1) You must have an actual physical address

2) You must send it to the Post Master with Attn to what PO Box it is meant for.

So in this case:

Postmaster
Attn: Pat ****, PO Box ****
1106 MAIN ST
BASTROP, TX 78602-9998

 
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