Giving
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Once again nature has thrashed the U.S. off the Gulf of Mexico and left many without homes and power. I'm relieved and thankful that Wilma was not as devastating as Katrina and Rita . . . and that the hurricane season will soon come to a close. Here at Quixtar and parent company Alticor, we continue with our efforts to provide support to those affected by these storms.
Since early September, IBOs and others have contributed more than $200,000 at the American Red Cross donation site set up at Quixtar.com. More than $200,000 in additional funds are expected soon from a few major IBO organizations that have raised funds for the American Red Cross at their fall events, which will maximize the $250,000 match grant Alticor promised when the donation site was set up. Also, Alticor already has donated $250,000 to various organizations involved in disaster relief, not including hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of product donated primarily through International Aid, based in Spring Lake, Mich.
A few weeks ago, Lisa, who sits in the cubicle next to mine, participated in an employee relief trip to Biloxi, Miss. She recounted the horrible destruction she witnessed, where neighborhoods were simply wiped out. Another employee relief trip is planned over the Thanksgiving weekend.
IBOs are helping out too. Cheri from Texas wrote to me about what she experienced. She said, "I just wanted to say thank you to our upline who called to make sure their Texas people were OK after Rita. Other than a few trees that landed on some houses and messes in lots of yards, I am happy to report that we are all fine. I have been working with the Red Cross as the St. Agnus church for three weeks leading up to Rita trying to get the lives of all those affected by Katrina back in order. I can tell you that it has been nothing short of surreal."
So many affected, and we would drive up every day and the lines were just as long as they were the day before. The day before Rita, we worked until 6 p.m. trying to get money to as many as possible and still had to cut the lines of people off so the evacuees could get somewhere safe, the worker and volunteers could get somewhere safe, and the Red Cross could pack up the instant city that was set up to help. Literally, we were in a city set up by the Red Cross that was full of people from everywhere just to help other humans. Fema. The Houston Police. Some 4,000 firemen from all over the U.S. Boston Market catered I don't know how many meals every day. And hundreds of individuals like me from all over Houston and surrounding areas. ... I could not help but sit and look at all the people--all different colors coming together to help each other. ... I just wanted to say that I am very blessed to be able to be a part of the relief effort and I hope that this will give people cause to sit back and remember that, just like Quixtar, if we work together we will get it done."
Thank you Cheri and all the other Quixtar IBOs and employees who have given so generously of their time and resources to provide aid to those stricken by these natural disasters. The hard work isn't done by a long shot, of course, and I expect that relief from the company and trips by employees and IBOs to help clean up in Louisiana and Mississippi will continue for many months to come. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of the Gulf States region.