CHARLEY AND THE REAL AMERICA

by juliebug, Thursday, August 19, 2004, 13:09

I know most of us here probably already read Rumor Mill News, but for those who don't, or who haven't checked there today, this is a must read...

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CHARLEY UPDATE: YES, THERE REALLY IS AN AMERICAN SPIRIT *PIC*

Posted By: lawgiver1
Date: Wednesday, 18 August 2004, 3:07 p.m.

Hello America,

The human spirit is an amazing force of power, compassion, and strength. I am amazed at what is happening around us. It is NOT any government or agency group that has taken on the crux of the relief efforts here: The AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE THE PRIMARY RELIEF EFFORT.

Since yesterday, privately owned pick-up trucks, vans, and utility trailers filled with food, water, tarps, gasoline, generators, candles, and all sorts of other needed items, have been arriving at neighborhoods freely distributing everything they have. I spoke with a man who came from Georgia with 12 new generators and new 5 gallon gas cans for each one, all filled with gas. He and his neighbors pitched in and bought all that equipment. No-one asked them to, they just did it.

A young mother from Naples in a red Ford Van showed up with her 2 small children to distribute hundreds of loaves of bread she had bought. The little girls were handing a loaf of bread to an old man and the younger sister said to him, “You look like my grandpa. You can have my peanut butter and jelly momma brought with us for lunch.” She went to the cooler and handed him her half jar of peanut butter and a jar of strawberry jam.

A contractor from Bradenton arrived in his pickup towing a Bobcat tractor, followed by his two dump trucks trailering well-used bucket loaders. They unloaded their equipment, started up their chain saws, and cleared out a block of debris within an hour. He and his employees are volunteering their time and equipment just to help in the way they know best. The owner told me, “We don’t want to accept money for what we’re doing. We don’t want insurance companies or any government to pay us. We’re here because we’re needed. Let's just leave it at that.”

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Read it all at link below. It's incredible.