In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, a local woman named Sandy Mateer decided she wanted to do something to help.  Along with Alexandria Mayor Dan Ness, she connected with the Mayor of Alexandria, Louisiana, a destination city for many evacuees.  The community response here in Alexandria, Minnesota was huge.  She and community volunteers eventually filled three semi-trailers with everything from household goods to clothing, donated by residents of Douglas County.

Armed with a list of requests from Alexandria, LA, my grandson Zach and I went shopping. 

We purchased twin-size bed pads, sheets & pillowcases, comforters, pillows, towels, and toiletries and packed two identical boxes.  In each box we put a zip-lock bag with a tablet, envelopes, a book of stamps and a package of inkpens.  We also included a self-addressed, stamped envelope along with a letter to the person who opened each box.  In the letters we wrote that we were thinking about them and would like to know that they were safe and that our boxes had arrived.

Every day for the next couple of months Zach would call and ask if we had received an answer.  Nothing.  We were puzzled and disappointed. How hard could it possibly be for someone to write a couple of lines and send back a self-addressed, stamped envelope? Then we watched news reports which showed evacuees in Texas returning to fancy motel rooms loaded with bags from this-or-that shopping mart where they had gone with government-issued shopping cards.  I have to admit we felt a little foolish.  Under those circumstances, we doubted that our boxes would have mattered to anyone. Eventually Zach quit asking and I quit watching the mailbox.  

Last night, November 13, 2006, I arrived home after dark and sat in my car at the end of the driveway and looked through the mail.  I came upon an envelope with a New Orleans, LA postmark.  I was trying to think of someone I knew in Louisiana, when I noticed it was addressed to me….IN MY HANDWRITING!!  I immediately went into the house and called Zach and read him the following letter:

“Dear Patty:  On August 30, 2006 my husband and I spent the first night back in our house.  One year and a day later!  We have a long ways to go; but it doesn’t matter.  We are sleeping in a “bed”.  A real “bed”!  I apologize for the late reply.  As I was moving and sorting through boxes, I came across this tablet and pens in a bag.  I was so touched when I read your letter.  It feels so good to know that there are people out there that haven’t forgot us. 

My name is Suzanne.  I am married with two kids who are 19 & 20 years old.  They both attend University and have been living there since the hurricane.  They have adapted well and know that they will soon have a home again.

We had eight feet of water in our home for six weeks.  It was very unbelievable.  I was able to save most of my china which was safely packed away.  I always take my pictures with me when I evacuate, for they can never be replaced.  It has been a very trying experience, one that I will never forget.  I thank God every day for my family and for what we have.  Life changes on a “dime” and it can never be replaced.

As for the “FEMA” trailers, that has been one huge experience.  Imagine my 6’4” husband trying to do anything in a camper trailer!  We adjusted.  Just a different way of living.  Thank God it was temporary.  We are settled in the house and our neighborhood is starting to look somewhat normal.  If we could just get rid of the “mouse epidemic”!  I have learned to deal with just about anything!

Once again, thank you for your thoughtfulness and prayers.  Take care and I would love to hear from you again.  Suzanne.”

Imagine.  Here in the most prosperous country in the world, it took a year-and-a-day for this woman to get back into her home.  I guess we now understand how even returning a self-addressed, stamped envelope would be way, way down on the list of priorities.  I wonder if we can even imagine the conditions that still exist in our southern states that were ravaged by the hurricanes….while billions and billions of dollars are being spent in the middle east.  I’m going to write back to Suzanne.  I’ll keep you posted.