America's Heart, Inc: an organization helping with the aftermath of Katrina

Greetings and Blessings:

Hurricane Katrina came ashore in Florida one week ago today. Her eventual path surprised us all. Food, water and clothing were delivered to South Florida on Saturday and Sunday.

Katrrina restrengthened. We and our partners began gearing up. ACTS Ministry-Holley, Florida did not know whether to evacuate or bring in food and water. The storm hit, the tidal surge wiped out Bayou La Batre: made famous by Forest Gump. Sherry and Ronnie Johnson drove the ACTS Ministry truck into Bayou LaBatre on Tuesday while we were driving over from Jacksonville. Today 1,000 families have been supported for more than three days.

Compassion Alliance was on the ground in Gulfport, Ms., on Tuesday evening. We have been working under a letter of understanding with the Mississippi EOC and have now been given responsibility for aid distribution over a six (6) county area. We control from Pass Christian all the way to Pascagoula, MS. We are responsible for receipt and distribution of all local, state, public, corporate, private, faith-based and even FEMA donated materials. We need help and prayers. Promised monies from several ministries have not yet arrived.

We (America's Heart) currently have 134 truck loads enroute to both locations and the area south of Jackson, MS., This is not enough and this endeavor will last for many months to come. Our transportation costs average $2,700.00 per truck plus the cost of the contents. We are now beginning to move trucks from as far away as Massachusetts and this will be very expensive.

Monday we will arrive in Gulfport with a medical team, RVs and a helicopter from Christ's Fellowship-South Florida along with food and other supplies.

We are sending in Light In A Can, food, water, fluid milk which does not require refrigeration, OTCs, diapers, diesel fuel (18-55 gal drums)
thanks to supplies made available by Soy-Ultima, Taylor Outreach Ministries, manpower from H.O.M.E., Inc., two of our sons. Becky helped to find us fuel containers, Middleburg HS made a large material donation as did Waste Not Want Not and Grace Episcopal Church - Orange Park, Florida. Danny will assist by driving a truck on Monday. Our ministry friends at Cross International have been a great friend during this crunch time.

We need a portable medical clinic or a large tent much the same as what an Evangelist would use. We need tow behind generators, electric cords, portable lights, large fans and RVs or motor homes. We need portable fuel tanks to hold diesel fuel and gasoline in support of the distribution center. We can use ag diesel for this endeavor. We need volunteers willing to spend a week and assist in the efforts.

A mobile kitchen will accompany us which will be managed by Ray Pringle-Calvary Church of GOD and capable of feeding several thousand daily. The big hurdle will be keeping this unit supplied as well supported with a refrigeration unit.

Pastor Wiggins (father and son) Evangel Temple AOG - Jacksonville are helping to raise funds, food and volunteers.

ISON is traveling into New Orleans, invited by N.O. SWAT, to assist with the search and rescue effort.

Trucks must run in convoys due to the high incidence of hijacking. Security is a major concern. Nobody runs after dark.

A high ranking delegation will arrive in Jacksonville tomorrow morning. We will meet tomorrow afternoon in between loading trucks and sorting food items. We will put them into the hotel and then pick them up at 1630 for a welcoming reception at 1700 and dinner at 1800. We will have some entertainment in the form of a competitive cheerleading performance. The delegation will accompany us to church the next morning, we will have lunch and immediately return to our discussions. On Monday we will tour the hurricane devastation with the delegation. We want to thank David, Linda, John and ShaRRon for all their help preparing for the reception and dinner. We depend upon you ... Thank YOU.

Baby food, diapers, bottles, bibs, feeding spoons and bowls, baby formula, feminine products, OTCs, bandaids, coolers, water jugs, stock tanks filled with potable water ... RV's, motor homes, etc., et al still remain big items.

We will be traveling with a large number of volunteers and fuel will be a problem. This will be a very long day. We will most likely return to Jacksonville in the wee hours of Tuesday morning. Our convoy may number 30 vehicles.

Ron Miller, Food For Tots, was in Florida on Monday buying food for distribution through his warehouse in Hattiesburg, MS., When Ron finally made it home he found the rear of his warehouse destroyed and the contents looted. He lost the roof to his home. They will not have electric for 3-4 months. Gypsies wanted to charge $3,700 to cut up one fallen tree. Ron needs your help and your prayers.

If teams of carpenters are looking for someplace to donate their skills we can put you to work in Hattiesburg, MS., at homes and churches.

People had become complacent even after the 2004 hurricane season, hard to believe isn't it? If a Category-1 were to threaten the S.E. coast people would begin to panic, a Category-2 and above would be a disaster simply because we do not have enough fuel for those who would wish to evacuate or simply could not afford the $3.25 to $6.10 per gallon cost. All the hotels are filled. Food is even in a short supply. Please pray we do not have another storm. Please send help for those in need.

Your drivers will need a copy of the Mississippi EOC letter. Send me and e-mail and we will fax you a copy. We are set up in the Outlet Mall parking lot at the Junction of US-49 and I-10 in Gulfport, Mississippi. Your point-of-contact is Steve Ewing or Chad Holgerson. If you rather, you may send your contributions to our location in Jacksonville, Florida and we will see the items are delivered to the area of greatest need. Our locations are provided police/sheriff and National Guard security.

We NEED a LARGE SUPPLY of MATCHES, IMMEDIATELY.

We will pull the trucks out of our warehouse parking lot on Monday and will be congregating at Evangel Temple AOG parking lot early for a 0700 departure. Some will be staying at the Best Western Hotel & Suites on Collins Road, just off I-295 and US-17/Roosevelt Blvd. We have two trucks enroute to Bayou LaBatre this evening. Due to the size of our convoy we might be better off traveling in two groups.

Mission First Coast sent out a communication identifying America's Heart as one of three ministries they recommend to receive donations for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. We were humbled by this recognition.

Thank you for your prayers and support for these ministries. Thank you and LORD Bless.

IHS,
Bill H.

William A. Henry - President / OverseerSanta Fe, Suwannee & Tampa Bay, Inc., / America's Heart, Inc.Ofc: 2531 Eagle Bay Drive (Whse: Rear-2137 Liberty Street-Jacksonville, FL USA 32206)Orange Park, Florida, U.S.A. 32073-6155 E-mail: sstbinc@juno.comTelephone: 904-278-8076 Facsimile: 904-278-8061