Meet the Wright and Keener Families…
I can’t believe that in less than 3 weeks we will be embarking on the Hip2Help Tour. I am daily humbled by all of the generous donations that keep pouring in from the Hip2Save readers and sponsors who are more than willing to give…THANK YOU! As I’ve mentioned before, we are leaving in early July and are planning to sponsor between 1-3 families in 4 different communities along the way.
Meet the Wright Family…
Thanks to the help of Hip2Save reader volunteer Carrie in Griffin, Georgia, we are honored to introduce another one of our sponsored families, the Wright Family. The Wright family consists of dad, mom, girl (age 8 ) and boy (age 4). As you can see from the pictures above, the Wright family lost their entire rental home and are currently living in a motel. When asked to jot down a list of the items that they were missing, the Wright kids came up with the list below:
In addition to the items mentioned in the list above, the Wright family is in need of toiletries, a King size bed, sheets and bedspreads for king, twin and a toddler bed, kitchen appliances (refrigerator, stove, dishwasher), plates, cups, silverware, gift cards to restaurants, dog, cat, and horse food. In addition, they are in need of clothing and shoes:
Mom: Large shirt, 10-12 pants, Size 8.5-9 shoes
Dad: 2XL shirt, 38 x 32 pants, Size 10.5 shoes
Girl (age 8): 10-12 shirt, Size 8 pants, Size 3.5 shoes
Boy (age 4): 5-6 shirt, Size 5-6 pants, Shoes 1
Please mail donations for the Wright Family to the following address (if you are local to Griffin, GA you can call Brandy at 770-412-0429 to arrange local delivery of your donations):
Note: If your donated items are not immediately needed by the family, they will be stored in this location until we arrive in July.
Diversified Fabricators, Inc.
Attn: Hip2Help Tour/Wright Family
1325 U.S. 41 Bypass South
Griffin, GA 30224
Meet the Keener Family…
Also, thanks to the help of Hip2Save reader volunteer Tina in Calhoun County, Alabama, we are honored to introduce another one of our sponsored families in Alabama, the Keener Family. The Keener family consists of dad, mom, girl (almost 8), boy (age 5), and boy (age 4). As you can see from the pictures above, the Keener family lost their entire home and husband’s truck and their lawnmower and bikes for the kids were stolen. 🙁 Until recently, they were living in a tent on their property to avoid further looting but have now moved into a relative’s older home with bare necessities only.
If you want to help us support this family through donations, here is what is needed:
* Dresser
* Chest of Drawers
* Gift cards to Lowes or Home Depot to purchase house paint/supplies, siding, fixtures, etc.
* New fixtures for shower and tub (and possible plumber to figure out why water won’t run)
* Barbie dolls (including jet, house, clothing, accessories) for daughter – insulation in house was so bad that they had to throw away all toys. She’ll be turning 8 at the end of June, so this would be a great birthday present! 🙂
* Spiderman, Ironman, and Mario toys for the boys
* Flowers and Potted Plants for outside of house
* Dog treats/supplies
* House decor (Mom likes sunflowers, etc)
*…and more. We’ll update the Calhoun County page with more needs as they come in.
Please mail donations for the Keener Family to the following address:
Note: If your donated items are not immediately needed by the family, they will be stored in this location until we arrive in July.
Saks Baptist Church
c/o Tina Horn Hip2Help
2945 US Hwy 431
Anniston, AL 36206
OR
Tina Horn
Attn: Hip2Help Tour/Thornton Family
55 Brooks Drive
Alexandria, AL 36250
* Please contact Tina at 256-620-7330 or 256-239-5206 if you have any specific questions about donating to the Keener Family.
If you’re new around here, you may be asking yourself “What is the Hip2Help Tour?!” Click here for more information.
Oh my….that is SO SAD with the letter….the part about the “Christmas tree with lites” just saddens my heart. God Bless you Collin for helping to take care of this family. Truly amazing!
The x-mas tree got me to crying. Every year I complain about my ugly tree. This year I will just appreciate that I have one.
Oh..me too…breaks my heart.
Me too! I thought that was a very sweet request.
aw man…I have a toddler bed that I am getting rid of but I live in Mobile, AL and I’m not sure how I would get it to Griffin GA.
I feel bad that I keep for getting to mail off a package i have for the tour. Is it too late to send?
No, you are not too late. I just ask that all packages please arrive by July 1st. Thanks so much for your support!
Awesome! Thank you! Going to add a few more goodies I got today and it will be on you way! ^-^
I am all for helping those who need it, but there is no mention if these people have insurance or not. I would like to send a monetary donation but I want to make sure it is going to a family that didn’t have insurance.
Thank you.
Kate, THANK YOU, for being willing to help. Even if they did have insurance, many policies only cover to a certian amount. As for the Keener family they did NOT I cant speak for the others. Some, ( I know now that i am one) do not have enough coverage to replace even half what they had, and most policies only give the depreciated value. So, even with insurance these families still need the compassion and help. The ones here that have insurance are useing what the have LEFT after paying the mortage off (which is not much) to put a roof over their heads. See, many think if you have insurance you replace all your stuff, but if you have a MORTAGE that has to be paid FIRST. 🙁
Thank you all for you help for these families.
And don’t forget, FEMA is refusing to help some of these people.
so true. There is a fmily here that lost the business that the man had for his family and because he was working had a job income, FEMA did not pay a penny. Fema, has helped some, but, not as many as they claim. I was told a lot of what the claim to be spending is allocated tothe workers that are going out and filling out the papers. I know how weird.
Tina, I think you bring up an important point. Some agents try to get the lowest possible premium to snag customers, but sacrifice coverage.
Every homeowner should read their policy carefully .
If you don’t have 100% REPLACEMENT COST coverage of the dwelling you will not be able to rebuild. You will get only the depreciation.
It is a good idea to get a quote from more than one agent. But, some agents don’t know the policy as well as they should. The number one thing you can do to protect yourself, is to read your policy and ask questions.
Also, be sure that you have enough personal property coverage. It might cost more, but what is it really worth to you?
Hi Tina- My family was on vacation until yesterday but I have a BIG box of new toys and a few other items that I UPS’d out today. They said it should be there before the 8th. I know this post asked that everything be there by July 1st but we’ve been out of town for 3 weeks so I’m hoping it’s ok that it’s getting there a bit late, we really want to help. Sorry for any inconvenience!
Oh and I mailed it to your address not Collin’s so I hope that makes it a little easier… :o)
Thank You so much. I should get it before the 8th UPS is pretty fast here. Well depends on where you are.. But even if its late,, I will personally take to the family. Thank you for thinking of them, This entire tour has been so blessed with the love of people all over our usa like you! God Bless! Tina ALABAMA
Yeah! Thanks Tina! Hope it goes off without a hitch… God Bless you and all the folks your trying to help…..
Collin,
Concerning the families that you have profiled, many have a direct address and a storage address. I would like to mail some of the items that the families need now. I am not sure with some of the families profiled exactly what is needed now. Could you please let me know which are which? Thank you for doing this.
I have SO MUCH that’s on both of these lists, including some of the bigger items. I just wish I had a way to get it from Chicago to Ga, since it’s HUGE and heavy and way too big to ship. 🙁 I hope some local people/people who live a little closer can come through for these poor families. Thank you for doing this!!!
Try using the USPS once size boxes. I wish I could remember the name. If it fits in the box, it ships for one low price. I have been able to send some heavier items this way.
All of these stories are heart-breaking. Thank you so much for all you are doing to help these people Collin. This is a great example of the power of the internet being used for good. 🙂
I am putting together a box, but wondering if it’s okay to send some “gently-loved” toys and clothes?
omg, that is the sweetest little letter ive ever seen. if that doesnt get you to send something their way, you have no soul! lol
collin you are a wonderful person. i’m sure these families are thankful to have met you!
I to was very saddened with the Christmas tree and lights. I am wondering if it would be okay to send gently used? I have a daughter the same age as Brianna.
It has been said before that they will accept gently used clothing.
I feel their pain. I have all my sympathy go to them especially kids during the hard time. But having kid jot down XBox 360 and Nintendo DS as need items after an emergency striked. I am really not happy to see that on the list. I mean, mom or dad should have cross it out or at least teach kids what’s the different between need and want.
Please, respect my own opinion.
I don’t blame the kids for asking but you are right, the parents should have crossed it out. I noticed that too.
I got the impression that the little girl was writing a list of the things they lost.
That may not be a “need” but do you seriously have an issue with a little girl who has lost EVERYTHING writing down what she lost?
I am from Alabama and the horrific death toll and destruction is very traumatic. Most of us know people whe died during those storms. Please respect my opinion that going through this experience is NOT the time to “educate” a child on needs vs. wants.
actually, this is the perfect opportunity to educate the kids on the needs vs. wants issue. It is hard to teach a child that without them seeing actual needs NOT being met (which happens VERY RARELY in the US). We are so blessed in our country, which is wonderful, but at the same time, often makes it so we have a hard time understanding needs vs. wants. Many people, adults included, don’t understand that a NEED is something that you will DIE without. Everything else is a want. Shelter, food, clothing, are needs, everything else is fluff.
Seriously, do 4 y.o. have X-Boxes??? what happened to sand boxes and lincoln logs???
Last time i checked you wouldn’t DIE without clothes. Let the kids wish for what they want. It doesn’t mean you have to buy it for them, but maybe someone else has one they don’t use anymore and wants to give them one of their WANTS!
depending on your climate, clothing could be a definite need.
I understand that those items- XBox and Ds should not be on a need or want list right now, however it says above that the children were asked to make a list of what they were -Missing- after the storm, not necessarily a list of things they were asking for.
I agree too, that is somewhat excessive, but remember they are kids. They dont really know the costs of these things they just miss what they had before. They will learn in time what is need verses wants. Right now, they just know everything they HAD is gone. I see both sides.
Sorry i don’t agree with you. A child’s mind is totally different than an adult’s, and we shouldn’t expect them to worry about what we do. When I separated from my husband, my daughter didn’t really seem worried that she wouldn’t be living with her father any longer, but she would ask me four or five times a day if she would be able to bring all her toys when she and I moved out. The things children play with on a daily basis bring them comfort and can restore a sense of normality to a child that has their “normal” totally disrupted. I think video games might be theraputic for these kids right now.
I totally agree that those items signify that these kids need to be given some direction as to needs and wants. With so many families without anything, it is greedy for these kids to ask for such items – they should be being taught that they should only want their needs, and then desire for others to have their needs fulfilled before the kids start asking for wants.
I feel more for the people that own the rental – I hope that they have insurance; household items can be easily replaced, a house, not so much.
Are you really calling a kid that just lost their home greedy???? I think you need to step back and understand the big picture. THEY LOST EVERYTHING!!
I agree with you about the renters/owners..and it’s frustrating that people don’t realize renters indsurance can be as cheap as 10-16 dollars per month to cover the household items. I understand we all get in this mindset that it won’t happen to us, but then every year it happens to another group of people that are totally blindsided. Please do not misunderstand, my heart breaks for these people…the renters, and homeowners whom have lost a lot.
I would agree with you, Niki. I was surprised that she put XBox 360 and Nintendo DS 1st and 3rd on the list but put the pink comforter and pillow near the bottom…those are necessities! Then again, kids learn from their parents, so we can’t really blame them but hope they get help with their basic needs after this tragedy.
Thank you Collin for organizing this effort!
I agree. I was very surprised to see that as well.
I grew up with nothing, we spent weeks at a time living on and off in a green sation wagon and the food bank was our salvation. I could never have wished for these things, because I was lucky to find .29 cents for a hamburger at mcdonalds and it was a miracle if there was an extra dime for cheese. Kids that have always had these things, would of course gravitate to them in a time of stress. I always wanted my raggedy baby blanket and sweet pickles book because they were familiar. So while yes, it is materialistic and the wrong thing to ask for, in these kids minds it’s just familiar and familiar equals comfort. Plus dad may have helped with the list, my husband can only thing about his laptop and playstation in a time of crisis:)
So, their animals were ok then? Since you listed dog, cat & horse food. I can only imagine how scared they were. The last tornado that hit our town (we’ve had 2 since 1973 & we have been extremely lucky that none have ever been close to these horrible ones) hit the SE side of town. My dad’s co-worker’s house was hit. His son had their dog in one arm & the cat in the other running down to the basement as their windows were breaking. Every time it got windy after that, the poor kitty would run & hide. BTW, I had to cry when I saw the Christmas tree & lites, too.
joeywishtoo, the Keeners 2 dogs are so depressed and confused they keep going back tothe place wherethe home was and laying in the driveway. The family goes and gets them and brings them back, but soon as they are let out of the house, they walk “home”
I know 1 of their dogs is a great pyrnese, but not sure what the other one is.
I just boxed up some things for the Wright family. I plan on mailing it tomorrow.
I think this is amazing what you guys are doing for these people in such need. I was wondering if you were going to Joplin, MIssouri also. Joplin is my hometown so it really hits hard with me. There are so many familes that need help there. Fema and the insurance companies aren’t doing much good from what I’ve been told. I wish we could all help everyone in need.
I had put a small box together and was going to send it to a family in Joplin. Do you know of any churches, etc. that are taking donations?
I have a dresser/couch/tv’s and a whole house of things (besides beds and a kitchen table) that i would LOVE to donate. My mother passed away in February and I inherited many things my family doesnt need. I’ve yet to go through much of it but i Know there are lots of plus sized clothes towels kitchen dishes/glasses/cups cooking supplies. She would have loved for someone in need to receive them but were currently expecting (in a few weeks) so money is tight and shipping items just is not a financial option for us (wish it was) —- does anyone know of a way i could get things like this to people in need? Her house is in the Houston area if that helps. I wish the best of luck to this family
KMSTAR1 I have been donating to Joplin and I know they are demolished…I mean it is BAD there. I am in 63042 right now…and My husband is a construction worker. We are trying to stay until they say they need help so he can donate himself…….but they keep telling these guys …no no not now…..why not now??? THese people need their lives back…..in my opinion and call me nasty…..if it came down to a bottle or 2 of shampoo and allowing people to come in and rebuild my home……I would walk around nasty with dirty hair if it meant my little girl was sleeping safely in her own bed. I have been boxing up stuff all week to take out there to help them about 5 BIG uhaul boxes and still going strong…I would rather live minimalist if my clothing and everything I have went to a mommy or a little girl that TRULY needed it
I have a Christmas Tree but it is Hot Pink 7 foot tall tree…..don’t know if they would want it or not…its all I have we have been out of work for 3 years now (construction) It is everything we have….but I will give it all to these people if I could. Point me in the right direction…..I will send stuff there….are there any organizations that will provide boxes or mailers for shipping stuff…..we will drive ours to Joplin….but I cannot afford to send a tree that far away. I don’t have ornaments….we just used ribbon and made little bows and tied them all over it….my little girl didn’t care it was a pink tree and she was impressed with that ….
so sorry to hear about your being out of work for so long and heartwarming to hear that you’d give all you have despite what you’ve been through.
I know this church has been helping a lot there. https://ignitechurch.tv/
They can point you in the right direction.
https://ignitechurch.tv/
This church has been helping a lot! They should be able to help you out in any way.
HI,
My Dad should be mailing some Barbies to Alabama for the Keener little girl. I just sent him the address to the church. He has been collecting Barbies for years and is now trying to find good homes for them. He keeps trying to give them to my liitle 7 year old daughter (almost 8) but we have too much. I am thrilled to have them go to a little girl who has gone through so much.
You are doing GREAT work. Keep it up. : )
Awww…please give your dad a BIG hug from me. Thanks so much for your support!
Wow… that’s seriously harsh to be criticizing an 8 and 4 year old for writing down what they lost in a major disaster, the extent of which, I doubt you can even imagine. Try having a little empathy.
I am 10 minutes from Griffin. I had no idea you were coming so close! A family member of ours lost his shop, vehicles, and had home damage, and is not able to get any sort of assistance at all. AT&T even told him there would be a fee to suspend his service even though his home was damaged by the tornado.
OMG! Somebody please tell me where I can find a Christmas Tree in the middle of June! Can I pledge to have a NEW one sent to them when they go on sale during the holidays? Something, anything???
and as a side note: I was so upset and in tears when I read the note from the kids. But I was more upset and saddened by the comments I continued to read. Is this really the venue for a discussion on wants and needs? There is so much hate and tragedy in this world today, can’t there just be one time where an out pouring of simple love, compassion and kindness is all that is necessary.