Pickin Up The Pieces - GA

You can contact us at linda@pickinupthepieces.org
Pickin' Up the Pieces Relief Corp
P.O. Box 9634
Savannah, Georgia 31412





Our Last Rebuilding Trip of the Year!

December 26 - 31, 2007

End 2007 on a meaningful note: join us in helping families in Pearlington, Mississippi rebuild their homes. There is still a tremendous need for volunteers, and skilled volunteers are especially needed.

As always, we will be staying at the Camp Coastal Outpost volunteer center in Kiln, Mississippi. Costs for food and lodging are $15 per night, per person. We will also make our usual side trip to New Orleans one afternoon and evening. You won't believe what you will see, nearly two and a half years after the storm!

Anyone interested in participating in this trip please contact Linda at linda@pickinupthepieces.org or 912-429-4220. Space is limited, so reserve your spot now!


12/13/06
Thank you to all for the tremendous response to our "Adopt and Angel Program"!! We adopted out 162 children!!
It was great. We ended up servicing 280 with the help of the Stennis Rotary Club. All of our Angels got adopted out and we also had 6 families. We ran out of Angels to adopt :-)

12/2
Hi Again...
Some of you have asked about whether we were planning a trip over the holidays...the answer is YES!
December 26 - 30. Anyone wishing to finish out the 2006 year making a difference in the lives of those affected by Katrina are welcome to join us. Please visit our website under "How You Can Help" at Pickin Up The Pieces for more information.
Linda Edwards

11/29 Adopt an Angel
We are doing an Adopt an Angel Project similar to the one that we did last year. There are 126 children under 10 y.o. in the Pearlington, MS community that we would like to share a little holiday cheer with. These children continue to face the after-effects of hurricane Katrina in a community that is still struggling to recover.
Many of these families haven't had Christmas since before The Storm, so please take that into consideration when you give this year.

If you choose to buy online, you can ship directly to the addresses given here and most companies are giving free shipping online until at least the first week of December.

I would love to know if you plan on helping, please leave a comment at the bottom of this post - click on the word 'comment'. Thank you!

You can contact us at linda@pickinupthepieces.org
Pickin' Up the Pieces Relief Corp
P.O. Box 9634
Savannah, Georgia 31412
Gifts should not exceed $50 per child and need to be in Savannah no later than 12/14
All of these kids are from Pearlington, MS and those 10 yrs and older will be receiving gift cards.

RED is girls, BLUE is boys, and BOLD type will be infants 1 y.o. and younger

1. A, BABY BOY 1 y.o. boy
2. A, ANGEL 3 y.o. boy
3. A, ANGIE 3 month old boy
4. A, ARTHUR 7 y.o. boy
5. A, CASSANDRA Girl
6. A, KANE 3 y.o. boy
7. A, KEELAN 6 y.o. boy
8. A, KEIRA 7 month old girl
9. A, ROLAND 4 y.o. boy
10. A, KALI 10 y.o. girl
11. A, KATIE 8 y.o. girl
12. A, LISA 5 y.o. girl
13. B, TYLER 12 y.o. boy
14. B, SELEN 5 y.o. girl
15. B, BEAU 8 y.o. boy
16. B, CHRISTIAN 1 y.o. boy
17. B, HAYDEN 2 y.o. boy
18. B, KAITLYN 5 y.o. girl
19. B, BRAD 16 y.o. boy
20. B, COURTNEY 13 y.o. girl
21. B, HARLEIGH 10 y.o. girl
22. B, JOBY 10 y.o. boy
23. B, MIRANDA 10 y.o. girl
24. B, TY 2 y.o. boy
25. B, SAM 8 y.o. boy
26. B, HANNAH 2 y.o. girl
27. B, HAYDEN 3 y.o. boy
28. B, CHASE 13 y.o. boy
29. B, COLE 8 y.o. boy
30. B, BROOKE 8 y.o. girl
31. B, CAMERON 15 y.o. boy
32. B, ALISHA 12 y.o. girl
33. B, JULLIAN 10 y.o. boy
34. B, ALEIGH 9 y.o. girl
35. B, DUSTIN 16 y.o. boy
36. B, GIRL 3 y.o. girl
37. B, CHRIS 15 y.o. boy
38. B, GIRL 17 y.o. girl
39. B, TAYLOR 10 y.o. girl
40. B, TAJAH 2.5 y.o. girl
41. B, ALICIA 15 y.o. girl
42. B, ALISHA 15 y.o. girl
43. B, DAQUIRIE 10 y.o. girl
44. B, DUJUANYA 8 y.o. girl
45. B, JASMINE 1 y.o. girl
46. B, SCOOTER 9 y.o. boy
47. B, SHONDRIKA 16 y.o. girl
48. B, WAYNE 9 y.o. boy
49. B, DONALD 12 y.o. boy
50. B, JOHN 15 y.o. boy
51. B, QUINAN 16 y.o. boy
52. B, WILLIAM 16 y.o. boy
53. C W, ALSIIA 7 y.o. girl
54. C W, TYDE 8 y.o. boy
55. C, BREANNE 11 y.o. girl
56. C, JOHNNY LYNN 5 y.o. girl
57. C, SELENA 12 y.o. girl
58. C, SHELBY 15 y.o. girl
59. C, TORI 15 y.o. girl
60. C, GLORIA 12 y.o. girl
61. D, BRYAN 5 y.o. boy
62. D, CHELSEA 14 y.o. girl
63. D, DAVID 4 y.o. boy
64. D, DONOVAN 10 y.o. boy
65. D, NATHANIEL 10 y.o. boy
66. D, OLIVIA 15 y.o. girl
67. D, JOSEPH 13 y.o. boy
68. D, KATIE 16 y.o. girl
69. D, ALEXIS 8 y.o. girl
70. D, ERIN 15 y.o. girl
71. D, JOSEPH 6 y.o. boy
72. D, SCOTT 16 y.o. boy
73. D, CIARA 7 y.o. girl
74. E, BRITTANY 14 y.o. girl
75. E, MICHAEL 11 y.o. boy
76. E, DARIAN 13 y.o. boy
77. E, HEATHER 16 y.o. girl
78. E, TREY 4 y.o. boy
79. E, LAURNA 12 y.o. girl
80. F, AARON 11 y.o. boy
81. F, DEANNA 1 y.o. boy
82. F, DALTON 14 y.o. boy
83. F, BRAYDEN 1 y.o. boy
84. F, JAYDA 3 y.o. girl
85. F, MACIE 5 y.o. girl
86. F, AMY 6 y.o. girl
87. F, ERICA 8 y.o. girl
88. F, RYAN 10 y.o. boy
89. G, TANYIAH 4 y.o. girl
90. G, ASHLEY 17 y.o. girl
91. G, STEVEN 16 y.o. boy
92. G, DONNIE 17 y.o. boy
93. G, PAIGE 15 y.o. girl
94. G, DEVANTE 13 y.o. boy
95. H, JOSHUA 8 y.o. boy
96. H, BZ 17 y.o. girl
97. H, JANSEN 16 y.o. boy
98. H, ALEXIS 4 y.o. girl
99. H, BRAD 15 y.o. boy
100. H, SAMANTHA 9 y.o. girl
101. H, KENTRELL 6 y.o. boy
102. H, KENYA 4 y.o. girl
103. H, RYAN 9 y.o. boy
104. H, SASHA 6 month old girl
105. A, AARON 10 y.o. boy
106. J, JUJU 4 y.o. boy
107. J, MASON 8 y.o. boy
108. J, OLIVIA 5 y.o. girl
109. J, STEVEN 15 y.o. boy
110. J, TENESA 1 month old boy
111. J BABY BOY 1 ½ month old boy
112. J, DAKOTA 14 y.o. boy
113. J, HANNAH 11 y.o. girl
114. J, RYAN 13 y.o. boy
115. K, DANIEL 10 y.o. boy
116. L, VANESSA 16 y.o. girl
117. L, VICKIE 9 y.o. girl
118. L, DYLAN 12 y.o. boy
119. L, ASHTON 3 y.o. girl
120. L, JET 17 y.o. boy
121. L, JOSHUA 16 y.o. boy
122. L, KAYLYNN 4 y.o. girl
123. L, ONEISHA 4 y.o. girl
124. L, ASHANTI 6 y.o. girl
125. L, JAREL 10 y.o. boy
126. L, DAJONTAE 3 y.o. boy
127. L, SHAYLA 8 y.o. girl
128. L, TAMEA 6 y.o. girl
129. L, AMANDA 16 y.o. girl
130. L, STEPHEN 15 y.o. boy
131. L, ALISSA 6 y.o. girl
132. L, SHEA 17 y.o. boy
133. L, BEAUTIFUL 2 y.o. girl
134. L, BRETT 2 y.o. boy
135. L, FRANK 1 y.o. boy
136. L, KENDRICK 6 y.o. girl
137. L, AMBER 14 y.o. girl
138. L, BROOKE 16 y.o. girl
139. L, ERIC 17 y.o. boy
140. L, JACOB 15 y.o. boy
141. L, JEWEL 10 y.o. boy
142. L, KAREN 16 y.o. girl
143. L, KAYLA 16 y.o. girl
144. L, KEVIN 11 y.o. boy
145. L, CRYSTAL 6 y.o. girl
146. L, LANDON 8 y.o. boy
147. M, JOHN 16 y.o. boy
148. M, AMANDA 14 y.o. girl
149. M, BABY GIRL 18 month old girl
150. M, BENA 6 y.o. girl
151. M, CHRIS 2 y.o. boy
152. M, CHRISTOPHER 3 y.o. boy
153. M, HANNAH 1 y.o. girl
154. M, LAURA 7 y.o. girl
155. M, MIA 1 y.o. girl
156. M, MICHAEL 1 month old boy
157. M, SHAKEM 3 y.o. boy
158. M, TIFFANY 13 y.o. girl
159. M, KORD 17 y.o. boy
160. M, ALEX 6 y.o. boy
161. M, ARIAN 14 y.o. girl
162. M, CHANCE 11 y.o. boy
163. M, HUNTER 8 y.o. boy
164. M, AMBRYE 16 y.o. girl
165. M, JAMES 9 y.o. boy
166. M, OJ 2 y.o. boy
167. M, BREESHON 8 y.o. boy
168. M, CAITLYN 7 y.o. girl
169. M, CARISSA 10 y.o. girl
170. M, HARLEY 10 y.o. boy
171. M, CARL 17 y.o. boy
172. M, CHELSEA 8 y.o. girl
173. M, ISABELLE 7 y.o. girl
174. M, MALLORY 8 y.o. girl
175. M, MICHAEL 8 y.o. boy
176. M, SELENA 14 y.o. girl
177. N, FAITH 8 y.o. girl
178. N, JONATHAN 16 y.o. boy
179. N, PAIGE 12 y.o. girl
180. N, DALTON 6 y.o. boy
181. N, SAMANTHA 9 y.o. girl
182. P, ALEXIS 7 y.o. girl
183. P, ATHENA 16 y.o. girl
184. P, BRITTANY 10 y.o. girl
185. P, DAVID 10 y.o. boy
186. P, JOSHUA 4 y.o. boy
187. P, SAMUEL 9 y.o. boy
188. P, SONNY 15 y.o. boy
189. P, WHITNEY 12 y.o. girl
190. P, ALLISON 16 y.o. girl
191. P, MATTHEW 10 y.o. boy
192. P, MALLORY 13 y.o. girl
193. P, MELINDA 13 y.o. girl
194. R, BRITTANY 5 y.o. girl
195. R, WHITNEY 16 y.o. boy
196. R, CIARA 6 y.o. girl
197. R, JOSH 7 y.o. boy
198. R, LUCAS 3 y.o. boy
199. R, ABBY 8 y.o. girl
200. R, ALEXIS 6 y.o. girl
201. R, HEATHER 9 y.o. girl
202. R, SKYLAR 8 y.o. boy
203. R, MARTY 14 y.o. boy
204. R, GLENDA 9 y.o. girl
205. S (DAWN’S SON) 5 y.o. boy
206. S, RYAN 16 y.o. boy
207. S, TRAVIS 16 y.o. boy
208. S, ZAZALONDRE 1 ½ y.o. boy
209. S, CHEYENNE 13 y.o. girl
210. S, DESTIN 7 y.o. boy
211. T, HOLLY 13 y.o. girl
212. T, CALEB 6 y.o. boy
213. V, ABIGAIL 4 y.o. girl
214. V, ANAI 9 y.o. girl
215. V, BRITTANY 10 y.o. girl
216. V, BROOKE 10 y.o. girl
217. V, BUBBA 8 y.o. boy
218. V, GRACIE 1 y.o. girl
219. V, JEFFERSON 14 y.o. boy
220. V, KAYLEE 8 y.o. girl
221. V, TY 1 y.o. boy
222. V, TRAVIS 8 y.o. boy
223. V, TREY 12 y.o. boy
224. V, BABY GIRL NEWBORN
225. V, DANIELLE 7 y.o. girl
226. W, TIFFANY 13 y.o. girl
227. W, TRAVIS 16 y.o. boy
228. W, ASHLEY 8 y.o girl
229. W, ROSS 14 y.o. boy
230. W, KAISER 12 y.o. boy
231. W, KRISTEN 11 y.o. girl
232. W, COURTNEY 16 y.o. girl
234. W, KELLY 16 y.o. girl
235. W, MEGAN 15 y.o. girl
236. W, REAGAN 6 y.o. girl
237. W, BRITTANY 8 y.o. girl
238. W, DALTON 6 y.o. boy
239. W, GARY 16 y.o. boy
240. G, LOREN 15 y.o. boy

The information we have are names, ages and M/F. We will need to collect all toys by Thursday, December 14, since we will be making our delivery Saturday, Dec. 16th. We ask that gifts be limited to no more than $50.00.

Please contact me either by e-mail or phone if you, your group or organization would like more information on how to participate.

Linda Edwards

11/13 Partnering with Pickin' Up The Pieces is Armstrong U:
http://katrina.armstrong.edu/progress.htm which is helping with the Thanksgiving food drive along with 5 current material drives and 12 past ones, as well as 2 previous trips to help in Pearlington and a current one being scheduled for March. WOW - Great people!

11/10
Also - if you want to help with their Thanksgiving Food Drive:
http://www.pickinupthepieces.org/images/thanksgiving.pdf

If you have been wanting a hands on experience to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina here is your chance! Residents in the Gulf still desperately need your help. If you want to participate in an unforgettable experience, you may want to consider a trip to Mississippi. If you have been considering going down to Mississippi, but didn't quite know how to go about doing it, please join us in our effort to make a difference

One House At A Time

www.OneHouseAtATime.com
1/15 Kris set this up on their website:
http://www.moonlightpainting.com/pearlington.htm

Pearlington Contact:
Glenn Locklin - 615.496.6981

Volunteer Contact: Kris Locklin - kdlocklin@moonlightpainting.com

12/14 - From a Previous OHAAT Volunteer who just returned from a trip to P-ton...
Suzanne Rester Watson and I had a great meeting with Leslie Eaton of the NY Times in Pearlington on Wednesday. She seems to be moving along on her story on modular housing innovations for the Gulf Coast. We would have love to have Leslie from upstate New York along.
It was truly a memorable day.
In addition, Ms. Eaton found the trip to Pearlington informative for a second, more personal story on housing concerns. (She couldn't make any promises to write about "One House at a Time" since the Pearlington story wasn't on her original assignment list.) We visited several homes built by "One House at Time," including the new home of Linda Freeman. It's larger than the first prototype cottage and promises to make a wonderful permanent residence for Linda, and her son Dalton. (Check out more on their home at www.OperationEden.blogspot.com) The house was funded by "One House at a Time" and an anonymous grant.

Leslie seems like a serious journalist who has a big heart for the people of the Gulf Coast. She has been covering New Orleans since Katrina and hopes to continue the in-depth coverage of the region published in the Times. She usually spends a week a month in New Orleans. I'll keep you posted if I hear when the story is running.

Best wishes for a happy New Year, Lynn

11/29 - From Kris Locklin...
Greetings! It's Kris, Glenn Locklin's wife, and I just returned from a visit in Pearlington. Glenn's been down there since January '06 and I admit that this was my first visit, but it definitely won't be the last. I will slowly be jumping in with both feet (can one jump slowly?) to get things more organized and going in a fashion resembling the way Shannon took care of things when One House at a Time was in the hands of Habitat for Humanity of Walton County, FL. Thanks for all you did Shannon!

Work is going slowly for Glenn right now and several projects are near completion but waiting on one or two little things (big enough to stall the project, so not so little) to be done or inspected. Many are hoping to be in their homes by Christmas so we're praying the little things through! I will be working more closely with Glenn to get news out to all of you interested in the goings on of One House projects. Hopefully after the first of the year we can kick it up into high gear and I'll have more to report. For now, feel free to contact me regarding any questions, comments, suggestions or volunteer/donation interests you may have regarding One House at a Time. I can be emailed directly at kdlocklin@moonlightpainting.com and I will do my best to get with you as soon as possible.

Thanks, Leslie, for this forum to bring awareness to One House at a TIme, Glenn and his efforts in Pearlington, MS and all the others who actually make the project of rebuilding Pearlington a reality.

-- Kris Locklin

Picture taken 12/13/06

11/10 - Just found on Pickin' Up The Pieces Website:
- Pickin' Up The Pieces - From GA

11/10
The Hope Center Fellowship of Hendersonville TN
has taken over the work of OHAAT.
http://www.hopecenteronline.org/hopecenter/welcome
Now - from what I've heard from Walton County Habitat is that Glenn will remain the contact person on the ground in Pearlington.
THCF's website does not have any information regarding the OHAAT project. I'll keep checking it from time to time for that update.
I have Suzanne's phone number, but as of yet, have been unable to contact her (no voicemail) and do not have her email to get more details of their plans. Their Pastor - Jeremy Bradley's email is jbradley1179@yahoo.com. Last time I contacted him, I was given a very non-commital answer.
I wish I had more news and hope to have more soon....

10/30
It is great to see that you are still hard at it. Sorry for the long delay in contacting you regarding the One House at a Time project. The transfer is finally complete!! This leaves me with happy and sad emotions. I am extremely happy that the project goes on. New Community Church of Hendersonville, TN is overseeing the project and they plan to complete all the projects and to continue working for hurricane relief.

I have heard from some of the residents, one imparticularly that is handicapped, that could really use a stackable washer / dryer combo if you happen to know of any resources to refer them to. In the near future we will be sending thank yous out to the unit sponsors and plan to make the need known as well, but if you happen to hear of anything that would be great.

I will keep looking for your blogs and I will keep in touch. I have the wall quilting you made hanging by my desk, so I think of you often. Thank you for everything you have done and continue to do.
Take Care,
Shannon
9/20
Glenn asked me to write or call you last week and give you an update on how things are going there. He is continuing with the building of the projects that have been started with a completion date of all projects started to be completed by November 1st.

In addition to that he and his family and church are actively seeking funds to carry on the One House project to continue on in remodeling and building for additional Katrina victims in Pearlington, as well as carrying the project on for future storm victims.

9/6
Hey Leslie,
Good to hear from you. Sorry I have not sent an update before now. I did not get to go to the reunion, but I wanted to go. Glenn said they were going to make a dvd or something like that to share, and if I receive a copy I will definitely pass it on to you.

As for the OHAAT project we are in the process of lining things up to turn the project over to a church in Hendersonville, TN. The church plans to finish the current projects, and plan to start doing refurbishing work in Pearlington, and they will try to raise funds and awareness to continue building. I know they would love for you to keep plugging for them as well. I will get details such as the pastor's contact information as soon as we get everything worked out.
Thanks,
Shannon

8/11 - I spoke with Shannon again. It seems there is a church in TN that is seriously interested in taking on the One House project since New Hope has bowed out. I feel that would be positively incredible! Nothing has been finalized, but the folks at the church are very excited and so I have a very good feeling about this. I feel that a church organization will be perfect for this mission. So many churches have done such incredible things with what you would think was a very finite amount of financial and physical parameters. But God is good and with faith, anything IS possible!

Also, she sent me the invitation for the One Year "Reunion" for all PearlingtonVolunteers. While I can't make it this year, I'd absolutely love to next year! We'll see.

http://pearlingtonrelief.blogspot.com/2006/08/volunteer-reunion.html has all the information.

The following is excerpts form the project report put out in early June:

Recovery Efforts
Habitat for Humanity of Walton County Florida in partnership with The Hurricane Relief Coalition of Walton County; New Hope Construction of Hendersonville, TN; Walton County community volunteer organizations; and local churches and individuals, adopted the small village of Pearlington, Mississippi in the Autumn of 2005, in an attempt to build transitional housing for the families of Pearlington.
More than $300,000 was raised and the work continues to this day, with a September 1, 2006, completion date for all transitional units. Scores of individuals, organizations, and corporations have contributed volunteer hours and monetary funds to the “One House At A Time” project.

Challenges Ahead
A number of challenges remain in the effort to rebuild Pearlington, Mississippi. These are not
exclusive to One House At A Time, but are indicative of all relief efforts on the Gulf Coast:
o Infrastructure – Most of Pearlington still does not have permanent electricity. Permitting
is sporadic and the unincorporated town council has no real authority to demand further
assistance. The village was scheduled for a multi-million dollar sewer installation in the
autumn of 2005. After Katrina, the project was cancelled.
o Sickness – On more than one occasion the relief village of volunteers at the Pearlington
Elementary School has been cleared due to the outbreak of flu and sickness.
o Compassion Fatigue – The ongoing relief efforts have proved taxing to the people of
Mississippi and those trying to assist.
o Dwindling Volunteers – As a new hurricane season begins and attention is drawn to other
areas, the stream of volunteers first entering the relief areas has significantly declined.
o Lack of organizational support – Habitat for Humanity International has made the
decision not to build in the Pearlington area of Hancock County, leaving the efforts to
smaller, grass root movements.

The One House At A Time project was highlighted on CBS Evening News 2/23/06! Woooo! Ronnie Mc Brayer even got some face time.
The following is the transcript from the 5 day special report called, "Katrina + 6 Months".