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Stepping up for a Friend
Board: Atlas Quest Announcements
Mar 1, 2007 6:43am
Thread (disabled) Board
Not sure where to put this, so here it is:

Many of you may know about the multitude of tragedies that have befallen our friend, PurpleintexKim: Her husband's injury, death in the family, multiple illnesses and now losing almost everything to a tornado.
I want to emphasis up front that she has not asked for any help and did not ask me to post this! But I think it would be nice if we could do something as a community to assist and encourage her and her family. They have two small girls, ages 4 and 7.
I have two suggestions:
1) They have a Wal-mart nearby. Gift cards could be used to purchase almost everything they need.
2) Kim lost all of her letterboxing stuff, including all of the stamps from letterboxes that she has found, traditional and otherwise. I think it would be great if we could replace that for her. If you know she found one of your boxes, would you send the stamp image to her? You can check her logbook online to see what she has found.
She gave me permission to give out her address (it's a PO box), so if you would like to help, please AQ mail me and I will send it.
I hope that you will not think that this is in bad taste, or that I am pressuring anyone to participate. If anyone else would like to make other recommendations, they are welcome!
Thank you!
Stacy
Re: Stepping up for a Friend
Board: Atlas Quest Announcements
Reply to: #75298 by Nitrocat
Mar 1, 2007 6:49am
Thread (disabled) Board
Thank you so much for posting this Stacey. I have a little package of letterboxing stuff on the way to Texas right now.

I cannot even imagine the devistation and loss Kim must be experiencing. My heart goes out to her and her familyl.

Anthrogradjess
Re: Stepping up for a Friend
Board: Atlas Quest Announcements
Reply to: #75298 by Nitrocat
Mar 1, 2007 8:07am
Thread (disabled) Board
Just a question. I was wondering if someone has a paypal account or such. That we could give some $$$ and just get 1 walmart gift card? That way she will not have 5-10 cards to have to keep up with?

I know this can be tricky... Internet, trust, etc But maybe someone has a better idea?

Lisa
Re: Stepping up for a Friend
Board: Atlas Quest Announcements
Reply to: #75298 by Nitrocat
Mar 1, 2007 8:39am
Thread (disabled) Board
BTW... I have a paypal account and don't mind heading out to Walmart to grab a big gift card.

Music Woman
Re: Stepping up for a Friend
Board: Atlas Quest Announcements
Reply to: #75322 by Bungalow Boxer
Mar 1, 2007 8:54am
Thread (disabled) Board
I'd be willing to pitch in money or help buy some supplies, whatever she needs. If someone is gathering the money to get one card, please post so I can do that also. Can you please email me the post office box so I can send something else also? Thanks.


Karen
Re: Stepping up for a Friend
Board: Atlas Quest Announcements
Reply to: #75298 by Nitrocat
Mar 1, 2007 9:27am
Thread (disabled) Board
I'm not really comfortable mentioning this, but there are at least a couple of people who've e-mailed me about doubts about the tornado claim, and to date, I have not been able to find a single reported instance of a tornado in the entire state of Texas on that date. There were reports of "high wind" damage in places, but nothing about actual tornadoes, so it's possible PurpleintexKim suffered damage, but I can't really verify it one way or another so I haven't wanted to say anything about it.

It's the caring nature of others that some people take advantage of, and I cannot be 100% certain this is not the case here. I'd also like to stress that I have no reason to believe PurpleintextKim is out to scam anyone either, but I'd feel absolutely terrible if that turned out to be the case and I didn't at least warn anyone who wanted to help.

-- Ryan
Re: Stepping up for a Friend
Board: Atlas Quest Announcements
Reply to: #75337 by Green Tortuga
Mar 1, 2007 9:50am
Thread (disabled) Board
Hi I know you may be concerned about this, however in my experince with the weather service.. they have weather watchers. If noone reports it to them as an actual tornado then its not a tornado. Living in Eastern Washington we had a "funnel cloud" not an actual tornado, however it took out a mans house. Hmm not a tornado but still created huge amount of damage to one person. Here is the link to the weather service site. If you notice there is storm activity in the area where Kim is. Just because there is no news about it does not mean it didn't happen, ya know its that whole if a tree falls in the woods thing. Just because noones around to see it doesn't mean it didn't happen. http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/070224_rpts.html
Re: Stepping up for a Friend
Board: Atlas Quest Announcements
Reply to: #75298 by Nitrocat
Mar 1, 2007 10:02am
Thread (disabled) Board
Thank you for posting this!
I put the word out to some of my amazing friends and family last week after I read about Kim's continued hard times. I wanted to send Kim a Wal-Mart gift card, and asked if anyone I knew would be willing to donate and help out. After reading your post I was so glad to see that that would help them out, I was able to collect a good amount of $ and sent it on to Kim's PO Box already.
thank you again!

Amy
LUNA crew
Re: Stepping up for a Friend
Board: Atlas Quest Announcements
Reply to: #75337 by Green Tortuga
Mar 1, 2007 10:23am
Thread (disabled) Board
On 30 May 1994, back when we were stationed in Central Texas, I had five office buildings (for which I was signed as part of my job description) that lost their roofs or suffered other types of extreme damage after being hit by a 'microburst'--essentially an instantaneous tornado or funnel cloud that doesn't travel large distances but causes major damage where it forms. The only reason it made the local media is because one of my (crazy!!!) soldiers had taken a camcorder out during the storm and captured images of it causing the damage. Otherwise, all the authorities would have seen as far as aftermath was a bunch of roofing tiles, computer parts, printer paper and other objects that flew out of the roof-less buildings and landed all around the grid-square. Of course, the authorities could have eventually tied in the damage to previous destructive weather patterns that had happened within a mile or two of the same spot many years before. Several helicopters on the adjacent airfield had been seriously damaged/destroyed years before by similar weather patterns causing the military (and likely civilian aviation authorities) to completely rewrite their tie-down procedures for rotary wing aircraft. Just another perspective on the 'tornado' matter. They don't often make the news but the ensuing damage is just as devastating.

daelphinus
Re: Stepping up for a Friend
Board: Atlas Quest Announcements
Reply to: #75298 by Nitrocat
Mar 1, 2007 11:59am
Thread (disabled) Board
I don't think anyone is out to scam anyone!!!!!!! I have talked with purpleintexKim a number of times through this web site and I do know a number of things has happened to her in her life. She is a strong woman!!!!!! I for one can be counted on in helping Kim and her family out. Stacy if there is anything else I can do please let me know. I count Kim as one of my many great friends I have met here on atlas quest. I already have her address.

Just a note to some of those doubting Thomas'. I live in New Mexico and I can tell you for the last two weeks we have been beeched with high winds, some gusting up to 70 mph in southern and central New Mexico. Well the winds don't just stop at our border but continue to blow right into Texas. It may not have been a full fledge tornado she was hit with but I have no doubt she was probably hit with some pretty heavy duty winds which can tear things up just as bad as a tornado. You should see some of the what we call "dust Devils" in the spring and summer around here. Some can be strong enought to rip roofs off of sheds. Okay I have said my piece and will probably get a lot of grief for doing so but I believe in helping a friend in need and the word SCAM does not enter my mind.

alamocito
Wren
Re: Stepping up for a Friend
Board: Atlas Quest Announcements
Reply to: #75337 by Green Tortuga
Mar 1, 2007 1:09pm
Thread (disabled) Board
I can completely understand the hesitation. Our world is not one that can be blindly trusted. Each person will have to decide if and at what level they are willing to accept a little bit of the unknown.
I personally am ready to take on this risk. And I will do my best to furnish some tangible evidence that no scam is involved. I don't expect that will be too hard.
If it will make people feel safer, I would be willing to be an organization point for this. I have a verified Paypal account and am more than willing to make myself accountable to someone that everyone knows and trusts. Ryan, for instance, if he is willing.
Give me a short bit to work out the details and I will post them later this evening. Provided I get another break in the lightning storms long enough to log on without frying anything!
Stacy
Re: Stepping up for a Friend
Board: Atlas Quest Announcements
Reply to: #75379 by Nitrocat
Mar 1, 2007 1:29pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Also, just by way of clarification, please note that Kim did not say the tornado hit her house. She said it hit her "shop" which I am guessing is a detached garage-type building. When she said that they lost everything, I assume she meant everything in the shop, and when she referred to all the baby stuff, it was things that were being stored for a future baby they hope to have, not for a current baby.

Thanks, Stacy, for this great idea.
Blessings to you.
Re: Stepping up for a Friend
Board: Atlas Quest Announcements
Reply to: #75379 by Nitrocat
Mar 1, 2007 2:00pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote If it will make people feel safer, I would be willing to be an organization point for this. I have a verified Paypal account and am more than willing to make myself accountable to someone that everyone knows and trusts. Ryan, for instance, if he is willing.


If someone can provide proof of what happened, I'd be happy to vouch for it. I'd just as soon as have the proof posted publicly, though, so people don't even have to take my word for it. If it contains personal information (insurance forms, perhaps?), I suppose those shouldn't necessarily be public, but I'd be willing to give a stamp of approval if I can be 100% convinced. =)

I feel bad for even mentioning possible doubts, but a small number of people have contacted me about their doubts but didn't want to say anything public in fear of getting beat up on the message boards. Which is kind of understandable--I'm not exactly excited about bringing the topic up myself. I don't think Kim is out to scam anyone, but I honestly can't be 100% certain that's the case either. *shrug* At the very least, she might get more help from people if the doubts can be eliminated completely.

-- Ryan
Re: Stepping up for a Friend
Board: Atlas Quest Announcements
Reply to: #75337 by Green Tortuga
Mar 1, 2007 2:20pm
Thread (disabled) Board
I live west of Kim.... we were on the very edge of the system that came through. I was here with my girls and grew very conserned at one point... My mother has had extensive damage to property and roofs just from straight lined winds that Texas often experiences... it doesn't have to be a "tornado" to rip a roof off or other such things. And for the record... when my mother's roof flew off, she said it sounded like a tornado -since it was at night... who knows? -No funnel was visable and none showed up on radar... I cannot claim to know for certain Kim's situation however I DID get a taste of THE system as it moved over our house and I was THANKFUL that we were on the very edge as it passed!

~Queen Beeloved
Re: Stepping up for a Friend
Board: Atlas Quest Announcements
Reply to: #75404 by Queen Beeloved
Mar 1, 2007 3:16pm
Thread (disabled) Board
All this talk of tornadoes this afternoon and we learn that the high school in a town in which my DH used to reside (Enterprise, AL) and my BIL currently resides was hit dead on by a tornado. Please pray for the families there as apparently there have been a lot of victims and are still unable to account for all the kids. :(

daelphinus
Re: Stepping up for a Friend
Board: Atlas Quest Announcements
Reply to: #75316 by Traveling Chicklets
Mar 1, 2007 4:26pm
Thread (disabled) Board
You can add money to a Walmart card over the phone or Internet. Purchase one card, share the id number and people could add to the balance.
Re: Stepping up for a Friend
Board: Atlas Quest Announcements
Reply to: #75379 by Nitrocat
Mar 3, 2007 5:03am
Thread (disabled) Board
I'll take the risk, and provide no evidence. I am of the mind that if you are in touch with whatever greater power you believe in, they will indicate to you whether or not you are doing the right thing. Those of you who feel this is a scam, it's simple, don't help. You are not going to discourage any of us who don't. Those of you who know Kim and feel this is on the ups, we still have a lot of work to do. God bless you all with His ears to hear Him with, and His voice to speak out for your brothers and sisters.

Wendell
(IICor.5:21)
Re: Stepping up for a Friend
Board: Atlas Quest Announcements
Reply to: #75366 by alamocito
Mar 3, 2007 5:10am
Thread (disabled) Board
That comes from a voice that sounds from experience. There is no place to lean sometmes, except on the everlasting arm. I'm with you kiddo.
Re: Stepping up for a Friend
Board: Atlas Quest Announcements
Reply to: #75298 by Nitrocat
Mar 3, 2007 5:46am
Thread (disabled) Board
If anyone feel odd in giving money, that's ok, this is voluntary! However, those of us in a ring with her, it won't take but a minute to provide the card to replace her postal log. Very inexpensive, card, a little ind, and envelope and a stamp to mail. I know that ring members were willing to do this for me when one of my stamps disappeared. When I recarved I sent it to the ones who hadn't received it, and the ones who had gotten the first one sent me an index card to add to the second log so I would have the full set for the ring.

I think any of us would appreciate the kindness!
Re: Stepping up for a Friend
Board: Atlas Quest Announcements
Reply to: #75668 by Sky Blue Dragon
Mar 3, 2007 11:21pm
Thread (disabled) Board
So have we chosen someone to get a Walmart card for all of us to add to?

Red Soup
Re: Stepping up for a Friend
Board: Atlas Quest Announcements
Reply to: #75857 by JennieGee
Mar 4, 2007 4:08am
Thread (disabled) Board
Well, I'm currently accepting Paypal donations for those in the New England area from LBNE site. Anyone who would like to contribute would be totally welcome!

My e-mail addy on file with paypal is mindizney@cox.net and put it in as Goods (other). I DO NOT want it going in as a cash advance because I don't want you to get charged an addition fee by your bank. And obviously, this is not an e-bay transaction!

Also, if you would be willing to scan an image of your letterboxing stamp into the computer and send it to me at the above address, your stamp will be included in the card being sent with the Walmart Gift card. :-)

Music Woman