09/04/05: 48 hours

Today's goal was to distribute 20 rolling duffel bags to families who had left their homes, their jobs, their lives, and wound up 500 miles later at Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas. We gave out 19 bags. Bag number 20 is being held until after tomorrow. Kendall is teaching a benefit yoga class, and that bag will be traveling to GoodBody's Yoga Center so that everyone who donates for the class can see the bags and what's inside.

Kendall and I set out again today around noon, this time helped by Kendall's 7-year-old son Jake, her 15-year-old stepson Sam, and her friend and assistant Cate. Also, I must mention my sister, who has tirelessly worked behind the scenes to gather items to include in the rolling duffels.

It's time to let Kendall speak up. Following are Kendall's comments on our day.

Well, I keep thinking I better write something before it all becomes a blur. And I forget some great and important details over the last few days.

I am pretty tired and at the same time overwhelmed and I still have this incredible energetic feeling. Today we made 20 duffels and delivered 19 directly into the hands of evacuees. We saved one full duffle for tomorrow’s yoga class by donation, so everyone could see what they were participating in.

I met two couples on the curb outside Reunion today. They were hot and sweaty and carrying several boxes with bottled water and supplies in garbage bags. It was at least 100 degrees on that street today.

They had walked to the Convention Center (a few long city blocks away) to receive supplies. I approached them as they were stopping to take a break, asking if they needed a duffle bag on wheels to help cart their newly acquired things.

I was received with hugs and kindness and gratitude. They immediately opened the duffels and started strategically placing items inside. They ran across the goodies we had included and commented on the insulated lunch box they could put their perishable food inside and the manicure kit that Valarie’s sister had found at Big Lots.

One of the couples had left their daughter inside the shelter with a family member, as she could not make the walk. They were thrilled that she was starting school Tuesday. They were looking for jobs, and felt they were close to getting an apartment.

Another man had found a job and was starting on Tuesday. He was an antique furniture refinisher. We asked him if he needed anything. He wanted a polo shirt and khakis that he could wear to his new job on Tuesday. We ran out to Target and met him back at the shelter later to deliver personal items to him and his family.

I could go on forever about the different people we met and the magnitude of this experience. We have only been in operation for 48 hours and we have helped 30 families. Gracious, humble, appreciative families.

Throughout the afternoon, Jake was finding people to give bags to, and Sam was running back and forth to the parking lot to get more bags as we needed them. Cate was there encouraging and kind and supportive.

Thanks, too, to all of our family and friends who believed in us and who have donated to our project. We are directly helping the evacuees.

Wish us well tomorrow, I am teaching the most important yoga class of my life.

I'll post pictures later. And I keep saying this, but thank you, thank you, thank you. I only wish that those of you who are kind enough to make donations to the project could join us in meeting these inspiring people.

TOTAL ROLLING DUFFELS DISTRIBUTED AT REUNION ARENA TO DATE: 30