09/18/05: A new home for Dorothy

On our first major day at Reunion Arena, when we were delivering the first of our rolling duffels and in the early stages of this project, we met a beautiful, kind woman named Dorothy. Dorothy really stands out in our minds; she was one of the first evacuees we met, and she made an indelible impression on us. After meeting Dorothy and giving her a rolling duffel back on September 3, we went to Target and bought Size 6 Power Rangers underwear for her son - the same underwear that is my son's favorite. Her son absolutely loves the Power Rangers, just like my son.

I just read some wonderful news. Dorothy and her son have a new home.

Hurricane Katrina evacuees who moved out of Reunion Arena and into apartments on Saturday will rest on something besides a cot.

Dallas Mayor Laura Miller made sure they would at least have a mattress to sleep on.

Barrie Brown, CEO of the Mattress Giant retail chain, gave away up to $100,000 of its best products after he was prodded by Miller.

There was even more in store for the Katrina victims who arrived at the Foxmoor Apartments.

First came the food: 35 pound "starter boxes" from the North Texas Food Bank worth $52 each at wholesale.

Dianne Dunn was early to register for a new mattress. "I try to be here early, because I know there's going to be a lot of people here," she said. <...>

Dorothy Barney and her son Jordan were fresh from Reunion Arena and on the way to their new apartment when they unexpectedly ran into Dianne Dunn—her sister and a fellow evacuee.

The next big surprise for Barney was her fully-furnished new apartment.

"I didn't have no table in New Orleans," Barney said. "[It's] stocked with everything a new apartment dweller could want and need—and more." <...>

Barney one of 17 evacuee families who moved into a fully furnished apartment, but a total of 35 families moved in on Saturday, and another 15 are on the way. All will need furniture.

So Mayor Miller was appealing to the religious community to round up more sofas and beds, tables and chairs.

We couldn't be happier for Dorothy. She's a good person, and we wish her well.