On August 29, 2005, the Mississippi and Louisiana Gulf Coastlines experienced the most devastating hurricane that has ever hit the USA. Hurricane Katrina left millions homeless and without the necessities of even water and food.
Because of the massive devastation, compassionate individuals and businesses from near and far opened their hearts and billfolds to offer help. Thus Outreach Services International (OSI) began to operate at a Central Mississippi based non-profit corporation which volunteered its camp facilities for a distribution center. From this distribution center, over 250 tons of goods and services were channeled to the Gulf Coast with as estimated street value of over two million dollars. Teams from OSI set up other distribution centers in the disaster areas for distribution of food, water, clothing, non-prescription medical supplies, and other items. First aid stations were set up and nurses volunteered and came to assist with these minor medical needs.
Outreach Services International has been involved in the disaster relief since Katrina made land-fall in late August 2005. OSI will continue to assist in the rebuilding stages of the Gulf Coast.
Further OSI will be ready as a first responder when another disaster such as an earthquake (most of the southeastern region is in the New Madrid Fault area), hurricane, or tornado damages is experienced. Funding for Outreach Services will continue to operate by funding from various donations.
Secondly, in a calmer atmosphere, Outreach Services will be involved in other charitable, humanitarian, and educational opportunities. Dysfunctional families are everywhere awaiting someone to care and lend a helping hand. We are committed to be there and make a difference in many of these families.
The main thrust of our activity has been Katrina related. Many non-perishable goods were received to assist those having disaster related needs. Therefore, yes, we have provided to individuals. We opened up distribution centers and anyone could come and get whatever was available at no cost. No individual was turned away and we think it worked well in getting the help to the grass roots. Many individuals had no other place to go for food, water, and the basic supplies.
As stated above, distribution centers were set up for individual distribution of food, water, and the basic supplies. However, often when we became aware that other organizations were not as well supplies as we were, we would send truck loads of supplies to other organizations. Some were the fire departments, police departments, churches, rest homes and/or other distribution centers.