Moore Public Schools donations now available online

I've been talking a lot on my blog about donating to the Moore Public Schools.  Unfortunately, it's been a little hard to do because you had to send in a check via US Mail - until now.

Great news! They have put up the online payment option.  You can now donate with your credit card online.  It's very easy and takes less than 5 minutes.

To donate, visit the First American Bank website here, http://www.bankfab.com/donate/, and click on the "Donate Now" button.

Donate to Moore Public Schools - finally!

I have really appreciated the outpouring of support here in Memphis, and beyond.  People I haven't seen in years have reached out to check on how my family and friends are - and how I'm doing from so far away.

Lauren Squires, a Memphis news reporter at WMC-TV, contacted me last night on her way to Moore to ask about my family.  Today, Lauren interviewed my mom (a retired Moore Public Schools teacher) about the devastation in her neighborhood.  I haven't seen photos yet, but hopefully I will tonight.  Lauren promised to send me video of my street via the news here in Memphis.  I will be watching!  10 PM CST tonight on Channel 5.  A HUGE thank you to Lauren for stopping by to see my parents.  It's so nice to feel the Memphis community supporting my hometown of Moore.

I have now learned how to donate to the Moore Public Schools.  As you know, the Moore Schools were hit hard during the tornadoes.  Multiple schools were hit, children were injured and killed, and the school administration building was hit.

On a personal note, I went to Moore Public Schools from kindergarten to 12th grade and graduated from Moore High School.  The Moore school district is fairly large with 3 high schools, 5 junior high schools, and 22 elementary schools.

I grew up in a divorced family with quite a bit of uncertainty in my life when I was young. The teachers in Moore worked tirelessly to help me to become the best student that I could be.  Their dedication helped me to earn scholarships that allowed me to go to college in New York and put my life on the right path.  I give the Moore Schools so much credit for who I have become.

I just received a personal call from one of the school board members from Moore Public Schools.  She said that the city has enough water, enough work gloves, etc.  The victims have places to stay at night.  What she said they really need are financial donations for the schools.  Moore Public Schools is going to build two new schools this year in addition to all of the repair work that will be required from the tornado damage. 

There are so many choices when it comes to giving, but I highly recommend donating to Moore Public Schools.  The heart of the community of Moore lies in its amazing school system.

If you want to give, you can do so by mail at this time.  I just received word that the Moore Public Schools technology center was destroyed, so an online donation site is not yet available.  As soon as it's up, I will provide that information.

Update: You can now make a donation online.  Click here to donate via credit card on the First American Bank site.  It's easy and takes less than 5 minutes!

If you mail a donation, this is the place to do it. You can designate how you want the money to be used, or you can send a general donation. 


The Moore Public Schools Foundation
PO Box 6100
Moore, OK 73153

Please note that this address has been updated because Moore Public Schools created a P.O. Box to be used specifically for donations.  The previous address will still work; it is the address to send to the school administration building. Here's a link to the website that specifies this address: http://www.bankfab.com/donate/.  
 

Jaclyn shares more news from Moore

Jaclyn Allen has posted another news update.  Here is a video of her speaking with another family.

Jaclyn is a Moore High School graduate who went to college near Moore in Norman, Oklahoma.  She is now a news reporter in Denver.



For the entire article, click here.

Moore Public Schools message from Superintendent Pierce

I'm still waiting to hear back on ways to donate to Moore Public Schools.  It should be around 2 PM CST today when I know more.

This morning though, there was a notice posted from Superintendent Pierce.  It is posted on the Moore Norman Technology Center website because the Moore Schools website is still down. 

Below I'm re-posting the letter.  For the full version, click here.

Message from Superintendent Pierce
First, I want to extend my sincerest sympathies to those who have suffered losses over the past few days in Oklahoma, and especially in my hometown of Moore. Our hearts go out to each of you, and know that all of us are suffering with you.

Next, we want to thank our emergency responders. Their preparation and quick actions over the past 24-hours have saved lives, and eased the burden of this disaster for all of us. We cannot thank you enough.

As superintendent of Moore Public Schools, I want you all to know that safety is our main priority. Yesterday our administrators, staff, teachers, and students put our crisis plan into action immediately. We monitored the weather throughout the day, and when it was time to shelter, we did just that. A tornado’s path is highly unpredictable, but with very little notice, we implemented our tornado shelter procedures at every school site.

Throughout the school year, we are required by the state to conduct tornado drills. At Moore Public Schools, we exceed that state requirement. When our children are at school, they are in our care. I want to emphasize that safety is our main priority, and the decisions we make are always with their safety in-mind.

I don’t need to tell you that Moore Public Schools, the City of Moore, and south Oklahoma City have suffered a devastating natural disaster. We are in the process of learning as much as we can about what has happened, and are reviewing our emergency procedures.

Please keep us in your thoughts as we work to rebuild our community.

Moore Public Schools Regular Classes
Classes have been canceled for the remainder of the year.

Moore Public Schools Graduation
Moore Public Schools will hold graduation for its 3 high schools this Saturday, May 25th at the Cox Convention Center in downtown Oklahoma City.

Westmoore High School's will be at 9:30am
Southmoore High School’s will be at 2:00pm
Moore High School’s will be at 6:00pm

Memphis news crew on the ground in Moore, Oklahoma

Lauren Squires from Memphis's WMC-TV Channel 5 called me last night as she was driving from Memphis to Moore.  She is going to report on the devastation and to share what's happening with Memphis residents.

I believe she is headed to my parents house now.  I haven't seen photos of their neighborhood yet.  Lauren promised to get some footage to send back to me here in Memphis. Hopefully, we will see that today here in Memphis.

Here's her first video from Moore last night when she arrived.

Big thanks in advance to Lauren for her hard work!

Another update on Moore, Oklahoma

As I continue to get questions (thank you for asking!), I will continue to post updates that I'm aware of.  I keep getting so many different updates about so many different people that it's become hard to fully detach from the internet and TV.

I did leave for a few hours today to get my car serviced and to watch the Grizzlies play.   I was still very distracted though and now I feel exhausted.  I can only imagine how people in Oklahoma feel!

My parents decided to stay in their house tonight.  Although the National Guard is nearby, they are concerned about looting or what else might happen if they abandon the house.  As I shared before, many houses on their street were hit, but not theirs.

For those Oklahoma residents who were not directly impacted, it's best to stay home.  My parents have been having a tough time coming and going because of all of the onlookers.  Here's the text my mom sent me:
"We can't get in and out of our neighborhood again. Police and national guard were stopping too many outside people who just want to drive thru to look. We can hear and see helicopters fly over. Neighborhood south across 4th not as damaged as i thought yesterday. Damaged houses are along 4th, so i thought entire neighborhood was gone."

I've seen a number of posts about the animal shelters in Moore.  If you have an extra pet carrier, they are in need of them.  There are also lots of posts about pets that are lost or found. 

I'm working to find out how to donate to the school systems there.  Look for more information tomorrow after 1 PM.  BIG thanks to those who have volunteered to help out here in Memphis.  I will keep you informed as things develop.

 The park next to my parents house, Veteran Memorial Park:

I'm heading to sleep now.  I will catch you up more tomorrow!  

Red Cross text donations not designated for Oklahoma

The Oklahoman's website (one of the major news outlets in Oklahoma City) is reporting that the text donations people are making to the Red Cross are not going to the victims in Moore.  They are going to an overall Red Cross fund.  Please keep this in mind as you give.

Click here for the original article:http://newsok.com/article/3828381

Source: Newsok.com 

Donations to local Red Cross Chapter likely will be used for relief related to recent tornadoes. The American Red Cross estimates “several million” dollars has been donated via text messages this week, but the money is not designated to relief efforts in Oklahoma.

The American Red Cross estimates “several million” dollars have been donated via electronic text messages since a tornado devastated Moore on Monday, but the money is not specifically designated to relief efforts in Oklahoma.

A representative of the local chapter, however, promised money donated to the local organization will be used for relief efforts in Oklahoma.

Ann Marie Borrego, spokeswoman for the American Red Cross in Washington, D.C., verified Tuesday that money donated by texting “REDCROSS” to 90999 will instead go toward a national disaster recovery fund.

“Our hearts go out to everyone in Oklahoma,” Borrego said. “When someone texts “REDCROSS” to 90999, that $10 donation goes to the American Red Cross. I could have donated on May 15 and that's what it would go in. It goes to general disaster relief. It is not designated to Oklahoma or any specific disaster relief.”

Borrego said some of the money donated via text message may end up being used in Oklahoma, and noted the agency has already sent crews into the state to provide food, emergency shelter, aid stations, clean up kits, mobile kitchens and counseling to the tornado victims.

Oklahoma City resident Alicia Sullivan, who has been following news of Monday's disaster and the outpouring of donations through online social media, is among those concerned that message is not being shared.

“I don't disagree with helping others,” Sullivan said. “But it should be known to the public that if you're giving a million to help your neighbors that not all of that million might be going to help them. They should make this clear to people.”

Borrego responds that if people wish to donate to their local chapter — the Oklahoma Red Cross — they should do so via their website. She said she believes the agency clearly expresses how it will use donations sent via text message.

“We tell people to donate to disaster relief so we can then determine how those funds are used to support communities when they are needed most,” Borrego said.

Moore News Update

My high school friend Jaclyn Allen is a news reporter in Denver.  She has traveled home to Moore to cover the tornadoes.

Here is the first news story I've seen from Jaclyn.

Update on Moore, Oklahoma Tornadoes

I'm getting a number of questions from friends this morning who have just heard about the tornado in my hometown of Moore, Oklahoma on Monday night (last night).

First off, my family is all safe.  I am unaware of any fatalities or injuries of friends.  Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for friends homes and businesses.

My mother and stepfather live at the end of a cul-de-sac. Their house is near the intersection of SE 4th Street and Bryant Avenue in Moore, across the street from Veterans Memorial Park. The tornado came through their cul-de-sac, but did not hit their house. Unfortunately, this is making it difficult for them to leave from a logistics perspective because the power lines are down and there is considerable debris. It has also started to rain today. 

They are still at home, trying to clean up and prepare to be gone for a while (weeks?). They do not have running water or power and will not for the foreseeable future. They report that they have a case of bottled water, so that's good news. My stepfather said that he has ripped down part of their fence to park their cars in the backyard.  I assume this is because the damage in the neighborhood faces the front of their home.

Here is a map of the 2-mile wide tornado's path. If you look closely, you will see that they were at the center of the path, on the east side of the path.  Look for the Veterans Memorial Park. They are in the neighborhood across the street from it. http://google.org/crisismap/2013-oklahoma-tornado

I have numerous friends whose homes and businesses were completely destroyed. I've known many of these folks since kindergarten and feel very sad that they've lost everything.  I also just got word that the farm where I rode horses growing up was completely destroyed.  As many of you know, my "sport" when I was younger was riding horses and that's where I did it.  I've also heard that the Dan McGuinness in Moore (opened by a number of Memphians) was hit and will be bull dozed down fairly soon. 

Sunday night, there were also other strong tornadoes that traveled east to Shawnee, Oklahoma. Shawnee is where I was born, and is where my grandmother and father still live. Those tornadoes were very close to my grandmother's home and leveled a number of homes near her. Luckily, it did not hit her house and she was able to make it to her storm cellar in time.

My brother Chris and his wife Kayla purchased a house near Oklahoma City a few weeks ago, but fortunately it was not near the tornado's path.  Kayla's family who lives in Moore is also okay, but her sister's boyfriend was not as lucky.  Although his family is safe, they completely lost their home.

I've gotten a number of questions about where to make donations. I recommend not donating to a small group that claims to be taking up donations. They are not always honest. If you want to donate immediately, I recommend the Red Cross or the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. This Facebook page has instructions on how to donate to these organizations: https://www.facebook.com/MooreTornado.

What I really recommend though is the Moore Public School system. The school system provided me a lot of support growing up that I needed to take things in my life to the next level. I know that they will need a lot of support now to get back on their feet. I'm working to get information on how to donate to the Moore Public Schools. Unfortunately, their administration building was also hit, so it may be tomorrow before I can share a donation address.

I've seen a number of folks say, "thank goodness everyone is alive."  I understand what they mean and I agree, but I always think it's sad when just being alive is the bar we're aspiring to.  Many of the people in Moore have lost everything.  EVERYTHING.  They may or may not have any insurance that may or may not pay for the damage.  Starting over with just the clothes on your back cannot be an easy task, so I would strongly encourage you to contribute if you feel compelled.

Also, I'm tossing around various ideas of how to help - one being a fundraiser to support the Moore Public School System here in Memphis.  Memphis community, if you are interested to help me, please send me a message.

I will do my best to post updates here.  Below are a few photos.  I think my parents will be sending more photos once they are able to get out, and I will do my best to post them here.

This is the street in front of my junior high school, Highland East.  My parents live just down the block from this.

A friend's home that I've known since Kindergarten. I'm not posting names for the sake of their privacy, but I want to share with those outside of Moore how bad the devastation is and how personal it is for people there.

Another friend who I have known since elementary school lived here.

A friend's childhood home where her mother was during the storm. She made it out safely.

Check back for more updates.  Again, if you are in Memphis and would be willing to help out with a fundraiser for the Moore Public School System, please let me know.