This plumfund is closed.
Make Your Own!
Heading South to Help
Started by: William Hooper
Heading South to Help
William Hooper, an EMT with wilderness first responder training, and Michaela Caplan, an experienced street medic and wilderness responder, will be driving a truck from CT to TX, carrying needed supplies into parts of Houston in immediate need of aid, then staying on to assist on the ground. Will may be down in Texas well into September, as need dictates.
They are already in contact with local on-the-ground groups in the disaster area, who are already doing everything from pulling people off rooftops to cooking meals and prepping beds for thousands of displaced folks. They have use for the supplies and a need for the assistance.
All money goes to the venture - transportation, supplies to take, etc. Any extra left over will be given directly to organizations we've seen with our own eyes doing good work in the field. There is no waste, no "overhead", no money diverted to fundraising or glossy brochures or salaries. Everything you give, gets applied to disaster relief. Even Plumfund was chosen because unlike most others, it charges no fees beyond the standard electronic payment processing fee.
Latest Update
Dear friends, Thank you all so much for your generous support. With your help, we were able to not merely go south to help, but fill a 15' U-Haul truck to overflowing, distribute supplies in some of the hardest-hit areas of Houston with National Black United Front (NBUF), work with the Cajun Navy in the Beaumont area running medical clinics and doing rescue work, and then rent another U-Haul, load it with further supplies, and take them to Mutual Aid Disaster Relief (MADrelief) in Tampa, where they would be distributed all over south Florida in the wake of Irma. Y'all's generosity was so great, we were able to donate thousands of leftover dollars to folks doing on the ground work in the hardest hit areas, including those leaving for Puerto Rico as we got home. I would be honored to speak to each one of you about the experience, as well as speak to groups about this rescue work and disaster work in general. Do not hesitate to contact me at whooper@gmail.com. Thank you again.
Posted by William
October 12 at 5:52pm
Mission creep is a danger for any charitable undertaking, threatening to turn a focused effort into something so broad it can no longer accomplish anything. With that concern firmly in mind, folks supported me to go South and help folks as an EMT & WFR. Right now, Texas needs that less than Florida is about to. Therefore: New truck, filled with supplies courtesy of the Cajun Navy in Beaumont. New companion in the form of Andrew Aponick, a new friend himself down from NYC to help. Creedence is singing Green River on the radio, it's 6 hours to Mobile to stage until the way to Tampa is clear, and we have Mutual Aid collectives, street medics, and Cajun Navy ready to use us on the other end. In Texas, it was relief and recovery work. In Florida, we will be there just hours post disaster. This is rescue work. This is pulling people out on boats and doing field emergency medicine. Feeling a surge of generosity? Kick us some travel funds. And pray for us all in whatever paradigm you've got.
Posted by William
September 10 at 7:07pm
Use Facebook to add your own comment to this update.
We are amazed and honored to report that this crowdfunding campaign has crossed $10,000! Thank you so much! Will and Michaela arrived Tuesday and distributed supplies in the 3rd and 5th wards of Houston. Today they moved outside Houston to start doing more medical rescue work around the Beaumont and Port Arthur areas. ~ Jaclyn (ground crew)
Posted by William
September 6 at 6:30pm
Use Facebook to add your own comment to this update.
Will and Michaela left CT Sunday night, have made it through Nashville (and picked up some more donations there) and should make it to Texarkana tonight for solid rest and showers. They're set to arrive in Houston midday Tuesday. Your physical and monetary donations have made it possible for them to fill an entire 15 foot truck with needed medical supplies, rescue equipment, personal care items, and pet food. Take a look! https://www.facebook.com/jaclyn.chancey/videos/10105608015109835/ Including the truck rental, the total spent so far has been right at $7000. We'll post a more detailed accounting later, but send a message here if you have any questions. Thank you so much for your support! Jaclyn (ground crew)
Posted by William
September 4 at 6:51pm
Use Facebook to add your own comment to this update.
Jaclyn Chancey — 6 years ago
Link not working? Try https://www.facebook.com/jaclyn.chancey/videos/vb.27411427/10105608015109835/?type=2&theater
Due to the overwhelming, and continuing, generosity of everyone involved, I will start purchasing supplies today. I will update further later today to tell y'all what you bought for those in need. For folks just coming on scene, your donations are still helpful - we will continue to fill the truck en-route as room and money allows, and leftover funds go directly to supplying needs on-site.
Posted by William
September 1 at 7:24am
Use Facebook to add your own comment to this update.
I am humbled and overwhelmed by the generosity people are showing our work. We've gotten the truck. We're getting donations of supplies. Purchasing additional supplies starts tomorrow. Any and all money raised, no matter how far beyond our initial goal we get, will go to people doing work on the ground in Houston, selected for maximum useful impact. Thank you!
Posted by William
August 31 at 12:53pm
Use Facebook to add your own comment to this update.
HOLY SMOKES Y'ALL We are already over $4,000 HUGE thanks to Hertz of North Windham, who went over and above to try to find us a truck when their fleet is in disarray due to the hurricane, and to U-Haul of Columbia, who was able to get us a 15' truck at 20% discount. I'll be getting the truck this afternoon and going to local stores to buy (and rabble for donations of) supplies.
Posted by William
August 31 at 8:41am
Use Facebook to add your own comment to this update.
WOW! The generosity of family and friends is meaningful enough, but the continued generosity of friends-of-friends-of-friends has floored me - we are already 40% of the way to our goal. Thank you all so much for your offerings of money, supplies, support, prayer, and on-the-ground connections. We are humbled and encouraged in this work by all of y'all.
Posted by William
August 31 at 6:47am
Use Facebook to add your own comment to this update.
140 Supporters
-
Use Facebook to add your own comment.
- Sheila A. Herbert6 years ago Best wishes.
- Anonymous6 years ago
- Madison Day6 years ago Godspeed to you & your companions, Will!
- Robin A Donoghue6 years ago I learned about you through Lynz. Rock on, dude. I wish I could join you down there. Thank you for all you do! <3
- Karen Suber6 years ago
- Anonymous6 years ago
- Andrea Hodgins-Davis6 years ago Godspeed and thank you.
- Chris Bettis6 years ago God bless.
- laura cantrell6 years ago bless y'all's heart! be careful
- Shaina Kraus6 years ago Best wishes in Florida
- Show 130 more supporters
Use Facebook to add your own comment to this update.