Pembroke Responds to Katrina
We're coordinating here to help 20 families in the Tinley Park area. We took your list and divided it up among our church leaders who are heading drives to gather items (personal hygiene, linens, towels/wash cloths, soaps, diapers, slippers, etc.). One member is using some material that we donated to make draw string bags and those who can afford to will purchase duffel bags. We can get things to Tinley Park because it's only about 30 miles from us. Also, families already in f-to-f on this end are being asked to collect/donate items as well.

I'll keep you posted with the updates. We're working here with efforts to explore housing. We've passed the idea to other groups. From what i understand, there's a lot going on. A lot of it is still being worked out because many of the people are trying to get back South to as near to home as they can get.

Lisa Dyson
Pembroke F-to-F

Friends in Michigan
Approximately a year ago we became involved with your organization through the newly established Northville, Michigan Chapter. When the community of Cairo, Illinois was assigned to us, I was thrilled because I am familiar with that part of the country. As a matter of fact, I drive right through Cairo when I visit my parents in Missouri. Our family works with the LC family. In the first shipment I enclosed a letter to inform her I grew up not too far away from Cairo. This made a nice connection for the two of us. We exchanged phone numbers and have corresponded through letters a few times. I told L one day I was going to stop in Cairo, so we could meet. That day finally happened August 19, 2005. It was so exciting to finally meet her. We agreed on a meeting place and I arrived first. L jumped out of the car and gave me a big hug. It felt like I had known her a long time. My children were with me and enjoyed a short visit as well. My boys were disappointed they didn't get to meet her children, but they had already started school. I'm sure we'll be able to stop in Cairo again before too long.

The convenience of driving through her town on occasion means I am able to take some extra hand me down items with me. Our children don't match up exactly, but a few neighbors were eager to help with the extra sizes we needed. It was so nice to meet our family. The organization is so perfectly named, because it truly is a family to family experience, no middleman. One family in direct contact with another. Our family is blessed to be able to help another family with needs. Thanks to the wonderful people that coordinate the efforts and to Federal Express for their generosity in making the connection of goods from one family to another family. This has truly been a great experience for our family. When I tell others about Family-to- Family their response is almost always, "how can I get involved?" It reminds me of the country song, "Chain of Love." That exactly what's happening through this organization. Thanks for all you do.
Sincerely, Judy Kent

Long Island Chapters Feed the Mind
AnnMarie Ludwig, chair of the Family-to-Family contributing chapter in Massapequa on Long Island in New York, had the realization that among the services poor communities across the country lack is easy access to libraries. So she initiated an inspired effort to solicit and send books – shared by other Long Island F-to-F giving communities in Plainview, Freeport, and Commack. Receiving communities use the contributions to establish lending libraries.

Over the past nine months, thousands of books – fiction and non-fiction, children's books and texts – have been distributed. In addition to contributions of books by F-to-F members, individual schools, school districts, and Scholastic Publishers have made contributions, which are shipped at no cost by FedEx.