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- Wing House Fundraiser -
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Sunday, October 30, 2005
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A while back Chris introduced me to a PR Liason for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Mr. David Williams. What a nice guy! Dave is in his mid 40's I'm guessing and has an incredible amount of enthusiasm and love for law enforcement. It's rare, I know. Anyway, Dave comes up to our agency occassionally with some current and some retired sports stars, including football players, boxers, wrestlers and baseball players, allowing them the opportunity to ride along with our deputies. Basically, summed up that's how Chris met Dave.
Anyway, when Hurricane Katrina struck somehow Dave got in touch with a police department in Mississippi that was in need. Now, when I say in need I truely mean IN NEED! When Hurricane Katrina made her landfall just east of New Orleans the majority forgot about every city affected but New Orleans. Seriously--that's pretty much all you saw on the news was New Orleans this, New Orleans that...but what about the cities to the east and west of New Orleans? Dave got in touch with the police chief of the Long Beach Police Department in Mississippi and told him he had some connections and would like to help. I can imagine how the conversation went...as if this police chief didn't have enough on his plate let alone some yahoo from Florida calling and offering help. It didn't quite work that way though.
Dave would soon learn much more than most of us can imagine. Of their nearly 50 man (and woman) force, almost ALL of them lost EVERYTHING! They lost the building that once housed their police department and most of their patrol cars, not to mention homes, businesses, personal mementos that just can't be replaced.
Picture this: You know a hurricane is coming but you work for a police agency. It's your job to serve and protect, right? So...does that mean you go to your home, pack up in a U-haul and head north, abandoning your post? Since you live in a coastal community you know that there's a good chance of some destruction, you just don't know how much. You board up, pack up, lock up and leave. You send your wife and children to friends and relatives north of you. Waaaay north of you. You go to work---arriving on duty at 5:00 am and you don't go home until 3:00 the next morning. You hear reports of water coming inland several miles, you power lines snapping in half all over the place and debris flying everywhere. You secure yourself the best you can at the police headquarters when suddenly the roof starts to leak. Then, you hear the shingles blowing off. Eventually, you hear firsthand what the townfolk told stories about every hurricane season. The roaring sound resembling a freight train coming through. Soon the roof literally flies off the building you have secured yourself in. As water and debris pour in you make your way to other parts of the building, such as the evidence locker, in hopes that you can safely make your way to the football stadium across the street for hopefully more shelter. You know it's too late and hunker down saying your prayers, hoping that when the winds settle you'll see the sun come up tomorrow. You are able to return to your home after working nearly 24 hours. You find nothing. Literally. Nothing. What once was your home you shared with family is now a cement foundation. What once was your parent's 7th story condominium is now a pile of 2x4's on the ground. What once was your local Walmart is a building with no roof. There is nothing left inside. You ask yourself, where did it all go? Walmart sells more than just clothes and movies, they sell heavy things like trampolines, tv's, stereo systems. We had no looting, where did it all go? Nothing left inside...it must be somewhere out there...somewhere. Same thing with K-mart and the grocery stores. Same thing all over. Your port is a major supplier for chicken all across the world. There are 55,000 pounds of chicken sitting in warehouses--or what once was a warehouse, rotting in the hot Mississippi sunshine. There is a warehouse full of fresh fruit that was to be shipped out...all gone--rotten. Then the unthinkable...the morgues...full of bodies but no power supply. I'm sure you can imagine the rest...
That is what the guys and gals of the Long Beach Police Department dealt with, aside dealing with their own family issues. And that's really just the tip of the iceberg. Dave Williams worked with the police chief and was able to send the 2 officers who were hardest hit and most affected by the storm. Mike and Brian arrived in Citrus County to meet our agency personnel Thursday. What nice guys! Just two regular guys, both with familes, displaced by such a huge disaster.
Friday, Dave Williams coordinated a fundraiser at the Wing House in St Pete. The Wing House charged $10 per person for a platter of chicken, pasta salad, fries and a soft drink. ALL of the money raised was to go directly to Mike and Brian and their police department. Dave was also able to speak with the Rooms to Go V.P. and secure a very large donation for this police department and their families. When I say large, I mean to the effect of 9 digits. Each officer was going to get a minimum of $10,000 worth of furniture for their homes, when they get homes. Most are currently living in FEMA motorhomes or campers...not trailers, campers.
Besides many local law enforcement agencies being represented, Dave brought in Tampa Bay Buccanneers Fullback Mike Alstott and Dave Moore. The Tampa Bay Storm head coach was present. The starting pitcher for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Seth McClung, showed up as well. Remember the American Gladiators show? It used to be on TV on Sunday afternoons when I lived in Michigan. Anyway, one of the Gladiators, The Tank, appeared. A few WWF wrestlers were present as well as Matt O'Dwyer from the Green Bay Packers and several other celebs. They had a silent auction, a live auction and a raffle. In cash that night over $5,000 was raised. The Wing House matched that amount, sending the LBPD guys home with over $10,000 cash to distribute. What a wonderful night!
Mike and Brian both said they were a little embarrassed, in their words all they did was show up to work. But in reality, they did much more by being present and making their reality hit home for all of us. Mike and Brian, I doubt you will ever see this blog (my first clue is probably because I didn't give you the blog link before I left) but just so you know you guys are great and welcome in Citrus County anytime!
PS. They were also put up in a room at the Renaissance Vinoy in St. Pete---1 word--POSH.
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2 Comments:
Very interesting story. Love the pics, Kell :O)
HB
wondering if fema motorhomes are old, used or new, donated. Will they be sold or auctioned eventually?
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