UPDATE FROM JULIE

Hi Everyone,
I talked to Lee finally. She wanted me to let everyone know she's doing okay. She said NBC will be taping a follow-up on her story on November 21st and it should air around Thanksgiving, but she doesn't know the exact date yet. She said she plans to show NBC the things we have all sent her, and talk about what we all did for her. I told her about how we had planned to do a scrapbook at one time but it never really came about, she said she would've shown that on tv, so since there's still time maybe we could all do it still?

She said the furniture store really helped her out with furniture, and she's just trying to get things here and there that she can afford for her place.

Oh, Wal-Mart never sent some of the items that were purchased for her, so if any of you purchased the DVD player, Alarm clock/cd radio, Winnie The Pooh toybox or step-stool, she never got those items and she's called Wal-Mart and they aren't doing anything about it, if you purchased these items, please contact them, we don't know what else to do.

Julie

Cheryl Added: If anyone is interested in getting this scrapbook together quickly and to Lee Ann before the 21st here's an idea. You can create a page in Word or Publisher and send it to me email. I can print from there onto nice quality paper or photo paper, whichever will work best with page and "scrap" it into the scrapbook. You could also just send me pictures with info and a note and I will dress it up and "scrap" it for you. Just a thought to try and get it to her sooner. For me to get the scrapbook to her by the 21st, I'd have to have everything by this weekend. Let me know!

THANK YOU FROM LEE ANN

Here is a copy of the Thank You from Lee Ann that is posted on her website. "I want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart. Jahon and I have received so much support from all over the country. I never would have imagined there were so many people out there that would dig so deep in their hearts for us.

We are doing great! We have found a house here in Wilmington. It's small but very well kept, freshly painted and new carpet, and best of all right on the bus line. We have begun moving things in and have had generous furniture donations from a local furniture store, The Wookey Hole. We only need a few more things that are listed on the help lee page.

Please forgive me that I am not more computer savy. I have received help from my cousin and friends with this new technology. All of the emails I have received I have in a notebook to keep forever. I have had a chance to read all your messages and want to thank you ALL for your prayers and support.

Thank You!"

Sorry it's been awhile since last update :)

Cheryl K

UPDATED INFORMATION FOR DONATIONS

Lee Ann and Jahon are moving into a small house that is unfurnished. They have received a very generous donation from a local Wilmington furniture store, The Wookey Hole, to help get them started.

They still need a few small items such as curtains and a small TV table. For safety reasons, we have set up a way to have Target Gift Cards directly to Lee Ann so that her new address does not have to be posted publicly. In addition to these necessities she will also be able to purchase diapers and other items not covered by WIC. We hope that you understand the need for a young single mother to have some level of security.

Packages, letters and other mail items can be shipped directly to Lee at Charlotte's house.

Lee Ann Bemboom
c/o Charlotte Bemboom Hackman
1463 Quadrant Circle
Wilmington NC 28405

Note: Charlotte & Ed bought Lee a new washer & dryer set!!

MONETARY DONATIONS for Lee Ann & Jahon

If you would like to help restart Lee and Jahon lives monetarily please feel free to send funds to Lee's new bank in Wilmington.

Bank Of America

1325 Military Cutoff Road
Wilmington, NC 28405
910.251.5307

Checks payable to Lee Ann Bemboom.

CONCERT

Thank you Wanda, Joanna and Erika for all your efforts in getting the tickets and providing transportation for Lee Ann to get to the Rolling Stones Concert. What a wonderful treat!

UPDATE

Charlotte came home from hospital today. We would like to wish her a speedy recovery. Our thoughts and prayers are with her.

Lee Ann is still at the house and waiting on word about housing. Assistance is slow but moving forward. Hopefully she will hear some good news soon.

Lee Ann is very grateful for all the support while Charlotte was in the hospital.

CHARLOTTE IN HOSPITAL

Charlotte was taken to the hospital after experiencing pain on Friday night.  She is still there and we will update if we get any new information.  Lee Ann has had a set back in the housing area and now is with out the daily support that Charlotte has been providing.  Lee Ann is able to take care of things for herself; however, without access to transportation it is extremely difficult.  The apartment would have afforded her more accessibility to transportation, but that has not worked out.  So she is back to square one in housing.  I know there is speculation and wondering about Lee Ann's possible decision to move into a hotel until she can find more permanent housing and we would like to clarify.

• Lee Ann is looking into this possibility through the Cape Fear Volunteer Center.  They have done this for others through voucher expenses.  This is not an expense that she can undertake for herself right now.

• With Charlotte in the hospital, Lee Ann needs to be closer to public transportation as that is the only other means she has to get around.  When Charlotte comes home she will require time to recuperate and Lee Ann wants to give her that time without the added worry of running her around.

Lee Ann still needs lots of support.  She has a long road ahead, but with the wonderful family of friends everything will work out in the end.  Keep them in your prayers!  Brighter Days Tomorrow!    

PLACE OF HER OWN

GREAT NEWS...Lee Ann will be moving into a place of her own around the 15th of the month and NBC Nightly News plans to do a follow up story. We will post new information as soon as available. Thank you again to everyone who has contributed and helped make this such a positive experience!!

There is a setback in living arrangements for Lee Ann. The apartment that Lee Ann was looking to move into is no longer available.

JULIE ARRIVED SAFELY

Charlotte emailed last evening that Julie arrived safely late Thursday evening. She was invited to speak to the Rotary this morning (Fri 10/7) with Lee Ann and Charlotte.

PHOTOS

New photos have been posted to the family web site of Lee Ann & Jahon. They are wonderful. :)

Click here to view them.

THE STEDMAN FAMILY

Julie's new site HelpAFamilyInNeed is up and running, check it out!

The Stedman Family has recently been added to the site. Julie has verified all the information about the family. Michelle Stedman has just started working at the same place as Julie. Click on the family name in title above to visit family's blog to see how we can help them. Pass the word on to everyone about Julie's new site and the families in need.

There are many, many people who still need help out there. Let's pass the word on. Tell all your family, co-workers and friends about the new site.

Thanks,
Cheryl K

DONATED ITEMS LIST

I've posted here under comments a listing of items that have already been sent to Lee Ann & Jahon so you may have a better idea of what was sent and needed. Click the link above to log into Walmart Registry to check there too as items purchased through there are not included (enter Leeann Bemboom). I will continue to update the list as other donations are reported. If you send anything, please post here so we can update list.

Message from Lee Ann - Jahon has received plenty of clothing and toys for the time being. Thanks for all that was sent, she really, really appreciates it!

Thanks for your caring & generosity. I have never met a group of more caring people then those I have met through the groups and this blog. Thank you Kara for organizing the info. for me.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAHON (Click here for a surprise)

Everybody sing.......

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday dear Jahon,

Happy Birthday to you!

Here's wishing you the most wonderful 1st birthday a little boy could ever have. Here are our birthday wishes for you!!

(Please leave your birthday wishes for Jahon here under comments)

Please email pictures of your party for Jahon to amykrystof@entouch.net and cherylh@dejazzd.com.

REUNION

What a wonderful sight to see Lee Ann & Jahon reunited with family! Look at that smile! What a reward!



Lee Ann, may your reunion with family only be the beginning of a happy, bighter tomorrow. It is wonderful to see you reconnected.
Family is forever!
Hugs, Hugs, Hugs, from your "extended family"

CLICK HERE to see pictures of homecoming.

LEE ANN'S TRIP TO SEE HOME IN ALGIERS

Becky posted this on MSN Group, thought I'd pass it on:
Sorry I didn't post anything yesterday, but I was exhausted when we got home, and LSU was playing and lost!!! :o(

We made it everywhere we needed to go yesterday. We went to Lee Ann's home in Algiers and boarded it up. Someone had broken in and ransacked her house, so she didn't want to really take anything. Then we drove across the river, into new orleans, and made it to her residence. She just wanted to see it with her own eyes. The destruction we saw was unbelievable, and I am sure that it was much better than it was several weeks ago. I'll post the pictures from our trip on this board. We drove down canal street, bourbon street and past the riverwalk and convention center, and those areas are cleaned up almost back to normal. However, the rest of new orleans looks like a bombed out third world country. The pictures just don't capture it. I think in the past three days I have seen more destruction than most people see in a lifetime. But people were trying to make progress and this area will be back, one day! After driving around, we went back to the shelter, and hugged and said good byes. I was sad because I had to say goodbye to a friend, but I am so happy that she is on her way to a new start! I gave Jahon a big kiss, he is such a trooper! We will make it to N.C. to visit them once things get back to normal here. This is just one of thousands of sad stories that will have a happy ending, and it touches my heart to see the outpouring of love, and people helping people!

NBC NIGHTLY NEWS CLICK HERE TO SEE BROADCAST

NBC Nightly News will be airing a story about Lee Ann & Jahon Weds. Sept. 28th. Tune in and watch. Dawn Fratangelo interviewed her in Baton Rouge and a crew will be in Wilmington to cover her arrival on Tuesday night.

Click on title NBC NIGHTLY NEWS to view video of the broadcast.

LEE ANN & JAHON

A Little About Lee Ann

For those of you who may not know the whole story here is a little about Lee Ann and Jahon's ordeal:

Lee Ann & Jahon live in New Orleans at the time of the hurricane. They were evacuated from the place they were staying to the Superdome. In a search for food, water and medical attention for Jahon, Lee Ann walked through waters to the Convention Center. Things there weren’t any better. Jahon was dehydrated and in need of medical attention. She spent 4-5 days between the Superdome and Convention Center It was during this time she ran into a report who interviewed her and others, trying to get the real story of the horrors going on there out to people who could do something to help. Her story ran on MSNBC and picture was published in papers around the World. From there none of us new what had happened to Lee Ann & Jahon. We have found out now that they were eventually air lifted to the airport and then sent to a hospital in Baton Rouge for medical treatment for Jahon. They are currently staying in a shelter in Addis, LA. During their stay there Lee Ann received the devastating news that the place she was staying at in New Orleans had burnt to the ground with all of her precious possessions. They now have absolutely nothing, except each other and the goodwill of the people who have been following her story and desperately searching for her and Jahon. With the help of Cape Fear Volunteer Center in NC, Lee Ann and Jahon will be flying to Wilmington NC to stay with her Cousin Charlotte for a few weeks. The Center will be helping her find housing and work in the area so she and Jahon can start anew.

For those of you who would like to help please see other sections in this blog that detail what can be done. There is also a section with information for those of you who want to reach out and do more for other victims of Katrina.

On a personal note: The desperation people witnessed during the interview with Lee Ann at the Convention Center struck a cord and prompted many of us to search high and low to find and help her and Jahon. We have banded together in our pursuit and continue on in helping her and Jahon begin a new life. I also believe it has encouraged many of us to help in so many other ways. Volunteering, donating money and goods, etc to various organizations. Lee Ann has been an inspiration for many of us to do more, to that we owe you, Lee Ann, a HUGE thank you!

To read Lee Ann’s whole story click here:
http://www.wilmingtonstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050925/NEWS/50924014

J IS FOR...JUST ADORABLE!

Jahon

A Baby Asked God
A baby asked God, "They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I am going to live there being so small and helpless?"
God said, "Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you."
The child further inquired, "but tell me, here in heaven I don't have to do anything but sing and smile to be happy."
God said, "Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you. And you will feel your angel's love and be very happy."
Again the child asked, "And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me if I don't know the language?"
God said, "Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak."
"And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?"
God said, "Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray."
"Who will protect me?"
God said, "Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life."
"But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore."
God said, "Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you."
At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, "God, if I am to leave now, please tell me my angel's name."
"You will simply call her, "Mom."

WALMART WISH LIST

There has been a Wish List created for everyone to access through Walmart. Here is the information on that list.

Walmart® Hurricane Relief Wish List. This list was set up by friends of Lee's who wanted to help. Please feel free to check the list and contribute if you would like to. The list is under Leeann Bemboom, Wilmington, NC.

MONETARY DONATIONS

Here is the information to send monetary donations to Lee Ann & Jahon. As soon as we receive information as to a new account I will post that.

It is best for the time being to send checks/money orders directly to Lee Ann at the NC address:

Lee Ann Bemboom
c/o Charlotte Hackman
1463 Quadrant Circle
Wilmington, NC 28405
Make Payable to Lee Ann Bemboom

As far as Lee's bank account goes, Lee Ann will be setting up a local account later next week. The original account in Brusly will remain open to accommodate checks that are being sent there.

For those interested in helping others below are links to various organizations that also need help.
Cape Fear Volunteer Center
http://www.capefearvolunteercenter.org/
Red Cross
www.redcross.org
Salvation Army
http://katrina.salvationarmy.org/usn/www_usn.nsf
United Way
http://national.unitedway.org/katrina/index.cfm

There are many local organizations all over the US that can use help too.

NON MONETARY DONATIONS

Here is the information to send non monetary donations to Lee Ann & Jahon.

Many of you have offered to send baby items and things to help Lee and Jahon start their new life. Charlotte does not have any baby items and as you may know Lee and Jahon have lost everything. We will attempt to make a more detailed list of needed items after Lee arrives and can help us know exactly what she needs. In the meantime, as promised the address to send items directly to Lee is:

Lee Ann Bemboom
c/o Charlotte Hackman
1463 Quadrant Circle
Wilmington NC 28405

LeeAnn:
Clothing size 18-20
Shoe size 11

Jahon:
Clothing size 18 months
Shoe size 3-4
Diapers size 3 (he prefers name brand/gets rash easily)

Please feel free to send whatever items you feel a young family may need. If we receive duplicate items we will be sharing those with the Cape Fear Volunteer Program. Because this program has been, and will continue to be so helpful to Lee Ann and Jahon, we would like to support their efforts. Their website is: www.capefearvolunteercenter.org

I'm also working on creating a new website to help others like Lee, if you know of any other families who could be helped in the same way we've been helping Lee Ann, please email me at juls336@peoplepc.com for more information. Julie