Received this email from my cousin's husband who works with a ministry for the homeless in Nashville (http://www.fiveand2.com):

If you are alive and consious, chances are you've heard about the flooding in Nashville. There are 30-35 homeless staying at Woodbine where we have 5&2. I have been texting Brett for details and will be heading down there in the morning. Many have lost everything and are completely broken. In addition to food, they need bus passes, food cards, phone cards, care packages (deodorant, toothbrushes...etc), and medical supplies. Some are mentally ill and some have some pretty severe medical conditions. Most of all, they need someone to care, sit with them, befriend them.

A lot of the homeless live in a homeless community called "tent city" by the Cumberland River. As you know, the Cumberland broke its barriers and flooded much of Nashville. Imagine not already having much, and what little you do have, is now gone. This is the position these people are now in.

I was looking forward to volunteering this evening with my friend in Franklin, but I didn't get done watching the boys in time- the volunteers were wrapping up their day. So I decided to make the most of it and went to Walmart to buy things to donate.

Sometimes it takes a tragedy to set a person's heart in motion. It takes witnessing it first hand and experiencing something so close to home that ignoring it would seem heartless. I guess you could say I'm one of those people. Yeah, I gave to Haiti when the earthquake hit, yeah I've donated regularly to Nashville Rescue Mission for the past two years.... But to put your whole self aside and to give, to help, to volunteer your time in order to more than just help the life of another is completely different and I hate that this is what it takes- disaster. I was reading that over 8,300 local people are officially signed up to volunteer, which I'm sure doesn't even count the ones who didn't even bother to sign up through an organization- they are just showing up- and this news makes my heart sing! I couldn't be more proud to live where I do!

Here are the items I purchased tonight. I plan on going into Nashville to donate it at Woodbine on saturday. If you would like to add to this pile, please let me know. I will be more than happy to bring it along with me.

I was talking to my friend tonight and we were sort of getting fired up about being out there to volunteer. We've known each other since we were 15 and we've experienced a lot of "World Changers" together. World Changers is a ministry opportunity for young people to perform manual labor on people's homes who do not have the expenses to pay for anything and everything that needs to be done. For an entire week, you wake up at 6 am, grab a quick breakfast, and head to your home site to fix roofs, paint, clean yards, build wheelchair ramps, you name it. I did that for 7 summers all over the United States and my heart got a little burned out by the time I turned 2o. So I'm ready and pumped to be back out there! I plan on spending my weekend helping where needed. Continue to pray!

this information was found on nashvillest.com

DONATE

• Middle Tennessee Red Cross: Donate online at www.nashvilleredcross.org, by phone at 615-250-4300 or by mail at 2201 Charlotte Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203. Remember, the Red Cross is not a government agency and is funded solely by your local donations.
• Kroger: Food donation barrels in all area Kroger stores, monetary donations accepted at checkout.
• Second Harvest Food Bank: Provide monetary donations to Second Harvest HERE. Second Harvest is currently working to relocate their inventory from Metro Center.
• Salvation Army: Monetary donations are preferred and can be made online HERE or by phone at 1-800-SAL-ARMY. Drop off your donations of bottled water, mops, brooms, heavy duty work gloves, masks, sponges, squeegees, scrub brushes, plastic gloves, bleach, all purpose cleaner concentrate, trash bags and paper towels at the 631 Dickerson Road center.
• The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee: In partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management, donate online to the Metro Nashville Disaster Response Fund and/or the Tennessee Emergency Relief Fund HERE (checks can be mailed to P.O. Box 440225, Nashville, TN, 37244).
• Graceworks Ministries: Graceworks is working with the Red Cross to collect donations for flood victims. They are in need of non-perishable food items, toilet paper, detergent, dry beans, pasta, canned soup, toothbrushes, bottled water, clothing, diapers (sizes 2, 3 and 4) and furniture. Please separate men’s, women’s and children’s clothing donations. Drop off donations at 104 Southeast Parkway, Franklin TN.

SHELTERS

UPDATE: Most shelters only accepting water at this point.

• Lipscomb University: In need of towels, blankets, pillows, bottled water. Bring to Allen Arena. No perishable foods. UPDATE: As of 4pm on Monday, shelter is only accepting water.
• Gordon JCC: In need of towels, pillows, limited toiletries. Please no more volunteers or food right now. Bring to the front door. UPDATE: As of 5pm on Monday, shelter is not accepting new donations.
• Al Menah Shrine Center: In need of male & female underwear, some socks, comfortable clean clothing, blankets, approximately 50 pillows. Please no more volunteers for now. Bring donations to the front door (1354 Brick Church Pike).
• Bellevue Middle: In need of sheets & blankets.

VOLUNTEER

• Hands On Nashville: Again, all Metro Nashville relief efforts are running through Hands On Nashville. Sign up to be notified of opportunities HERE. Relief efforts are expected to begin this afternoon/evening.
• Samaritan’s Purse: Samaritan’s Purse has deployed an emergency unit to Nashville and is working on assessing the damage and connecting with local churches. Sign up HERE (select “Nashville TN Flood Relief”) to volunteer with them.
• Second Harvest Food Bank: Contact volunteer@secondharvestmidtn.org to help prepare meals for the Salvation Army and Red Cross once they are able to get on their feet again.
• Graceworks Ministries: Contact cdublin@graceworksministries.net for volunteer opportunities. They will need help sorting & processing donations for the Red Cross.

MISC OPPORTUNITIES

• Trevecca Nazarine University: Group is taking food, water, first aid and toiletries to flooded neighbors around the university. If you’re in the area and want to help distribute, call Dan at 941-518-6740. Drop off donations at the Boone Business Building.
• East Nashville: Teams are being organized to help neighbors who need furniture moved, debris bagged up or removed, help getting things out of water’s way or cleaning up once it’s gone. To help or receive help, call Catherine at ArtHouse Gardens at 828-9223.
• Hendersonville Flood Relief Facebook Group
• Housing: Have space to offer in your clean, dry, not-flooded house for displaced flood victims? Sign up HERE and we will work to connect you with shelters or other organizations placing families in homes.
• Animals: Animal Ark Animal Hospital is taking in pets of displaced families on a first-come, first-served basis. Animal shelters in Davidson County are also looking for food, cat litter and cleaning supplies.
• Need Help / Offer Help on Facebook
• Help Tent City Recover: Needed items are clothing (especially socks), pots, pans, air mattresses, toiletries, canned goods and pre-packaged snacks. For monetary donations, click HERE.
• Sunscreen for volunteers. Golden Skin Care is collecting donations of sunscreen for flood relief volunteers. Drop of donations at 2000 Richard Jones Rd. in Green Hills.

Please be patient as we update with additional opportunities.

2010 Flood response

Not sure if anyone is interested in volunteer or donating, but if so, this might be helpful:

this is from the city of Franklin's website:
Many people have called to ask what they can do and how they can volunteer. The City has set up a volunteer hotline to call. The number is 550-6947. We are asking volunteers to leave a message and we will contact them as needed.

If citizens are interested in donating to help those affected by the flooding they can donate to the American Red Cross or Graceworks. The information is below.

• American Red Cross, located at 129 W. Fowlkes Street Franklin; 615-790-5785, will accept credit card, checks, money orders, and cash donations only. American Red Cross advised individuals can call in their donations over the phone, send via mail, or deliver in person at the above address.

• Grace Works located at 104 South East Parkway Franklin, TN; 615-794-9055, will accept can goods, furniture, clothing, appliances, blankets, water, etc. Grace Works advised to have individuals to transport the items to the above address.

-# # #-

There is also a site called Hands On Nashville. On the homepage, you can click on a link to fill out a form in order to volunteer. This link is here http://www.hon.org/HomePage/index.php/home.html

I know it doesn't seem like that big a deal um BUT IT IS.

TN is a disaster area... 8 deaths confirmed.

Here is the water flowing into the road. After Hunter and I took pictures, we were crossing back over and I was blown away at how much higher it had gotten in just 10 minutes. The water was so swift I was sure we were going to get rushed into the guard rail.

This is less than a mile from our house.

everyone knows how high a basketball goal is.... here it is with water half way up its pole.

On a regular day, the water is typically well beneath this bridge.

This is our neighborhood's park. The creek (which is usually tucked far back behind it down a slope) has now reached the park trails.

Our neighborhood's storm drains are starting to overflow.

Video of the rapid waters in Spring Hill!

I want to thank all of my family and friends for keeping in touch through this disaster, whether it be through facebook, text, email or phone call. It means so much to me to know that I'm being watched out for and I'm trying my best to make sure my family/friends are safe as well. If you don't live in TN and have family in this area that you have not yet checked on, know that Nashville and the surrounding areas are getting hit hard. This is a horrible natural disaster and you will definitely want to keep in touch with loved ones. This is not a light situation. I am keeping our state in prayer and my heart is breaking for those who's life has been altered due to all of this. Please pray too.

This was taken at the Gulf Shores zoo. Hunter and I were admiring a silly little bear and Hunter said "I just feel like I'm being watched...."

Lo and behold, he was.

To the left of his (right) shoulder, a donkey was standing as still as possible just in a gaze.

Hunter felt awkward...

(click on the picture to enlarge it so you can see the donkey's face. It's funny!)

Yesterday Hunter and I took an adventure with Emerson...

If you ask me, Hunter looks so natural holding a baby :)

We ventured to the park in our neighborhood to find the pretty creek.

Emerson found some honeysuckles!

Jungle-esque flowers :)

Hunter rinsing off in the creek...... because he fell.... in the mud...

We found a turtle!

Emerson was so excited once we got there, he kept yelling "Waterrrrrr!!!!!"

Mussels for dinner?

Emerson dipping his toes in...

Hunter thought it was so weird the way I was carrying Emerson, but by the look of his face, I think he was about to fall asleep... looks comfy to me!

What kind of adventure would it be if I didn't bring home flowers?

:)

Brace yourself for insane cuteness...

Living out in Spring Hill, I've witnessed tons of wildlife. Sadly, it's mostly just my cat and the neighbor's cat eating it. Lots of mice... birds....frogs.... you name it. The other day, I was cleaning close to the window and noticed Vito behaving super sketchy. I took a closer look and somehow he had managed to catch a beautiful cardinal and was just having a feast. How he caught such a pretty red bird is beside me. About 2 weeks ago, I was walking around our town home and found a teeny tiny.... headless bunny. So upset!

Yesterday morning, I walked outside to leave for Kevin's house and Vito walked out with me. He did his little "curious" noise, which lead my attention to Figaro who was chasing a baby rabbit. I dropped my purse and said "OH NO. You are NOT gonna kill a bunny today! Not on my porch!" I went and got a towel to try and catch it, not realizing how hard it would actually be. If you think about it, this bunny was being chased my 3 different things and wasn't about to stop for anything! I managed to corner it in a bush and scooped it up. I mean, Vito and Figgy were just like little wolves begging me to put it down.

The bunny was so gentle and calm once I caught it. Figgy had managed to puncture it's ear, claw it's head and tear it's paw pretty bad. Of course, I immediately became attached. I loved it. I wanted to keep it forever..... Hunter said "You better not!" haha.

(this one is my favorite)

I wanted to keep it, but of course knew that was completely unrealistic. I took him to Pet Smart to see if they could determine it's age so I could at least know if it was old enough to be let back go in the wild (somewhere where cats DON'T live). Despite the fact that they sell rabbits, this is the answer I got "Derrrr........."

So my mom suggested I take it to the Agape animal hospital because she's heard lots of good things about them. They showed immediate concern. They wanted to keep it for the day and clean it's wounds and give it nourishment. Also, one of the techs there lives on a farm and wanted to take it home to raise it until it was old enough to live on it's own. They could tell I had grown attached to it and were even sweet enough to make double sure that this plan was ok with me.

I feel so good knowing that this little guy is going to be ok!