Camaraderie Isn't Dead.........Entirely

05/26/2012

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To know Lou is to like Lou. He is laid back, and always smiling. He treats everyone fairly, until they push him past his limit. Basically, if you don't like Lou, it's typically because there's something wrong with you.

Lou never knows a stranger, and talks freely with people. One of his favorite activities was to shoot the crud with the other drivers at the truck stop. Although he had me on the road for the longest time, he remembered the lonely days on the road, and what it means to have someone hold a conversation and smile, letting you know you're not alone.
Lou helped in almost every situation he came across. The exception of the rule came on an early morning run (just after midnight) on I-70 in Indiana, right before Illinois. A suicidal woman stepped out and stopped in front of our truck. He knew it was a situation better handled by another woman, and let me handle it, while he watched from the cab, until the situation between her boyfriend and her required back up from him.

He didn't care what company you're with. He'd call out to every truck on the shoulder, to see if they needed help. Once, one did. He walked back a mile to try and help the guy, to no avail. He still had to be towed off. An old man came up to him in negative temps and a snow storm, asking help sliding his tandems. He helped a Werner driver learn where to put coolant in and what the coolant light meant. He re-routed for several drivers who needed help with break downs. To him, a little extra time or miles was worth it if he could help someone. Two of the things he enjoyed most were Wishes on Wheels Midsouth and Trucking Santas, for he could see the help.
The load above changed something on helping matters. Lou severely damaged his back while transloading it from trailer to trailer. He herniated a disc in two different spots, causing nerve root compression, facet hypertrophy, and pressing the disc into his thecal sac (the sac of fluid protecting your spinal cord). He fought the pain for six months. Then, one day, he couldn't even climb into a truck. Within two weeks, his world had been turned upside down. He no longer drives, for he ended up having issues getting the brake pedal to agree to his leg, for he had issues pushing the brake pedal down hard enough to stop. He is awaiting the doctor to pull his medical card and sign off on disability, and has already secured a disability attorney. We are also a month into waiting for a decision from St. Christopher Trucker Fund. He now has me tend to him around the clock, for he can't move very far before his body is ready to quit, but still tries to be hard headed about it.
The hardest part, though, has been to accept that he needed help. Our friends realized that him being done trucking meant that we were in bad shape. They realized this meant that we didn't have the money for the doctors or even for rent, and they weren't taking no for an answer of being there to help. We literally came off the truck, not even having a place to live. Lou tried to refuse their help, not wanting to have it get in the way of Trucking Santas. Finally, Mitchell Stein told me to make a fundraiser on YouCaring. So, that night, while Lou was asleep, I swallowed my pride, and did just that. The turn out was amazing, and humbling. Many times Lou and I were both left speechless and in tears, realizing how blessed we were to have such great friends. We would like to take a few minutes to thank everyone who helped out, including the anonymous people I can't list on here. We would like to thank those that we know will be continuing to help us as we wait for security and for my work to start paying off. We would also like to thank those that couldn't help, but have been there with tremendous moral support. Having all of you there, and knowing you care have made a huge difference in our lives. It has given Lou a new belief in humanity also.

We would like to thank Todd McCann, who couldn't help himself, but ended up relentlessly pursuing others to get involved, with good results. We would also like to thank Evan Lockridge from The Lockridge Report, for raising awareness of the situation online and on the radio.

We would also like to thank Brenny Transportation, Lone Star Large Cars, Jack Goldstein, Michael Goldstein, Christy Kuppler, Thomas Heatherman, Joel Sims, Gracie Berry, Jana Huolt, Jeremiah Adams (especially for hauling all our heavy stuff for us), Shirie Shipp, Lightning Logistics (Bekins), Riggs & Recruits, Sarge Lewis (he's been our transportation, and forced us to eat out), Brian Peters, Jacquie Vincent, Shane ?, David Beem, Jurgen & Tracy Reid, Matt Grigsby, Michelle Sutton, Mike & Tina DiBartolo, Porter Corn, Everett & Melody Appelt, George Baisden, L. Dawn Tait, Mike Laffey, NosillaCast on Twitter, Deuspenny on Twitter, Good Time Charlie, Todd Neva, Steve & Michelle Piatkowski, Yvonne Mansini, Carrie Marrero, Timothy Boswinkle, Danielle Donnelly, Sheri Olson, Ang Anderson, King (who is King?), Dale Buckley, Peter Toft, Hole in the Head (James Hightower), Bartkomt Overal, Mack & Becca Allison, Roadway Safety Store, Jim Johnson, Tess & Ravin Smith, Frog Truck Escort, Tiffany & Allen Parker, MaidenAmerica on Twitter, Eddie Gudino, Marty Hunt, Lisa Yingling, Mitchell Stein, Mark Fornaro, Bear and T Whiterhurst, Deb Swenson, Tim Nichols, the anons, and the person who threatened to kill me if I ever mentioned his name in so many words. I will adjust this list as more people step up, for they deserve full credit.

Thank you again, everyone, for your full support of whatever kind, while we go through such a hard transition, I'd list the names of everyone who reposted, but that would be enough to fill up an entire book. You've touched us to no end, and we will never forget the love and support.

So that I don't have to answer how to help every time that someone would like to help, I'm including an easy donation button at the bottom of this. Thank yall again! We can never repay yall for what your love has done for us.
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We're Calling it a Success

12/16/2011

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Trucking Companies such as Central Oregon, Kennesaw Transportation, etc............
Group such as school classes, girl scouts, 4-H, cub scouts, etc..........
Truckers....................

These groups vary WIDELY, but all have one thing in common. A lot of those in the ranks have hearts, and a lot try to give to others for Christmas.

There is a broken system in America. This broken system affects hundreds of families. People with brand new Jaguars, even those with houses over a million dollars, receive help from the government and 501c3's. Yet, many with 10 year old cars, working and slaving every day to take care of their families, receive NOTHING.

I started a program called Trucking Santas last year as a way for truckers with hearts to give from their heart. Where I thought I had created a one time deal, the volunteers from one year always want another.

This year has been hard. Donations have been down across the board, with every non-profit and for every program that isn't a non-profit. As the economy looks bleaker, donations always seem to flatline. This year, we took on a total of 22 families and 65 cerebral palsy patients. This totalled out to 148 people total. When you consider that the median number of items each person received (based on many were children) was 12, we had a huge haul ahead of us. We had over 1776 gifts to get, including necessities like bedding, dishes, towels, etc. Not every item has been purchased as of now. We only have 65 items left. With how hard this year has been, I will be happy to close out at 65 missing items and call it a success.

A few things have happened this year, and a few things will change next year, so I will go over the changes with everyone so they will know what to be looking for.

We were attacked by a non-profit group due to the fact we weren't 501c3. I took it up for vote in between all the Santas, and they only want one thing. "Keep it simple stupid." To go non-profit would be to rearrange the entire structure of how we do it. The other Santas do not wish to see this done. So, since they're the ones spending their money for these families, they are the ones that make the financial decision.

We had a non-profit group reach out, wanting to sponsor us, but then turned tail and ran away. (I love screen shots.) We do not want sponsorship from any non-profit group. We will not pursue sponsorship from any non-profit group. We have a partnership for next year, but that is all. We work with non-profits to get families that they can't cover for Christmas, and I want to keep the working relationship just as it is.

So, as far as change goes, there will be no change as to how the program operates. It will still be me losing my mind in March to find the right families via churches, charities, and shelters. I will still make direct contact with the families, find out their exact needs, and the children's wants. I will still make separate wish lists, for the most part, where you can ship directly to the family, and know where your money is going. You can still hand deliver the items, as Thomas Heatherman, Tiffany Parker, Trucker Rich, and Vern Lampman will be doing this year. The pictures will still come in, and will still be posted on facebook, Twitter, and the Trucking Santas website. That part stays the same.

What will change is one way of doing things. There are basics every year that the families need, and the sizes, etc, are easy to know. We have several businesses willing to act as "clearing houses." They would hold the items until December, then wrap and send. Three groups have been nominated by the Santas to continue into next year. These are the cerebral palsy facility in Frederick, MD; the Mansinis in Lanexa, VA; and the Marreros in Coaldale, PA. I will be putting all three of these in a blanket list for the next year so everyone can buy throughout the year. I will also have a "hodgepodge" list to be ahead of the game for the rest of the families.

Stockings are up in there. We lost an entire stocking crew, and left it down to three others. This stressed out the other three, almost hospitalizing one. I would love to say stockings are for sure, but I can't at this current time. Cards and cookies are one of the things a lot of people love to do, and we will continue with this aspect also. (As we remind everyone, no nuts please, for I don't know all food allergies.) 

I would like to say one thing to everyone who participated in this year's event. Thank you. Thank you for making these families have a Christmas they never thought would be possible. It's amazing to see a Ravens sheet set cheat death for a cerebral palsy patient, to hear a mother cry over a bedding set she's wanted for her son for years, to hear kids excited over a Christmas card.

Ever since my dad passed, I didn't celebrate the holiday season. Now, I look forward to it yearly!
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Change the Public's Image of Trucking

11/21/2011

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This has been a melting point for as long as I know. "We want to be seen different. We want to be seen for the good hearted, loving, family people that we are." Others are angered over needless legislation being a never-ending fiasco.

How do we fix it? How do we make people take us seriously and realize we aren't womanizing, alcoholic, drug riddled, one-night stand, loving people?

In order to affect change, we must first change how others view us. You can't create change without reversing imagery.

Last year, I took the first steps in making the outside public look at truckers different. I made a program that reaches out to people, and has truckers put in a good light. In the words of Yvonne Mansini:

It has impacted my grandchildren in a very positive way, not just financially but building their confidence up that people do care. Truck drivers care, and now every time we are going down the interstate, they look at the truck drivers and say, I wonder if he is one. We pray for the truckers now and we pray for their loads and safety and families. Yes, it has made us much more aware of the truckers and the dangers in their line of work. Thank you so much!!!

This is a lady who never even realized some restrictions in her area. She called me one day and informed me how unfair she thought they were, and that her grandchildren agreed with this sentiment. Why did she all of a sudden realize and care? Her grandchildren, whom her and her ailing husband are now raising, received school uniforms from truckers, food from truckers, and will have Christmas due to truckers. There's many more like them.

Last year, an organization was born from one text message. That text message read, "Can you adopt my son so he can have Christmas?" In six weeks, 17 families had Christmas due to truckers and trucking supporters. This year, we have taken in 21 families, and a Cerebral palsy facility. With time running out, I'm reaching out to everyone.

WE NEED HELP!!!

Although we aren't a non-profit yet (that is in the works), we have been sponsored by Patriot Outreach and Bring Them Home.

It doesn't matter if you're a trucker or a trucking supporter. Letting these families down further hurts our image. We don't just deal with the basic wants, we also deal with the needs. We try to ensure that every family member receives four outfits, one pair of shoes, and a thing of bedding. If needed, the family receives dishes, pots & pans, towels, etc. The children get five or six toys a piece also. I update wish lists often due to the fact that items run out of stock or are bought, and I clear them out in order to make it easier to order. All wish lists are embedded with an address. If you have issues placing your order, you can always email me, and I will send you the address also. We never ask for a person to get more than they can afford, and an item or two bought is an item or two we didn't have for them before hand. At the end of the year, those that I know contributed to wish lists will be listed as a Santa, unless they wish to remain anonymous.

Here's how to help:
1. Click here and go directly to our paypal button to give the easiest route. (It is, at this time frame, too late to mail things to the address listed this year. However, you can start mailing stuff to there as early as Dec. 26th for next year's families.)
2. Grab a wish list of a family. Every family has a story. For their stories, and more information on the program, please click here.

HERE ARE THE FAMILIES' WISH LISTS:

(Please note! All cerebral palsy patients are just that..............patients. I'm not privy to their last names, so I used Amy Brechbiel, one of the director's, last names.)

Henry family in Thayer, Missouri

Miller family in Cadillac, Michigan

Mansini family in Lanexa, Virginia

Martin family in Thayer, Missouri

Simmons family in Liberty Hill, TX

Mammenga family in Osceola, WI

Moulton family in Powell, WY

DiBartolo family in Alabama

Mason family in Bradford, Arkansas. They also need an old used 53' van or reefer or decent sized shed/storage building for storage. Do you have one to spare?

Cerebral palsy patients Betty, Mickey, Michael, Christina, Tad, Daniel, James, Debbie, Darryl, Tony, Gail, Steven, Joe, John, Barbara, Paul, Stephanie, Steven, Tony, Joe, Jeannie, Jimmy, Shameka, Harold, Amanda, William, Stephanie, and Joyce.

Also, the cerebral palsy facility in Frederick, Maryland will be having a Christmas party. All Santas are invited. If you can make it on December 21, 2011, please RSVP here.

If a child from a Trucking Santa family can rob their piggy bank of $5 to help another family, everyone can give $5. Please, take a few minutes, and help!
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Christmas in May

05/01/2011

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Those who were involved in Trucking Santas last year knows how this works. We collect no money, and will refuse your money if you offer it. You buy things for the family from a dedicated wish list, and ship them directly to the family.
We have a family that needs board games, etc. The husband is a driver and going in for knee surgery. While he's recuperating, there will be no money coming in, and the budget won't allow for extras. They know how uncomfortable it'll be without something for them and their daughter to do with their free time, so Trucking Santas has jumped in.
Karla, one of the many people that helps making Trucking Santas happen, has made the wish list for the brown family. You can access it through here. Also, if you have used games you can send and help, email me at trkrsvoice@gmail.com and I'll email you their address.
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