Monkey Phat
09-07-2005, 11:53 AM
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/leadertimes/s_371623.html
McGrann woman takes in hurricane stricken family members
By Michael Miller
LEADER TIMES
Wednesday, September 7, 2005
McGRANN -- Crystal Grosklos was happy to take in her relatives, displaced from their Louisiana home by Hurricane Katrina, but she doesn't have the means to provide them with much more than shelter.
"We can't do much for them," she said of her aunt, Joyce Smith, and her cousins, Ron Smith and Joyce "Cookie" Smith, "other than give them a place to sleep."
Her aunt's one-story home in Chalmette, La., didn't stand much of a chance against floodwaters that ravaged New Orleans and suburbs such as Chalmette, Grosklos said.
"They pretty much have only what they have on," she said. Their home was under water and it is unlikely that they could return to it before the end of the year, if ever, she said.
Pennsylvania was really the only choice her aunt had, Grosklos said.
"We were the only relatives of theirs that didn't get flooded," she said.
Her aunt is elderly, and Grosklos said the ordeal has been tough on the family.
"She just lost her husband in March and now they've lost everything now," she said. Her cousin Ron worked for the city of New Orleans and will be out of work for some time as well, Grosklos added.
"They're just emotionally distraught," she said.
Much like the victims in the South, Grosklos said area agencies have only committed to returning a phone call after seeing what can be done, she said. That's small consolation, she said, because she doesn't even have enough beds for her relatives.
"We have an empty room, but we don't have beds to put in it," she said.
Grosklos asked anyone who can help to contact her at 724-763-3454.
Items needed include pants in women's sizes 42 and 48, and in men's size 44 X 34; women's shoes size 10, men's shoes size 13; and women's size 1X and 3X shirts and men's size 2X shirts.
Michael Miller can be reached at mmiller@tribweb.com or (724) 543-1303 ext 219.
McGrann woman takes in hurricane stricken family members
By Michael Miller
LEADER TIMES
Wednesday, September 7, 2005
McGRANN -- Crystal Grosklos was happy to take in her relatives, displaced from their Louisiana home by Hurricane Katrina, but she doesn't have the means to provide them with much more than shelter.
"We can't do much for them," she said of her aunt, Joyce Smith, and her cousins, Ron Smith and Joyce "Cookie" Smith, "other than give them a place to sleep."
Her aunt's one-story home in Chalmette, La., didn't stand much of a chance against floodwaters that ravaged New Orleans and suburbs such as Chalmette, Grosklos said.
"They pretty much have only what they have on," she said. Their home was under water and it is unlikely that they could return to it before the end of the year, if ever, she said.
Pennsylvania was really the only choice her aunt had, Grosklos said.
"We were the only relatives of theirs that didn't get flooded," she said.
Her aunt is elderly, and Grosklos said the ordeal has been tough on the family.
"She just lost her husband in March and now they've lost everything now," she said. Her cousin Ron worked for the city of New Orleans and will be out of work for some time as well, Grosklos added.
"They're just emotionally distraught," she said.
Much like the victims in the South, Grosklos said area agencies have only committed to returning a phone call after seeing what can be done, she said. That's small consolation, she said, because she doesn't even have enough beds for her relatives.
"We have an empty room, but we don't have beds to put in it," she said.
Grosklos asked anyone who can help to contact her at 724-763-3454.
Items needed include pants in women's sizes 42 and 48, and in men's size 44 X 34; women's shoes size 10, men's shoes size 13; and women's size 1X and 3X shirts and men's size 2X shirts.
Michael Miller can be reached at mmiller@tribweb.com or (724) 543-1303 ext 219.