Media Advisory
UPDATE – From Louisiana  (3)
 
Rescue Task Force supporters providing funds that enable RTF’s team led by Andrea Stone and Congressman Duncan Hunter to purchase and distribute more truckloads of
relief supplies and: shoes, meals, mattresses,
 
And
 
 
First Aid For the Heart:
 
 
Coffee and Coffee Cup for adults,
 
Toys for children,
 
Football games with former NFL (Chargers & Broncos)
player Scott Turner
 
And,
 
BIBLES
 
Contact:
Rescue Task Force
Andrea Stone
Gary Becks                              Wendell Cutting
(619) 424-7415                       (619) 441-0199
(619) 887-9230 Cel                 (619) 988-4438 Cel
 
Tuesday, September 6, 2005
 
Just in from Andrea via cell phone:
 
Duncan and his team arrived OK.  They drove in from Houston where they rented a large van and had filled it up with much needed supplies.  As soon as they arrived we went to work:  First stop was at Civic Center which now has over 2,000 evacuees.  We distributed baby food and baby supplies and easy-to-open canned food such as tuna.
 
1,100 people there needed mattresses – they are sleeping on the floor and raw ground.  Duncan got onto his satellite phone and found supplier that could get 999 mattresses, we placed the order, cost will be $15,000 plus.  The mattresses will be delivered tomorrow.  Please, thank all of the donors for answering prayers.
 
We also delivered needed items at evacuation center that we had formerly helped set up for firefighters and police officers.  That center is being closed now that help is beginning to arrive and they are being moved to another center.  Duncan and I did distribution of relief supplies and Scott played some football with adults, helped with children, and gave out Bibles.
 
We returned to Wall-Mart (The store is not open to public yet, but they let us in as anybody wearing a RTF “T” shirt has access to anywhere, we are so appreciated here.)  We loaded supplies that people at the evacuation center had asked for, and fixens for hundreds of sandwiches.  Many of the children will be able to go to local schools starting tomorrow so the families needed lunch supplies.  We are also providing back-packs for the children.  Some people needed shoes which we were able to get – by size!!!
 
We also arranged for what you (dad) and Wendell have taught me to always remember at disasters;  Little things count as much as the big when you have nothing but clothes on your back… “First Aid For The Heart”.  We bought coffee cups and hundreds of pounds of coffee for adults and “Hot-Wheels” and Barbie dolls for the kids.  So many smiles and such appreciation when we rolled back into the evacuation center with our truck loads of supplies.  (Trucks:  While loading the cargo at Wall-Mart we had more than we could carry.  Two guys in a large pick-up were close by and offered to haul the excess for us.  They turned out to be great volunteers.  They had just gotten out of jail and wanted to help somebody.  RTF gave them the opportunity to “give back”.)  The director at the center thanked us with hugs and tears.  Rescue Task Force is touching lives, and hearts – thanks to our wonderful donors.
 
We will be going out on airboat Tuesday to reach isolated victims and will be taking as many supplies as the boat will carry.
 
Cellular phone started breaking up – more to follow later.
 
Andrea
* * *
 
            As usual, RTF is working the remote areas that are often overlooked by the traditional relief organizations.
 
            The initial team of Andrea Stone of RTF and La Jolla Volunteer Richard Stakelum of San Diego (formerly of this area of Louisiana,) are now joined by U.S. Congressman Duncan Hunter and Scott Turner (Former NFL player for Chargers and Broncos), Roy Tyler of Yuma and Tyler’s Taste of Texas Restaurant in El Cajon, Ca. and Yuma Arizona mayor, Larry Nelson.  This RTF team is purchasing emergency supplies locally and trucking them into the disaster zone for distribution by boats.  They are setting up local volunteer teams for distribution of immediate emergency relief supplies and for RTF’s long term assistance projects.
 
To donate immediately to RTF via our website go to:  www.rescuetaskforce.org and click the DONATE NOW button on the top banner.  Your continuing support of RTF is touching lives, and hearts, around the world, around the clock…
 
Mail Checks to:
RESCUE TASK FORCE
757 EMORY ST
#547
IMPERIAL BEACH, CA, 91932
USA
 
Rescue Task Force is a non-profit, non-denominational relief agency that responds to natural and man-made disasters world-wide.  In addition to local fire relief and military support, RTF delivers volunteer medical and dental teams into the jungles villages of Honduras and has constructed three full service medical and dental clinic facilities deep in the jungles of Honduras’ Miskito Coast.  RTF also operates four schools for women in Afghanistan and has medical facility reconstruction projects underway in Tsunami stricken Sri Lanka and has assisted with Tsunami recovery in Thailand.  We also have projects in Cambodia, Thailand and El Salvador. .  See our web site for volunteer opportunities or call for information at any time.
 
end
 
 
Gary Becks
Rescue Task Force
TEL:  (619) 424-7415
FAX:  (619) 424-9393
CEL:  (619) 887-9230
E-Mail:  gary@rescuetaskforce.org
www.rescuetaskforce.org