RITA

Rita is past. Unfortunately, the idea for this page came too late to get word to the people evacuating in her anticipated path. We did, however, have a number of people come forward to offer space in their homes. Thank you, all who responded, and those who worked to get out the word.

Here is the story of "How I Came to Create This Page"

This page is not "dead". We plan to enhance it so that we can be even more ready "next time". And there will be a next time, so remember this place -- The Northeast Texas Sabbatarian Service Network. We will be growing it. We would also be more than happy to help any other similar geographic area set up something like this. If you are interested, leave feedback through the "Contact Us" form on the home page.

This page is a very hasty attempt to create a resource for people coming out of the Houston/Galveston area due to RITA get in contact with individuals in the Northeast Texas area Sabbatarian Churches of God who might have some space in their homes and be willing to provide a place to stay for hurricane evacuees for a short term stay.

Please use this page if, and only if you are either evacuating from the Rita storm, or are willing to take in some people in your home.

To use this page, please follow these instructions carefully:

Please register with the website. (You should see a "register" link near the upper, right corner of the screen.) This is required. If you do not register, the site will not let you go any further. We must know who you are in order to work with you.
After you register, this page will change. You will see two forms, one to the left and one to the right.
Next, please fill out either the "NEED SPACE" form on the left, or the HAVE SPACE form on the right, depending on which is your case. On that form, in your message, be sure to tell us:
- How to contact you -- hopefully you have a cell phone if you are evacuating.
- The name of your local fellowship and pastor or elder. We need this to verify legitimacy of who you are. We want to help with as little red tape as possible, but sadly, as Katrina showed, we must also be wise and cautious.

A Northeast Sabbatarian Network volunteer will process your form. We will add the contact information for people who need space to stay to a list that will be visible to those who have said that they have space. The people who have space will be able to use your contact information to contact you directly to arrange for you to hook up with them.

Please bear with us. This is very spur of the moment, but we feel the need is urgent enough to justify rushing it into place.

We will make every effort to preserve confidentiality, given the circumstances.

I can be reached through the "Contact Us" form on the home page of this site.

Jim Ross
Tyler, Texas