Pray for Oklahoma-and How You Can Help!

As I'm sure everyone has seen on their television, my home state has been decimated by storms over the last 48 hours.  The tornado in Moore, Oklahoma touched down about 2.5 miles north of my house.  Mr. DD and I had the dog in our hidey hole and prayed.  What you are seeing on television isn't even close to the heart-wrenching devastation that is right up the road, and close to my heart.

I'm sure you've seen my Facebook posts regarding Mr. DD's cooking class.  That was supposed to take place last night at 6:30.  We debated most of the day about whether or not to cancel, as the weather forecasts predicted a sketchy afternoon.  When I heard that elementary schools were hit, and children were injured, missing and possibly dead I called the store owner and simply said, "I cannot stand up in front of 25 people and drink margaritas and talk about chimichangas when people's babies are missing."  She agreed 100%.  We were just numb and speechless. 

To distract myself from the horror unfolding on television I began unpacking all of the food and items that were ready to go for the class.  Two huge Tres Leches Cakes.  Frosted and ready to go.  Piles of avocados, tomatoes, limes, jalapeno peppers.  (Class Subject:  South of the Border Sensational!)  Fresh things that needed to be used immediately.  I overhead Caryn Ross on the radio.  She was volunteering at the church right up the road from me.  In case you don't know Caryn, she's also known as The Fat and Sassy Mama.  She's a fellow food blogger like me.  And more importantly, a fellow Okie.  She was talking to the news anchors about the church being a shelter for tornado victims and what kinds of things people could to do to help.  I contacted her on Facebook and said, "I know they are asking for bottled water and baby wipes and non-perishables, but do you think they could use some Tres Leches Cake too?"  She kindly replied that the church would gratefully accept anything I was willing to donate.

This morning I got up, and took the piles of avocados, tomatoes, limes, onions and jalapenos and prepared a wash-tub sized container of guacamole.  The version Mr. Devilish Dish makes!  I went to the store and got lots of tortilla chips.  Cleaned out my party pantry and bagged up more napkins and paper plates than I'd care to admit I had in my possession.  Loaded it all up and took it to the church up the road. 

I'm happy to report there were at least 20 cars ahead of me, waiting patiently in line to drop off donations.  The church volunteers were very efficient and gracious and quite happy to see the guacamole.

It reminded me of a story and funny saying a former co-worker once told me.  She had seen a news report of a beached whale, and folks panicking and working together to save the creature.  The news interviewed a somewhat hysterical woman who exclaimed, "I didn't know that to do, so I made sandwiches."  We used to joke about that story and say that was us.  I'm not good in emergencies.  I don't know what to do.  I'll just make sandwiches.

And it's true.  I'm not a doctor.  Or a first responder.  The people doing rescue work on the ground in Moore, Oklahoma don't need me stumbling around in their way.  So I did the only thing I know to do in a time like this.  PRAY AND COOK. 

I've heard the phrase "Oklahoma Standard" used a lot in the last few hours.  Donations of food, money, clothing, water and other supplies just pouring in.  People donating hotel points to open up free rooms for folks who've lost their homes.  Tire companies repairing debris-damaged tires for free.  Restaurants proving free meals, taking boxed lunches to first responders.  It's the Oklahoma way.  It's what we do here. It's in our blood.  News 9 in Oklahoma City announced their station as a drop off location for items last night.  There were cars lined up for MILES and MILES to drop things off.  Children brought in their jars of change.  Oklahoma City Thunder Players donating their time, effort and money.  I won't be surprised if in a few hours they announce "No more bottled water, we have too much" because that's just how we do things here.  We take care of each other.  Oklahomans proved this to the rest of the country and the world during the Murrah Bombing of 1995. Again as tornadoes struck this same area in 1999 and again a couple of years later.  We are resilient.  We love God here.  We salute the flag here.  And to quote Will Rogers, "We've never met a man we didn't like."  We will recover.

"Flowers on the prairie where the June bugs zoom,
Plen'y of air and plen'y of room,
Plen'y of room to swing a rope!
Plen'y of heart and plen'y of hope.

Your doin' fine OKLAHOMA!  OKLAHOMA OK!"

HOW YOU CAN HELP:
RED CROSS
The Oklahoma Red Cross is asking people to donate by texting Red Cross to 90999 which will be a $10 donation

THE SALVATION ARMY

The Salvation Army Disaster Relief
P.O. Box 12600
Oklahoma City, OK 73157

Designate Oklahoma Tornado Relief on all checks.
• Donate by phone: (800) 725-2769
• Donate online: donate.salvationarmyusa.org/uss/eds/aok

FEED THE CHILDREN

Cash donations to help with relief efforts can be made by phone at 800-627-4556 or online at www.feedthechildren.org/disaster


REGIONAL FOOD BANK OF OKLAHOMA

To make a tax deductible donation to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, go to www.regionalfoodbank.org or call 405-604-7111 or text FOOD to 32333 to give $10 to relief efforts.