Mississippi Dietitians Say, “Thank You!”

It’s Not April Fool’s Day After All:

A Conversation with Kathy Warwick, RD,

By Janet K. Little, MPH, RD, LDN, PADA President-elect

PADA members should be proud of the "starting over care packages" effort started by Marilyn Howell.  Marilyn shipped packages to Kathy Warwick, President-elect

of the Mississippi Dietetic Association to distribute to members in need.

Yesterday, the MSDA concluded their annual meeting by honoring "Pennsylvania dietitians" for these generous contributions.

“We held a general session on Friday morning about Disaster Preparedness

with all the RD's who were running facilities on the coast during the storm.

We thanked the Pennsylvania Dietitians and told the membership of your generosity and kindness.

Thanks again for all your prayers, support and care packages.

The RD's who lost everything are still living in FEMA trailers and putting the pieces back together; they truly appreciate your long-distance interest in their recovery.

Many sincere thanks!

By the way, we offered scholarships for those RD's affected by the storm and

we had a record attendance at our meeting (200 out of 500 members.)

We will be donating money to the recovery fund for the RD's in MS;

they can request a grant for the professional items they need."

 From Judy Moore:

From Nieda Cummings:

Please convey to your members of the Pennsylvania Dietetic Association a heartfelt THANK YOU!   Thanks to the PDA for your caring and sharing. Personally, the supplies were needed and appreciated.  The care packs were distributed to the Dietitians and Diet Tech at our medical center (VA Gulf Coast Veterans Healthcare Systems) and to the district area dietitians.

I lost my office when the Gulfport Division of the VAGCVHS was destroyed. It was a little (actually, a lot) challenging to get back into the clinical mode, but with the supplies and thoughtfulness, we are now back to near normal.

My home was damaged, but we are able to live in it (no flooding). The coast has been truly blessed in so many ways by the support of people from all over the USA.   I know the folks from Pennsylvania have been here from the beginning to help us recover and we are so grateful. Thank you again and God Bless.

Louisiana Dietitians Thank the Northeast PA Dietetic Association

My name is Elaina Chabert and I am a recipient of the wonderful care package the Northeast PA Dietetic Association put together.  I am writing to tell you how much I appreciate what you did for me.  I lost a lot, but I am thankful for wonderful people like yourselves who gave their time and money to help out someone in time of need.  You will not be forgotten.

Thank you!

Sincerely,

Elaina O. Chabert, RD, CDE

New Orleans, LA

The materials you sent me will be the first to be placed in our "new office" in our "new location" which is still in the politicians’ hands at this point. 

Take care and God Bless, 

Rosetta Danigole, RD, Chief Clinical Dietitian

Charity Hospital in New Orleans

I was overwhelmed when I received a "mystery" package in the mail last week!!  All I have been receiving have been bills!   How thoughtful of your group to think of us during our crisis.  The office supplies have been especially useful!  I have been very fortunate, and have a home, healthy family and almost 2/3 of my work contracts back.  In private practice it's been "touch and go", but I was lucky to have savings and my husband was only out of work for the first month.  Our 9 year old daughter has been back at her school since Oct 3rd, and somedays we actually can feel almost normal!!!! We live in Jefferson Parish, only 5 blocks from New Orleans, and have to drive through the city daily.  I do see signs of progress, but it continually breaks my heart to think of all that has been destroyed.  We are just hoping the government sticks to its promise of rebuilding the levees strongly enough....

At this time I can't think of anything else I need.  Again, THANK YOU AND YOUR MEMBERS FOR THEIR INCREDIBLE THOUGHTFULNESS!!

Dorria S. Amer, MPH, LDN, RD

Jefferson, LA  

I received my package and can't tell you enough how much it helps to have that!! Thank all of you so very much and anytime you guys ever need anything, please do not hesitate to ask, no matter what it is!! Thanks so much again!!

Sincerely,

Shannon E. Robertson, RD LDN

Medical Center of Louisiana

New Orleans, LA

Janet, I do want to let you know how much I appreciated the generosity and thoughtfulness of the PADA. Many of the clinics in the New Orleans Area took in water. Some will not reopen. Please express my gratitude to your members. MaryBeth One For All and All For One!

MaryBeth Pieper. MS, MBA, LDN, RD

Area Dietitian, Dixieland Division,

New Orleans Westbank Chronic Renal Center #630

Hello from the MS Gulf Coast :

Many thanks to all of you there who put together care packages for
dietitians here at the VA in Biloxi, MS. I appreciate your thoughtfulness and generous spirit. I happen to be one of those individuals whose home was flooded (still standing though) and am living in an RV until the contractor completes the job of redoing the house.

Even though I have seen the work of Katrina, first hand, I have to admit that I was floored by the daunting sights that stretch for mile after mile on the beachfront. I happen to live 8 miles north of the coast. From here to the coast are zillions of blue roofs, and piles of rubble outside of homes. On the coast itself, though, is nothingness. Where there was drug store or a restaurant, there's nothing. Where there was a
3 or 4 story apartment building, there's nothing. And it goes on for over 26+ miles and 2+ miles inland. The stately live oaks, remain trashed with Wal-mart shopping bags, and the beautiful Spanish moss that once flowed in the trees branches is gone and replaced with bare, salt water sprayed tree branches. Unlike the leafless trees you see in the Wintertime, there's something very unnatural about the leafless trees
down here. There is an incredible amount of loss: loss of homes, businesses, jobs, people, places to eat, motels, restaurants, furniture, roofs, cars, street signs, play grounds, schools, churches, libraries, etc. What does seem to remain, though, is a spirit of renewal and a sense of gratitude. I can't tell you how many people have said to me: I lost some this-or-that, but it wasn't as bad as some folks.

Many, many families have been blessed with help from volunteers and donations of all kinds. Kids, all along the coast, may have had a bigger Christmas than they ever had because of the thousands of toys that were delivered down here. The recovery will go on for a long time. Washington has promised monies for recovery, and we'll just have to wait and see how and when it's sent and divided.

Once again, thank you for your contribution. May you be blessed this New
Year's.

Kay Mihelich, RD