Went down to spend veterans day weekend with Team Rubicon, a veterans disaster relief organization.
https://teamrubiconusa.org/about/
Our group teamed up with some fresh faced AmeriCorps volunteers. I felt old. Worked hard, clearing out an old farmhouse in Wharton Texas. They had a veterans day thing that we attended.
Daily Debriefing on top of tire warehouse next door to camp, taken before I got there.
One of the other teams went out to a house for clean up, and got into the walls only to find the timber was so moldy/rotten the house couldn't be saved. Our team was more sad than the owner. It sucks to come out to help, but not be able to make it better.
Camp was in a vacant lot downtown Houston, next to railroad tracks. Shipping containers with cots. Portapotties, and handwash stations. I got a lucky slot in the bunkhouse. 18 people crammed in close quarters. Eat whatever is donated, work hard, come back, sit by fire, drink a beer, sleep, get up and do it again. Very professional going on. I was impressed as all .
This far in, if the house hasn't been touched, it is in serious trouble.
Most of the things we can do in the surrounding communities of Rockport, etc. are done, so they have rolled up operations.
I have done some of the training, but will get some classes on mold remediation, chainsaws, and whatever else will make my old ass more useful. I think I have found "my thing".
Interesting thing is that a lot of vets, including ones with some pretty dark stories, are working through here. Volunteering and camaraderie outside a war time setting is an awesome form of therapy.
See blog FINDING MY NEW UNIT
https://teamrubiconusa.org/blog/finding-my-new-unit/
Here is their channel. Fascinating organization.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxa...hHnjdVpDkxtytQ
FWIW.
https://teamrubiconusa.org/blog/oper...e-puerto-rico/
They have teams on ground in Puerto Rico. Above link is their mission update. I have some leave saved up, and will throw my name in the ring. Still new, and not sure if I have all the stuff lined up to go, but we'll see.
https://www.facebook.com/teamrubicon/
Facebook. FWIW.
who finances TR?
Donations. It is a non-profit.
https://teamrubiconusa.org/financials/
49% Foundations
17% individual
34% Business/corporations
Much of the business donations comes from airlines donating seats, or Home Depot/Lowes, donating tools and personal protective gear, or communications companies donating radios, or so forth, by my understanding. I saw a lot of donated tools and vehicles.
They receive good ratings from a couple of watchdog en ies, as noted at the above link.
I am going to set up a modest monthly donation.
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