Relief Available for Hurricane-Displaced Families with Children with Autism

Press Release
Relief Available for Hurricane-Displaced Families with Children with Autism
350 beds are available in Toccopolla, Mississippi, for hurricane-displaced families with children with Autism. Camp Yocona, a boy scout camp, has been made available to ASD family refugees. Each cabin sleeps 8 (4 sets of bunk beds); each group of 4 – 5 cabins share a bathhouse. The camp has a fully equipped commercial kitchen—and an experienced GFCFSF cook is winging her way from Hawaii to help with the communal cooking. (GFCFSF means gluten-free, casein-free, soy-free diet which these children need.)

While surviving Katrina has been an appalling, gut-wrenching experience for everyone affected, Gulf Coast families with children with Autism have experienced that devastation multiplied ten-fold. The sensory overloads, the loss of all things familiar, the sheer terror, the hordes of people, the pungent odors, the lack of availability of their necessary diet, supplements and medications…..and much more have made these past 6 days absolutely unbearable for those with autism already struggling to make their way in the world.

Camp Yocona, the First Methodist Church of Pontotoc, Mississippi, and a number of individuals from within the autism community have come together to provide this refuge. Autistic children need special care, especially in traumatic times, and need to be in a warm, supportive environment surrounded by people who "get it." We, at ASDKatrinaRescue, are experienced autism-moms—and we "get it."

The camp will provide a healing environment for the parents and children alike….a time and place of solace and shelter while the families regroup and decide where to go from here. Peg Pickering is acting as local coordinator and can be reached through ASDKatrinaRescue@yahoo.com or at 662-488-9619.

Donations are coming in from individuals and organizations…..1 2 3 Gluten-Free, a manufacturer of gluten-free products has a package on the way. Local companies stand ready donate paper goods, groceries, etc., as the families begin to arrive.

Monetary donations are desperately needed and are being handled through:

First United Methodist Church Good Samaritan Fund
P.O. Box 308
Pontotoc, MS 38863

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ASD KATRINA RESCUE
C/O Peg Pickering
2901 Highway 9 South
Pontotoc, MS 38863

EMERGENCY SHELTER AVAILABLE FOR ASD FAMILIES:
Camp Yocona, Toccopola, MS, has agreed to provide shelter for families with ASD children. They have cabins that will sleep 8 and each group of 4-5 cabins has a bathhouse. A large, commercial kitchen and dining hall is available. They have a total of 350 beds. A great GFCF cook has offered to come from Hawaii to help cook, etc. Contact Peg Pickering at asdkatrinarescue@yahoo.com or 662-488-9619
or 662-509-0599.