Friend In Need Campaign
A Travelling Xena Goes To New Orleans to Visit Miss Lily Duke
Report by Aileen Mullaney
xena4me2@yahoo.com
Lilly Duke and her Volunteers...with the Warrior Princess
Click here to view video clips
What I learned about the 'Lily Duke" effort group.
Please keep in mind that all I write is true to my knowledge and memory,
however some events/people/time may be mistaken or misinterpreted as she
talks and moves pretty fast!
Although you can only tell if you knew her personally, she was not born
in the US. Miss Lily was born in the Philippines and moved to the US when
she was in her late teens. She started out as an advertising designer and
moved her way up to an Independent Producer. She relocated from New York
less than a year ago to NOR to work on a movie.
Miss Lily is no stranger to disasters. As a matter in fact she jokes about
having major events that seem to follow her. New York? She was there. San
Francisco earthquake? Yup, she was there too. We all know how she got
started, but let me tell you a bit of what's going on right now.
The best that I can tell is that FEMA pays organizations like Red Cross,
Salvation Army, etc, for each food/water/clothes station they set up. So
apparently she is stepping on a few toes over there because people are
calling her for help.
Miss Lily receives no money or monetary rewards for her efforts. She relies
on many groups including AFIN (A Friend In Need) for support and goods.
Miss Duke has approx 6-7 'PODS' set up all over town. (A pod is a storage
unit or area where supplies are kept)
For this particular effort, Miss Lily works out of Mardi Gras World who
supplies her storage and a work area. The site is surrounded by military
barb wire and the National Guard has several guards posted at the entrance.
Lily's staff consists of 8-10 volunteer including FEMA Firefighters and
Military personal. Some have been with her since the beginning. Rather than
passing out flyers or other mundane tasks, the volunteers feel like they are
making a difference there. They consider themselves family and have the
utmost respect and love for Miss Lily.
A very nice lady who's name escapes me, (forgive me) as just recently
volunteered to be Lily's assistant. Miss Lily has over 5
appreciation/commendation certificates including one from Major General
William Caldwell and Commander Sgt. Major Jim Tomlinson. She also received
close to a dozen various medals that she holds dearly.
On my last day FEMA dropped in and stated they are giving her 10 more
volunteers. This meant that a couple of volunteers may actually get a few
days off! The group starts at 7 am and reports to Lily. Everyone has a job
to do. One
in charge of delivery, one sorting through all the incoming mail and the
remaining divided where needed.
On my day of arrival we unloaded my cargo and sorted all the donated items
that arrived that day. Boxes are sorted by school supplies and toys. Each in
its own box. Scissors in one box, pencils in another ect... Once we
separated
everything we could, Lily would call out a school grade and amount. We then
put the exact amount of toys or backpacks either in a box or large trash bag
and tagged it with the schools name and grade along with boy or girl. (In
this case boy)
Unfortunately, we dumped some of the backpacks out that were donated because
they were pre packed with school supplies and a toy or perhaps clothing. The
thought was nice, but to be fair, all had to be as equal as humanly
possible.
We made a human chain and everyone put one thing in the backpack and when it
reached the end of the line each pack contained a notebook, a few pencils,
colored pencils or crayons, glue or glue stick, all depending on age. The
last two persons, which today one was me, zipped up the pack and counted 5
to a garbage bag and counted to the exact amount needed. When all was done
we tagged the bags with the school and grade again and went on the next
grade.
When all the grades are completed, a military truck, comes and loads the
school supplies and toys. A volunteer leads the truck to the school where
the items are given to the children by fully dressed Firefighters and
soldiers.
Most of NOR has not heard of Miss Lily, but they are very familiar with the
'Marti Gras Compound.' All they know is their supplies came from "Mardi
Gras". Folks are just now starting to put two and two together and realizing
Miss Lily IS Mardi Gras!
I don't know how this all got started.
Call it a calling, inspiration, or whatever you like. I call it a blessing.
Having won 2 bouts of cancer, the last one, (thyroid) the cancer cells died
on their own and blessed with a great job, home and wonderful family, I
won't allow myself to take anything for granted anymore. No stranger to
giving, I have a brother in San Francisco who has dedicated his life to
serve his community. My father lost his life to Agent Orange in exchange for
something he believed in. Knowingly, he continued to serve in Nam until the
bitter end to ensure the local orphanage had food and supplies. This year I
have participated in 'Make A Wish', "Helping Hands", "Heroes", "Memory Walk
for Alzheimer's" and a few other projects.
When I read about Miss Lily something inside me came alive. I called my old
friend from a local TV show and he thought it was a great idea. He asked me
if he could get me a truck, who would drive it? I told him I would. So he
agreed to air my plight for boys' toys and books for Miss Lily.
I set up a date and called Miss Lily.
After a dozen phone calls I finally got a drop off point for folks to drop
off the books and toys. I contacted the newspaper and a multi media unit for
more coverage. I bought out St. Vincent's and Salvation Army's mostly used
children's books, (about 420 in all) then spent the evening sorting and
cleaning them for the schools and libraries.
On the morning of December 13th, with the help of my family, the books and
toys were crammed into a borrowed SUV and cardboard Xena and I were on our
way with what we had. I was told many times to "just mail the stuff." Yes, I
guess I could have,
But when you take away all the monetary belongings, all that's left is what
makes you a person. In this case, it was a commitment, my word, a promise.
To those of you that don't know, Xena Warrior Princess's costume and gear
has just been accepted into the Smithsonian Institute. I decided to create a
story of Xena coming to me demanding I take her to get them back. As I
traveled we did a couple skits to break up the long driving days.
On the 3rd day I arrived in NOR, and filmed what I was able to with camera
in one hand and steering wheel in the other. I missed the Mississippi Bridge
3 times and found my way to the French Quarter where I took the Ferry
across.
I made it to Mardi Gras World in the early afternoon, made short
introductions, took a few photos and we unloaded the goods. I also gave Miss
Lily a large bag containing Team t-shirts along with some leather jackets
leftover from a Christmas party I had. I told her these are from me and my
co-workers for her staff.
After she opened her birthday gift I brought, we went straight to work.
While Xena was inside Mardi Gras World getting new clothes from one of the
designers I set off to help. We bagged and tagged until after dark. It was a
struggle to find age appropriate boys' toys. I now, more than ever, wished I
was able to collect more for them. A volunteer spoke up and said, "Are you
kidding? You saved the day! With your load we can complete this school!
You're our Hero!"
That was so sweet of him to say and his kind words made me feel better, but
I'm no Hero by far, the REAL Heroes are the ones that gave up their lunch
money or Starbucks money and went out and bought what they could afford.
After a long day and a great speech from Lily Duke, everyone went to her
home for a birthday gathering and a game of cards. We all talked for hours
and soon became friends.
The following morning Lily approached me and said "Come on, were going for a
ride. Grab your camera." With eyes barely open we waited and shivered in the
early morning air for the crew and Military truck to show up.
"I want you to show everyone where the toys are going."
When everyone was ready to go, Lily sent me with Dan to lead the truck to
Vic A Pitre School in Wego, a suburb of New Orleans. The remaining crew was
ordered to stay behind. It was just learned that another day of scrambling
is ahead. Lily just found out that this is the last day of school before
Christmas break for one of the schools that needed help and it was a large
one. "We have to hustle!"
I filmed the children receiving the much appreciated toys and backpacks and
we headed back to the compound. It was time to go home and say goodbye to my
new friends. As I was doing this one of the volunteers handed me a Task
Force 83 t-shirt and said, "Here's your shirt. Your family now."
Swallowing hard and fighting back tears I thanked him and hugged
everyone. As I was driving off the lot I looked back to find them all
looking at me waving. I waved goodbye to the greatest group of Heroes I have
ever known.
*Some of the filming is a bit shaky. Take it for what it's worth.
The last song is Wynona Judd "Love can build a Bridge".
I dedicate and give these words to the survivors of Katrina so they know
WE DID NOT AND WILL NOT FORGET THEM.
Aileen