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Hurricane victims find divine intervention
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Dana Clark Felty September 23, 2005 Nearly four weeks ago, all Smith "Blue" Nabor IV wanted was a meal and a safe place to rest for himself and his 20 relatives. Today, the New Orleans family has temporary housing, sustenance, schools for their children, medical care - and now a minivan in excellent condition - all through the support of a generous community. Eric and Francine Veal, Blue's brother and sister-in-law, were presented with a 1999 Ford Windstar minivan Thursday morning at Goodwill Industries on Sallie Mood Drive. As the Veals arrived in the parking lot, Landings donors Al and Marjorie Giannetti opened the rear hatch to reveal grocery bags piled to the top of the van with dry foods and cleaning supplies. Another bag stuffed with new Barbies and dolls by the Giannetti's 7-year-old daughter Meagan awaited the Veal's children. Upon seeing the toys, the Veals' three daughters Raven Spears, 11, Johanna Spears, 8 and Eryka Veal, 3, dove arms-first into the doll bag. Francine and Eric silently surveyed the car before Francine threw her arms around sister-in-law Shaneik Nabor. "You oughta be hugging them, not me," Shaneik said laughing. Wiping away tears, Francine approached the Giannettis and embraced them gently. "Thank you so much," she whispered. "You're very welcome," said Marjorie. "We hope it's as good to you as it's been to us." With just over 75,000 miles, the silver minivan accommodates seven in its leather seats, with room left over for cargo. Kelley Blue Book estimates its retail value at $6,400. The Giannettis said they usually trade in their old car for a new one every few years. But after purchasing their newest vehicle in April, Marjorie held onto the Windstar. "I don't know why," she said. "I think God had a plan." That plan was revealed with the news of Katrina victims seeking help in Savannah, she said. She asked the United Way of the Coastal Empire to select a family. The fund-raising charity chipped in to cover three months of auto insurance. President Gregg Schroeder believed that's when he entered God's plan. Schroeder met Blue and Shaneik two weeks ago after they applied for donated housing at the United Way office. "With her being nine months pregnant, she was very noticeable," Schroeder said. "As I drove up, I felt the urge to find out what they wanted and what they were doing here." After Blue explained, Schroeder offered them the van. Blue replied, "Well, I have another family member who needs it more than I do." Blue had rescued his brother's family after a 17-hour drive back to New Orleans with relative Ernest Grady. Eric, Francine, the girls and their two-week-old son Eric Jr. waited out the hurricane in their West Bank home. Floodwaters weren't as damaging in that neighborhood, though Eric waded through thigh-high waters carrying his infant son to reach a rescue boat. During their month-long Savannah refuge, the family has received housing, food, clothing, schooling and medical care for their most pressing needs. After the Nabors and Gradys arrived on Aug. 29, the family registered for Red Cross assistance and took temporary shelter in Shaneik's mother's three-bedroom mobile home. Dozens of strangers reached out to the family after a Sept. 2 news story describing their arduous journey. "I was able to call some of them back, but not all of them," said Shaneik's mother Gloria Roberts. Shaneik, who is due to give birth Sept. 30, found a doctor willing to deliver her daughter. She's considering naming the girl Savannah, in gratitude for the outpouring of support from her old hometown. The six Veals, three Gradys, Blue's parents Smith Jr. "Smitty" and Cheryl Nabor and four other relatives are sharing a donated four-bedroom home in Savannah. Four children in the household are enrolled at Hodge Elementary. Smitty and Cheryl's home in the Lower Ninth Ward - one of the poorest neighborhoods in New Orleans - was completely engulfed by floodwaters. They now believe much of their neighborhood will be bulldozed in the coming weeks. When Al Giannetti overhead Eric and Blue discuss the difficulties of finding jobs, he handed them his Marine Terminals Corp. business card. "Call me if you don't find anything soon," he said. "I'll see what I can do." Eric plans to return to New Orleans in October to look for salvageable goods. After that, he'll come back to his new home in Savannah, he said. "God put us here for a reason," Eric said. "If I can get a some kind of steady work, I'm not going nowhere." |