DWTS Kirstie Alley On A “Convoy” Mission To Help Hurricane Victims, Interviews, And More
As some of you have commented and have noticed yesterday at twitter, Dancing With The Stars contender Kirstie Alley, went full out trying to get as many items as she could to help those who are suffering from the impact of Hurricane Sandy on the east coast. She’s asked that people bring whatever they can from blankets, socks, underwear, snack foods, canned goods, baby food, teddy bears, and more down to her Organic Liaison store at 1864 N Vermont in Los Feliz, California 90027. The mission has been such a success that she tweeted the first semi load of supplies left Friday and will reach New Jersey today (Saturday) sometime. A second truck is planned to reach Staten Island, New York on Wednesday! John and Kelly Travolta along with Dancing With The Stars partner Maks Chmerkovskiy took part in the relief mission as well according to this tweet by Kirstie….
Trucks preparing to roll! John & Kelly Travolta matching me for Johns home state New Jersey!! @MaksimC Found 150 sweaters & blankets !!!
— Kirstie Alley (@kirstiealley) November 3, 2012
Tony Dovolani helped too as you can see in the picture above provided above by @DDubsDame at twitter. As Kirstie tweeted, “people are amazing!!!!! never under estimate what just a few people can achieve!!! it’s awesome” and isn’t that the truth?!!
In other things Kirstie Alley, she was interviewed on 20/20. It was scheduled to air last night on ABC. However, due to a hurricane special, I’m not sure they featured her interview? Can anyone confirm? You can read for a little of what took place with the interview at On The Red Carpet. She promotes her new book, “The Art Of Men”. Another topic Kirstie talked about was how John Travolta was the “love of her life”. Here she is in a teaser at E News….
Also, stay tuned as Kirstie is scheduled to be on the Jimmy Kimmell show this upcoming Thursday night!!
ETA1: According to fan @cherylldob at twitter, the 20/20 interview with Kirstie will air next Friday, November 9th. Thanks Cheryl!! 😉
ETA2: Below is a new interview with Maks that took place last week with On The Red Carpet. He talks of how Dancing With The Stars has stepped up their game this season. He got a note from TPTB for how well he and Kirstie are doing and putting smiles on faces. He loved their Gangnam style dance too. More below. There is more to this interview in more video segments HERE. Note too how Maks will be making a “Latin dancer” movie in MAY!
ETA3: Thanks to Evaine, below is a clip of Kirstie and the gang in action getting supplies ready to go to the east coast on ABC7….
ETA4: Below is some more video coverage of Kirstie and Maks getting ready to send more items to those who have suffered from Hurricane Sandy. Kirstie explains everything and said the donation total will be matched by her friend John Travolta (if the video below doesn’t work, you can go here to find it.). Tony chimes in to explain too. Amazing!
They’ve also made the Daily Mail. You can see some cool pics of them HERE!! Below is such a cute one. Be sure to see the link for more.
Thanks for all of this, Vogue! It gives me the warm fuzzies to see ‘my peeps’ helping out in this fashion.
YW! I was so touched yesterday when I saw Kirstie starting tweeting on this and then I loved how the idea just grew. When Kirstie wants something done, she gets it done. I so admire that spirit and I hope they are able to help people get back on their feet.
As someone living in the heart of the most effected area, this is MUCH APPRECIATED!!! Don’t believe for one minute when you saw Janet Napolitano on S.I. that people got anything. Local businesses and families not affected are doing most of it. Churches are doing an amazing job providing food, clothes, etc.
Maria Menounos came here and she is a doll!!!!! She was teary eyed. She visited our local high school being used as a shelter. She is right….it is MUCH WORE THAN WHAT IS BEING SHOWN ON TV!! What you see on tv is bad, correct, so imagine that it is worse. So sad to hear the American Red Cross acknowledge that the monies coming into it won’t all necessarily go the Hurricane Sandy victims….they disperse the money all over the world.
Anyone who wants to send money or supplies, it’s best to contact the local politicans who are literally walking the street from sunset to midnight. Rep. Michael Grimm (who can dance and should be on dwts…plus he’s hot lol), Councilman James Oddo, and BP James Molinaro.
To anyone living in other states that have sent firemen, EMTs, and utility specialists….THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU
http://www.extratv.com/2012/11/02/maria-menounos-superstorm-sandy-coverage-staten-island/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ExtraTV+%28Extra+-+Atom%29
http://instagram.com/p/RhHpjtswWw/
((((Sheery)))) I feel so sorry for you all! Take care and keep us posted. xxx
Here is link with reputable places to contribute to and this sounds corny, but even sending a letter helps families who feel so dejected right now. The water is starting to recede and they are finding bodies… 🙁
http://statenislandusa.com/
Major props to this dancing trio and all others that lend a helping hand. I hope all effected soon find some relief.
Thanks for the link Sheery.
It looked like Maria had to dig deep to hold it together during the Extra piece. I read about the two little boys yesterday. Every time I think about it my heart sinks.
I’m giving major thumbs up to Kirstie for getting this not only started, but doing it fast. Amazing.
This relief effort is just snowballing…all these folks going out of their way to help those in need just makes you proud. I can’t imagine how awful it must have been for those hardest hit by this storm. Hopefully the worst is behind them.
Thank you, Vogue for the stories, and others above me for the links.
Love it when those that can choose to use their celebrity to do good!
This is why I have been a long time fan of Kirstie’s she gives so much and usually it is alweays done very quietly. She is simply a person that gets things done she never takes no for an answer. Kudos to Max who lives in NJ and Tony who I believe lives in Connetticut and to
Jonathan Knight who lives in NY!!!!!! I live on Long Island and was very forttate to have only minor damage. So many people are suffering and are in dire need!
With respect, Kirstie should have sent CASH directly to LOCAL relief. CASH. When you bring supplies en masse, you are adding a layer(s) of work for relief and police. Plus relief agencies are tax exempt and their buying power/connections yield much more per dollar spent. I realize that Sheery is suffering so I’m not saying she is mistaken. I work for a hunger relief service and the Red Cross, etc. will also say the same thing. That’s why the Red Cross was trying to wave off Romney’s donations in Ohio. Logistics are tough enough.
Also with respect as I appreciate your view given your work, I think in this case they are being careful to provide things people actually need and are finding ways to get it directly to people. And I think that human connection must mean tons to people who are scared, overwhelmed…Anyone can write a check (and of course I hope that lots of people do), and anyone can do some little thing that might make them feel better but not really help the ones who need help, but this thing Kirstie has going appears to me to be meaningful, caring people helping people in need. Of course I’m not there so I don’t really know, I only hope and it makes me continue to have faith in humanity.
I think Sheery mentioned that donating to the red cross won’t necessarily go to the Sandy victims. I also believe Kirstie is doing this with the blessing of the local authorities. With all the red tape the government places in time of need, direct help is sometimes the earliest help folks get. Like those who drove to NJ and NY to deliver generator, food, etc.
Update: I did not mean to say to donate to the Red Cross. I meant that food and clothing can become a hardship when they come into an area and must be sorted and delivered. I brought up the Red Cross because they (rightfully) tried to wave Romney’s Ohio food drive off in favor of him telling people to send cash to local agencies. Disaster and hunger relief are tough to administer. I pray Sheery has this once in her life and then she’s done with it. Being on the other side and working day and in and day out on this stuff and the constant administration takes the “sex” and “warm fuzzies” out of it and leaves the “unsexy” slogging that must be done. Lots of the donated food and clothing may never see the people who need it, either. Believe me. Unless you can follow it there and stay at the spot and hand it out safely, without spoilage until it is gone (and be sure it is what people will truly eat/be able to prepare and store, etc.) Thanks.
Kirstie and others responded to actual requests from politicians “on the beat”. People were asked what they needed and lists were given out. The most supplies have come from the military and churches. FEMA only recently went around and were set up in locations impossible for people to get to who has no car or gas to put in their car. Certain buses now are free for people to use to travel to shelters, FEMA, and heating stations (certain high schools).
Please shop Target!!! People from Target in our area came to two locations giving out free $20 dollar gift cards. Target in my area had not only clothes and home goods, but food and produce. While I am not in need personally (except for needing gas for my car to take kids to school Wednesday), they insisted I take gift cards. We were there because my kids wanted to drop off some board games, jump ropes, hula hoops, nerf footballs, basketballs and kites we bought to kids in the shelter so they can play. i allowed my kids to each take a $20 gift card on the condition that they will be used to purchase something at Christmas time for those who will still be experiencing a hardship.
A local supermarket in the affected area also told two church groups to “come in and take whatever is needed” and they donated $5,000 worth of canned food and toiletries to the 2 sites giving out food and clothes.
It was “interesting” meeting Geraldo Rivera last night. He seems to be goofy. But it was heartwarming to know (and these people don’t want recognition, but I don’t care…. they deserve it) that Derek Jeter and Tim Tebow as well as some actors from Law & Order shows had made “nice” contributions.
It was mentioned on Twitter that the Marines were helping with the distribution of the items on the first truck to arrive…hopefully the people who need these things will get them with a minimum of stress as the trucks come in. I can remember how calm and respectful the people of Japan were when they were receiving help after the tsunami…Crossing my fingers this will be mirrored by the distressed people of NYC.
Seeing these people, the celebrities, pitching in and doing stuff also encourages their fans and followers to help in any way they can. People want to take part. I see organizational and local government tweets coming through my Twitter timeline asking for things like blankets, warm clothes, bottled water etc, saying that’s what’s needed. So yeah, I get the warm fuzzies as I always do when I see people coming together to help those in need. However they can best help.
Yes, Auntie B, people have been calm and respectful as far as those who are at the distribution locations in Tottenville, New Dorp Beach, and Miller Field Park. I can’t account for other locations. However, I’ve heard of men getting nasty with each other on gas lines.
Gov. Christie in NJ has set up odd/even days for gas. License plates ending in an odd number get gas one day and the next day even numbered plates can go. that happened in the 70s, and it appears to be working….so far.
Jay, when Katrina victims were given debit cards, they were used to be stuff that weren’t considered necessity items…remember that backlash? It might be why they aren’t doing that in this case. Thanks also for you input.
Sheery, debit cards are one thing. Non-profits purchasing items tax free and distributing is another. I can’t speak to the debit cards after Katrina. But, hey, that grocery store by you donating to the churches? Dollars to donuts they are already active behind the scenes re food gleaming/recovery to pantries, etc. So much goes on locally that people are not aware of. Thank goodness!
On another note, why does Maks pull up one pant leg? Why do (some) dancers do this?