Help Hattiesburg Rebuild: Ways to Donate
To help residents affected by the January 21st, 2017 tornado, here is Petal’s Facebook page. On February 10th, 2013, Hattiesburg was hit by a massive EF-4 tornado. There were no deaths, thankfully — but it devastated several neighborhoods and businesses. Being here for the cleanup has been amazing; several local businesses have organized volunteer efforts, social media has helped coordinate donation centers. The community has really come together and massive progress has been made in just over a week. However, there is still so much work to do. Several neighborhoods around town were hit; numerous homes were completely destroyed. Hattiesburg needs your help as they continue to clean up and start rebuilding. If you can’t make it down here, here’s a list of charitable organizations and relief funds that will utilize your donations to the max and help those who need it most. Charitable Organizations Here’s a list of places, some of which are based in Hattiesburg, that are rebuilding the community and accepting online donations. ExtraTable.org – Based in Hattiesburg, Extra Table was started last year to help combat hunger. 100% of donations go towards purchasing food bought in bulk, all administrative costs are paid separately. They’re helping keep shelves stocked for the displaced residents of Hattiesburg in need of a meal. You can donate online or mail a check. Christian Services – Christian Services has been at the forefront of assisting tornado victims, organizing volunteer efforts and distributing donated goods. Visit their website to learn more about the organization along with information regarding how to submit a donation via check or PayPal. Also, check out their Facebook page to track all of the ways they’re helping the community. Salvation Army – The Salvation Army has also been heavily involved in assisting Hattiesburg residents. While they accept online donations, to be certain your money is going towards Hattiesburg’s tornado relief, you can write them a check and designate “Hattiesburg Tornado” on the memo line. According to their Facebook page, checks can be mailed directly to their Hattiesburg office: 5670 U.S. 49 Hattiesburg, MS 39401. Red Cross – The Red Cross’s local office in Hattiesburg was destroyed by the tornado, but they’ve still been able to help take care of the community. You can’t specifically donate towards Tornado Relief in Hattiesburg, but you can give a broad donation towards Disaster Relief. Specific Relief Funds A few local churches have organized relief funds to assist specific families in need. St. Thomas Disaster Fund: St. Thomas Acquinas Catholic Church of Hattiesburg knows of at least 9 families in the Hattiesburg community that lost everything, and set up a fund to help them rebuild. Read more on their Facebook page. Donations can be sent to: St. Thomas Disaster...
The Road Less Traveled: The Natchez Trace Parkway
In 2011, I wrote a post about wanting to explore the Natchez Trace. Last month, I finally did it – about 260 miles of it. The Natchez Trace Parkway is a historical scenic highway, stretching 444 miles long. It begins in Nashville and ends in Natchez, Mississippi. It’s known for being a nice, quiet, leisurely drive – and in that regard, it didn’t disappoint! Immediately, I couldn’t believe how relaxing it was to drive at 55mph, without tractor trailers or commercial vehicles of any kind. There are no distractions on the Trace; no neon signs, fast food restaurants, hotels or gas stations… just my car, Simon and Garfunkel, and the open road. I could breathe. There are numerous historical stops and lookout points along the Trace, and I made four myself – two of which were still in Tennessee. The second stop was one I’ve been interested in since I learned it was on the Trace: the place where Meriwether Lewis met his unfortunate/bizarre end. Definitely worth a stop for history buffs, or to pay homage to one of the greatest American explorers. The Trace is beautifully slow. It were as though I was driving through a painting, even in the dead of winter. It’s not a road taking you anywhere fast. It’s about the journey. It’s time to get lost in your thoughts and imagination, and wonder about the different types of people who traversed this ancient path throughout the centuries. I was constantly being gripped by the historical elements along the trail, especially when I stumbled across the Pharr Mounds. Just dirt piles, you say? They’re ancient burial grounds for a tribe of nomadic Indian hunters, dating back 2,000 years! Thing I Wish I’d Done #1: Brought a Map. The Natchez Trace Parkway goes through remote places in the Deep South that are still hidden from the reach of cell phone towers. It’s great if you’re trying to escape the digital age, but it’s not so good if you’re trying to load Google Maps when you’re low on gas or in DESPERATE need of a restroom. (Let’s just say Hernando De Soto isn’t the only one who’s roughed it in Northern Mississippi…) Thing I Wish I’d Done #2: Gotten off the Trace near Tupelo, rather than in the middle of nowhere. The signs along the Trace for anything off the Trace are not very informative at all, exit signs merely tell you the route number and the name of the nearby town, but offer no clues if it’s worth your time to get off there. And once you do decide to get off the Trace onto a random road, there is no...
Enjoying the Gulf from Ship Island, Mississippi
Hattiesburg is high on my list for most frequented destinations, if only because it’s where Gunner lives. If you haven’t been that way, summertime in the deep south is sweltering. The humidity is oppressive, only giving way occasionally in the form of an afternoon thunderstorm. It doesn’t take long for me to begin yearning for the Gulf and a cool ocean breeze in the midst of these conditions. A Day Trip to Ship Island Gunner presented me with a great day trip idea to one of Mississippi’s barrier islands: West Ship Island, Mississippi. Blindly agreeing without doing any research (and also excited to go on a trip someone else had planned), I was expecting the standard American beach with a little built up touristy-ness, kinda like Atlantic Beach, or perhaps Destin — and I was presently surprised by Ship Island’s ruggedness. About Ship Island There aren’t any accommodations on Ship Island – for the mass populous, anyway. However, there are bathrooms and showers, and full snack bar outfitted with air conditioning and alcoholic beverages. (Traveler Be Warned: The “margarita” comes in a can!) Ship Island’s charm exists in its sole purpose: to be a barrier island. It isn’t built up like Myrtle Beach or the Outer Banks, but it isn’t meant to entertain for longer than a day. Even after 6 hours, I realized that amenities aren’t really missed here. People come to Ship Island to relax and stare at the Gulf. While I loved having a rough, undeveloped beach close at hand and still enjoying the conveniences of indoor plumbing – there were man-made conveniences that I found to be an eyesore: the dreaded blue beach chairs and beach umbrellas. But I get it’s provided in an effort to make a day trip to Ship Island an easier trip for folks and to cut down on the overall amount of crap people bring, plus make a little additional income. (Umbrellas and chairs are available for full and half day rentals, by the way. We just brought towels and laid on the beach and ended up getting a lovely sunburn – we’re so old school.) It does cut down on the natural rustic charm of the island, but the chairs don’t go on forever. Walk past them for a quiet part of the beach all to yourself. The Aquatic Wildlife My goodness, I’d never seen a more active ecosystem at any other beach! I’m not sure if it’s due to Ship Island’s position in the warm Gulf, or the limited amount of disruption from humans – but there were SO MANY hermit crabs hanging out right where the waves were breaking. A...
Finding Adventure in the Deep South
Instead of going to Texas as my previous post suggested, I’ve figured out how I’m going to spend my time off without spending it all chugging along on the interstate and refueling every 400 miles, but still reaching my intended destinations (Hattiesburg – to visit Gunner; Atlanta – to visit family for Thanksgiving). The Natchez Trace The Natchez Trace is a scenic route beginning in Nashville (conveniently) and ending in the southwestern corner of Mississippi in a little town called Natchez. It winds through Civil War battlefields and other historical stops such as Elvis Presley’s birthplace and where Meriwether Lewis is buried. Since Gunner moved to Mississippi two years ago, it’s been a drive I’ve been meaning to explore. I’ll leave Tuesday morning and bumble along the Trace until early afternoon, stopping occasionally along the way. Surprisingly, Wikipedia has provided me with the most succinct and helpful information regarding what sites can be found along the Trace. I’m planning on staying in Tupelo one night and in Jackson or Vicksburg the following night, while spending a few hours taking in each city. I’ll then meander around Natchez on Thursday morning/afternoon and arrive in Hattiesburg on Thursday night. An autumn day on the Natchez Trace Hattiesburg Although completing the Natchez Trace takes me a few hours out of my way, I’ll loop back around to Hattiesburg on Thursday evening once Gunner is done with his scholastic obligations. I’ll hang out in Hattiesburg for about a week, spending some much-needed time with Gunner that isn’t at the rendezvous point in Birmingham. Finding adventure IN Hattiesburg will be a challenge I haven’t worked out yet; I’ve been there numerous times and while I love it because Gunner is there, I often want to poke my eyes out when Gunner goes to work and I’m left alone, as there isn’t much to quench the adventurous spirit. and finally…the Amtrak experience I have family in Atlanta, and I was planning on driving from Hattiesburg to Atlanta for Thanksgiving, and then back to Hattiesburg– a drive I’ve done before, and it isn’t bad, but it’s 6 hours each way and I was looking for another option. So, what’s an American girl to do when airplanes are too expensive and a car ride just seems boring? Take the well-reputed, infamous American railway system, of course! Hattiesburg, also known as the Hub City, is home of an Amtrak station. I wouldn’t have known this if Gunner and I hadn’t gotten lost downtown the last time I was there and discovered the train station. Since learning this factoid, I’ve been trying to figure out how I can utilize this odd...
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I'm Laryssa, and when I'm not working in film or television, I'm attempting to travel -- or I'm here, providing resources for working in film or travel. Read more Elsewhere on the internets
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