Non-profit org. aids mold victims

[Guest guest]

An article from the EnviroBay Newsletter on a new non-profit organization

helping mold victims. If you are not in need of their services, you may at

least want to submit your mold exposure questionnaire to the organization's

online survey.

Beverly Weikert

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Non-Profit Company Aids Victims of Mold

by Laprarie

EnviroBay.com

Imagine bringing your newborn baby to the emergency room because she has

stopped breathing, and then seeing your child, not yet three weeks old,

struggling inside of an oxygen tent. The doctors don't know what is causing

the respiratory distress, and after a week they reluctantly release the

child. Larkin faced this ordeal last year, and it changed her life.

Mold Relief, Inc., was started by in order to help families that have

been financially impacted by mold. The company is a not-for-profit

enterprise that accepts donations of money, household items, and

professional or environmental services. The proceeds are used to provide

temporary housing assistance (deposits, first month's rent), replace

household items (cooking ware, furniture, toys, clothing), or to provide

environmental cleanup, remodeling, or other professional services at a

greatly reduced rate. The organization also aids families in obtaining

medical care and counseling.

relies on her own personal experiences as a basis for helping others.

She began experiencing poor health shortly after her family moved into a

two-story condominium. Shortly after her baby became ill, she and her

husband noticed several water leaks coming from upstairs. The problem fully

manifested itself a few months later, when a section of their ceiling

collapsed due to the damage caused by faulty plumbing in the apartment

upstairs.

Testing of the blackened sheet rock confirmed that massive amounts of mold,

including Stachybotrys, were present in the water-damaged area. Tensions

with their landlord mounted over who was responsible and what would be done

about the water damage and the mold. Ultimately the landlord made the

decision to lock and her family out of their home. They still have not

been able to re-enter the condominium or reclaim the remainder of their

belongings.

But did not give up. She approached the city council of Norman, OK,

where she resides, and petitioned them to include mold in the city health

ordinances. She appeared on television and told her story. She attended

workshops and seminars on mold and its health effects. She visited with

experts from around the nation, building a network of contacts. She

encouraged her local representatives to draft Oklahoma State legislation

that would require mold to be disclosed during real estate transactions, and

would require mold workers and mold remediation firms to be licensed by the

state.

During her research, continually met people from all over the United

States who had been physically and financially impacted by mold. She decided

that more needed to be done to aid families who have been adversely affected

by mold in their residences. " I got calls literally every day from people

all across the country, people who were just trying to understand what was

happening to them, " said. " Some of the stories I heard people tell

were so sad. They just wanted to be reassured that they weren't alone. "

" Our initial response was overwhelming, " said Larkin. " We have a lot of

contacts across the country, but we still need volunteers to help with

everybody needing assistance. " She also insists that no amount of help is

too small. " Even $5 can mean having enough money to pay an apartment

deposit. "

Mold Relief, Inc. is a non-profit corporation, which means that all

donations are tax-deductible as a charity contribution. Financial donations

can be made at the company's web site, http://www.moldrelief.org. To donate

non-perishable food, clothing, toys, or household items, or to volunteer

environmental, construction, legal, or medical expertise, please call Mold

Relief Inc. toll-free at 1-866-691-6653.

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