Desert Woman Collects Funds for Tornado Victims

Lisa Marquez setup shop at Villagefest in Palm Springs Thursday to collect funds for the disaster relief effort.

One man dropped off a $1,000 check at Marquez’s table in front of the Cocky Cactus on Palm Canyon drive.

“It’s not going to be solved in a month, two months (or) a year,” said Marquez. “It’s going to be an ongoing thing.”

Poster-boards with pictures of tornado victims stood beside the table along with messages describing the devastation left by the twisters.

“People are sleeping in tents in what used to be their homes,” said Marquez. “You can’t put into words what these people are going through.”

Entire towns were destroyed during the storms, leaving nowhere to shop for food or shower.

Marquez’s grandmother and aunt live in Hackleburg, Alabama — both are now homeless.

Her family in Phil Campbell, Alabama are also in despair.

Marquez setup donation boxes at her table during Villagefest.

Laura Walsh, owner of the Cocky Cactus, said she would accept donations inside her store as well.

Walsh is originally from Illinois and understands the wrath of a tornado.

“I remember spending many an evening in the basement with the tornado sirens going,” said Walsh.

Marquez has a website (www.alabamahelp.org) where which anyone can make a tax-deductible donation and learn more about the destruction caused on April 27.

“First Aid kits, water, clothing, shoes, baby products — anything that we take for granted on a daily basis, these people have lost it,” said Marquez.

“If a person comes (and) donates $10 which will go to Alabama Help, they’ll get 20 percent off one item in the store,” said Walsh. “That can be from an 89 cent bag of nuts to a $2,400 desert steel cactus.”

Donations are also being accepted at Victory Christian Center in Rancho Mirage or any American Red Cross.

Marquez will again setup her table in front of the Cocky Cactus next Thursday as well.