August 30, 2005
A Helping Hand
By Karl-Thomas Musselman
I noticed over that the Chris Bell campaign they had called off their online fundraising drive, not because it was going slowly (well, it wasn't doing speedily either) but because they have replaced it with a call for donations towards the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
I've added their donation link to BOR because this is one of those events where all Americans should step up to help our fellow citizens whose lives are totally disrupted. Though many feel they should send clothes or food or other such supplies, the best thing you can do, and what most Aid Organizations have asked for, is monetary donations. The Red Cross is taking the lead in this effort and can more efficiently get what is needed to where it is needed and can do that easier with dollars than objects.
So please help those in need of aid.
Posted by Karl-Thomas Musselman at August 30, 2005 09:51 PM
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As some learned from 9/11, not everything you give to Red Cross will go to New Orleans.
http://www.philanthropy.com/free/update/2001/10/2001101702.htm
Better to find out who is actually doing what at the moment and give to them. At the moment there is no need to do anything except evacuate everyone. Reality is there may be 50,000 people still in New Orleans who cannot be evacuated but will be. The state and federal government intend to evacuate everyone out of New Orleans as soon as possible. FEMA is coordinating the relief and evacuation effort. None of the agencies and organizations are able to help anyone in New Orleans because there is no way for them to get into New Orleans. After the evacuation there may be as many as 500,000 people who will have nowhere to live after the government condemns their homes. It is a disaster never seen before in this country.
The Salvation Army and Catholic Charities are setting up funds for not only immediate needs but long term assistance which the Red Cross will not provide. We all feel better when we help by making a donation. It helps the victims better if we find which organizations are doing what and make a donation to the organization or organizations that are doing the most.
http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/
http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/news/katrina.cfm
Some have problems with donating to organizations which directly or indirectly discriminate. It is important to remember that they don't discriminate when it comes to victims.
