Hurricane Katrina: How you can help

[Modem Butterfly]

http://www.redcross.org/

http://www.noahswish.org

http://www.teamster.org/benefits/disasterrelief/disasterrelief.htm

http://www.msana.com/msadisasterrelief.htm

http://www.la-spca.org/forms/donations.htm

http://www.hssm.org/

You can also help by contacting your state and federal government officials and asking that assistance to victims of Katrina be treated with the highest priority. I especially request that you ask that the IRS exempt disaster recovery money (including HUD funds) from taxes (yes, they do tax relif money).

[demnan]

1. Kick and nominated.

Donated was just about to post something like this.

[melv]

2. But what can we do

with our bodies - who needs volunteers?

[lonestarnot]

3. Yes... locally from our states...? Start arranging care packages to

donate? Organize drop offs? What?

[Modem Butterfly]

10. The mail will be out for quite sometime in the affected areas

But you can contact your state and federal representatives and ask that assistance to the victims of hurricane Katrina be given the highest priority.

[mcscajun]

12. Cash rather than goods...

Volunteer agencies need money to issue vouchers to victims for critical needs. Donated goods mean more costs to transport, store, and distribute them, and logistical efforts to arrange all of that.

Cash is always better than 'care packages'. The agencies on the ground know what is needed and where it's needed.

[lonestarnot]

19. With all the crooks and liars stealing from every charitable

organization they can get their hands on... you just never know who to trust.

[Modem Butterfly]

5. You can give blood

The blood supply for the Gulf will have been severly compromised. Beyond that, stay away from the area until things have settled down. The situation is still extremely dangerous and chaotic down there.

[elehhhhna]

4. 5th nom.

[CitrusLib]

6. Seriously folks, for those with no medical/disaster relief training

the best thing you can do is to donate blood and money. It's obvious why they wouldn't want untrained extra folks in the affected area, but even packing up and sending clothes, blankets, water, food, etc. should be handled by the relief organizations. It's much easier for them to process monetary donations and buy what they need in bulk than to coordinate a bunch of smaller donations, pack them up, truck them in, etc.

Blood and Money people. Thanks!!!

[Modem Butterfly]

7. Well said

Again, it is extremely dangerous and chaotic in the gulf right now. Staying away is the best thing you can do in the short term.

[expatriot]

8. Donated to Red Cross - Listed "Democrartic Underground" as Organization

I don't Bush to get any credit for my donation.

[Hobarticus]

9. Kicked and nominated n/t

[shrike]

11. Thanks for this post

I've been wondering where to go and what to do.

[Modem Butterfly]

13. Kicking my own post

Please add your thoughts on where and how DUers can help.

[intheflow]

14. If you live around Denver, CO,

the Red Cross needs Call Center volunteers. The Denver Call Center is THE Red Cross first responders for people needing help, trying to track down loved ones, and needing emergency services coordination.

There are information seesions on Call Center volunteering daily at 1pm, and training at 3pm. (You must attend the info session to attend the training.)

For more info, go to http://www.denver-redcross.org/site/PageServer?pagename=newsroom_pr_08292005.

[Modem Butterfly]

15. You should post this in the Colorado group

Assuming you haven't posted it there already, of course.

[intheflow]

17. Good call!

I'll post it in the Activist Corp, too. Thanks Modem B! :hi:

[distantearlywarning]

16. Thank you for posting this.

I donated $35 to Noah's Wish this morning, and my husband made a donation to the Red Cross.

Although we are far away from New Orleans this morning, our hearts and prayers go out to all the creatures affected by Katrina, both human and the fuzzy ones.

[Modem Butterfly]

18. I'll come up with a list of humane societies in the affected areas today

The cost in terms of animal lives will be immense.

[Booster]

20. Thanks for posting the links. Just donated to Red Cross and

Noah's Wish, and donated yesterday to the New Orleans animal shelter. Kick and nominated.

[Modem Butterfly]

21. Here's another one

National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster: http://www.nvoad.org

[Modem Butterfly]

22. For those who want to help animals in the gulf

Here's some links to local animal rescue and welfare organizations:


Meta-link for animal shelters in LA
http://muttcats.com/shelters/louisiana.htm

Mississippi Animal Rescue League (in Jackson)

http://www.msarl.org

Columbus-Lowndes Humane Society in Mississippi

http://www.clhumanesociety.org/frames.htm

Alabama Animal Rescue

http://www.aarescue.org/

[Pacifist Patriot]

23. CitrusLib's comments deserve repeating

Both of us have been through multiple hurricanes and have seen this first hand. Blood, money and prayers are the best things you can give right now. Anything else hampers the relief efforts in these early stages.