Reply #222: Thank you...Here are few things we HAVE done since the disaster... [View All]

[Danieljay]

What about the hundreds of other shelters in the area that we DID staff? What about the nearly 2 million overnight stays in 895 shelters across 24 states and the District of Columbia? Just yesterday the Red Cross housed more than 61,600 survivors in 327 shelters.

What about the Nearly 92,000 Red Cross workers (staff and volunteers) from all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have responded to Katrina. And how bout the 74,000 people we have trained SINCE the disaster in specialized disaster relief skills?

What about the 8.4 million hot meals and more than 6.6 million snacks to survivors of Hurricane Katrina? Just yesterday (tuesday the 13th, we served more than 365,000 meals.

What about the financial assistance (no it is not required to be paid back) to upwards of three quarters of a million survivors dispersed across the nation in vouchers and cash?

Our local relief effort in Portland Oregon statistics as of today are as follows:


125 cases opened
$103,000 of direct assistance provided to displaced persons
1,108 new volunteers trained
$535,000 of in-kind donations received locally
$2.8m in cash and pledges received for the National Disaster Relief Fund
30,000 phone calls received at the Chapter since August 29th.

For all those bitching about the Red Cross, what have YOU done to help in the relief effort? If you haven't donated or volunteered to any relief organizations, offered housing, or sheltered anyone..I challenge you to look deep inside and ask yourself why you are so critical of those who have.

I can look inside and honestly say that I have, both as an employee with the Red Cross and a volunteer in my off hours. Those sitting back and bitching about the efforts of a not so perfect organization are no better than a Sunday afternoon armchair quarterback. Just my personal opinion.