Question for DUers affected by Katrina:

[babylonsister]

can you recommend a charity I can give to for the holidays?
Habitat for Humanity sounds good, but is there something more
local, like a food bank, that you can suggest? Thanks!

[jbnow]

1. I saw this one today

on Kos here http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/12/2/11948/2183

It says:
Emergency Communities is going to be a new form of disaster relief. We are mobile, dynamic, independent, and on-the-ground. We are made up of volunteers and members of the effected community alike. We allow the community to shape their own relief efforts. In a way, we want to work as the Daily Kos of disaster relief. Without the hinderance of a large bureaucracy or overhead, we can quickly find the areas or families with the greatest need and help directly.

In that vein, our first large action is going to be a kitchen and community center in St. Bernard Parish, right outside of New Orleans and directly connected to the Ninth Ward. Many of you will know that the Ninth Ward was absolutely devastated by Katrina and following flood, which soaked every house in the area with a toxic stew for weeks.

As I wrote above, FEMA is ending subsidized housing very soon. Our kitchen will provide food and a safe space for all those who return. We are opening December 5th, prepared to feed 3,000 meals per day. WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Kossacks, please help us get this kitchen off the ground. America needs to know that the recovery has only just begun. Please go to our website. We need volunteers and donations. All donations are 501(c)3 tax-deductible through our fiscal sponsor relationship with the International Humanities Center.

If you don't find something better it looks like it could be a lot of help.

I am looking myself. Instead of getting and getting stuff to and from people who have too much stuff, I am giving donations.

[merh]

2. You can give to the John Grisham fund that is listed in my

signature line. He and his wife donated $5 million to the fund and have guaranteed that 100% of the monies raised will go to thos that need it the most. http://www.rebuildthecoastfund.org /

Lydia Leftcoast is volunteering to come to the MS Gulf Coast to help in the cleaning up and rebuilding efforts. See here post here http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=5491061&mesg_id=5504876
She is working with a church group that has been sending volunteers to the area since the storm.

There are also the charities and the organizations suggested in this thread.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x4388363

Thanks for caring. :hug:

[troubleinwinter]

8. Excellent, mehr... and thank you, babylonsister

My husband, our daughter and son-in-law and I have agreed to skip the Xmas presents this year and send money to Katrina survivors.

My husband asked me to check on what orgs are really doing work in the Gulf Coast. I knew JUST where to look for the info... right here in this forum.

http://www.rebuildthecoastfund.org it is, then!

Thanks again.

[EFerrari]

3. Good question, babylonsister. In Bushworld, it's hard to know

who you can trust any more. And the more local, the better. People on the ground know what is needed much more than bureaucrats in Washington.

[Up2Late]

4. Don't just right off Habitat for Humanity as not being local enough...

...Jimmy says they are going to be building a LOT of the replacement homes down there in LA and MS.

[EFerrari]

7. I'd go in TV for HFH! It's a great program. n/t

[sandnsea]

5. Here's some

There are alot of local relief groups in here. I set it up originally thinking these small groups would need a boost before FEMA got in there or reimbursed them. Little did I know these groups have probably delivered the bulk of the services and definitely still are. Some of them haven't been updated, like the Houston shelter, I need to get to that for the holidays.

http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/katrina.htm

[babylonsister]

6. Thanks for all the feedback, and for

making my decision that much tougher.:-) I wish I could wiggle my nose and make it all right again. :hi: