Which org. did the best helping hurricane victims??How can we help??

[cally]

What have we learned and how do we help one year after?? I donated to various charities, I tried to volunteer, and I very much want to help my friends and neighbors in the gulf coast. I live in California, but you are not forgotten and you are my neighbors. So, how should I help now? Which is the best place to send money, volunteer, make the phone calls?

[gulfcoastliberal]

1. Salvation Army provided meals, help, before any other organization.

My grandmother lost everything in Mississippi and she said even after Camille, it was the Salvation Army feeding, clothing, and housing people before any other aid organization got around to helping out. My .02: give to the Salvation Army. Red Cross seems like it has some suspicious problems.

[Catchawave]

2. Habitat for Humanity is still putting steel tipped boots on the

ground :) You can sign up for volunteer opportunities or send a donation for supplies.

http://www.habitat.org/

[frustrated_lefty]

3. NOT The Red Cross.

Wait for feet on the ground, local groups.

[Booster]

4. Habitat for Humanity, Oprah's Angel Network, and one of my

favorite, the New Orleans Humane Society, really wonderful people doing good things. I did donate to the Red Cross, but have regretted it ever since. I think they have received the last donation from me.

[pitohui]

7. don't regret your donation to the red cross

believe you me, they have distributed a lot of food and water around here when it was badly needed, no, they're not perfect, but they did a great deal of good, and they also helped distribute small cash stipends, nothing outrageous, $300 or so, to people while they were getting sorted out

it helped an awful awful lot of people around here

habitat for humanity is of course another great one but don't feel bad about what you gave to the red cross, it DID help!


i admit my choice now, since the crisis is now all about housing, habitat for humanity might indeed get the first pick, but in the early days when there were no stores to buy food, then red cross was available in many areas giving out badly needed food and water

[Booster]

8. Thank you for making that clear. I have always given to the Red

Cross first, but they really received bad press during Katrina and I was disappointed. I'm glad to know that they did help and I will probably give to them again.

[pitohui]

9. i sometimes feel the media wants everybody to hate everybody

they have stirred up much unnecessary suspicion to my mind

you did help and it's much appreciated, some areas had no groceries or other supplies available for months, having the red cross there to provide food and water w.out a long commute did help many people get back on track sooner

[brook]

5. You might also

wish to take a look at Common Ground. They are running health clinics, gutting houses,and meeting all sorts of needs in a very boots on the ground way. They have wish lists and volunteer opportunities, etc. on their 2 sites.

[roody]

6. United Peace Relief works with Common Ground.

http://unitedpeacerelief.org/

[cally]

10. A kick for more info