40 Ways in 40 Days: Remembering the Survivors of Katrina and FREE BEER!!!

[Plaid Adder]

Made you click.

Day 32, Ways 31 & 32

Someone was asking me the other day about how to donate toys. As a result, I stumbled across a little cluster of Katrina relief efforts that have partnered up online, so here's a couple of them:

Katrina's Toybox

That is what it sounds like, pretty much: getting toys to kids who lost everything. Toys, well, just the word "toy" connotes an insignificant or trivial bit of nonessential equipment...but that's from an adult perspective. Kids, basically, own clothing, books, and toys, and that's it. You lose your toys, you lose the means you once had of creating your own private world and mediating with the big one outside it. And, of course, there are a lot of kids affected by Katrina who probably never had toys to start with, and who could use the chance to play. Play is important, for kids. Anyway, Katrina's Toybox does not have 501(c) status yet, but it does have a track record, and the site continually protests that KT is "in this for the long haul", so if you have toys you want to send them, they're ready for them. They specify that they are looking for NEW toys. Stuff your kids won't play with any more because they broke it, not so much.

Katrina's Toybox works, apparently, with Katrina's Angels, which appears to do a little bit of everything. I was intrigued by the link on their site to:

Mission from Minnesota

Once again, it is what it sounds like: people up in Minnesota, far from the coast of anything other than Lake Superior (not as hurricane-prone as the Atlantic...but I have heard it said she never gives up her dead, especially when the winds of November come early), who were so horrified by the reports of Katrina's devastation that they decided to leave the landlocked safety of the frozen north and go down to the Gulf Coast and pitch in. They don't actually specify whether you need to actually be from Minnesota in order to volunteer, but at any rate they are still organizing relief trips to the coast (there's one leaving Friday). I could make some sort of unkind comment about this just being an excuse for them to get the hell out of Minnesota for the winter to someplace warm, but really, there are easier ways to do that, and I would by no means wish to impugn the motives of my fellow-midwesterners; therefore I will say nothing of these things. Even if you're not from Minnesota and you don't want to hang out with Minnesotans you can still donate to sponsor other Minnesotans. They are also looking for donations of supplies for the trips.

Yee ha,

The Plaid Adder

[Sinti]

1. Kick

Naked Girls! also works really well for attention ;)

[Plaid Adder]

2. Somehow I thought the free beer would be more...I dunno...tasteful...

n/t

[egadsbrain]

3. Free beer AND toys!

Oh, not the kind of toys I had in mind, but it's still good!
:toast:
I remember right after Katrina people were donating stuffed animals that had to be destroyed because the black toxic mold quickly infested everything. It's just not the same cuddling a plastic ball or a bleachable plastic truck. Glad I waited and have somewhere to send some huggable toys now!

:hug:

[Kurovski]

5. Are you guys posting here members of the Temperance League?

Or are y'all not voting to recommend because you didn't get a beer yet? Don't worry, your brew is in the mail...now vote up this thread, or no suds for you duds!:-)

[Anarcho-Socialist]

4. What about Free Hat?

Free Hat! Free Hat! Free Hat! Free Hat! Free Hat!

[knitter4democracy]

6. Thank you!

I'd posted a couple of days ago about where to send a dolly I'd knitted for a little girl or boy to love but don't know where to send. Now I know! Thanks!!

[Kurovski]

23. You're a sweetheart, knitter4!

I checked out your homepage and you take your craft seriously. I'm betting that doll is beautiful.

[knitter4democracy]

48. You could say I'm obsessed.

:blush: She is kind of cute, and my 6 year old is begging me not to send her, so she must be okay. So far, my kids have placed orders for their own dolphins (I sent one earlier to a group that is no longer taking stuffed animals) and turtle and dolly. I found a new doll pattern I'm interested in trying out.

Of course, I need to get moving on Binka's son's socks first before I start any new stuffed toy. *sigh*

[Kurovski]

7. Kicking the keg for the kids.

[Kurovski]

8. A Leinenkugel-flavored kick.

[egadsbrain]

10. Leinies! Here's an Old Style kick.

:kick:

[Kurovski]

9. Kickin' that tree 'til the Hops fall out.

[Kurovski]

11. Karlsberg kick.

[egadsbrain]

12. A Beanie Baby and a Blatz... kick

[Kurovski]

13. "Toys For Hops"...kick

[intheflow]

14. KaBOOM! Another kid-supportive cause to donate to.

KaBOOM is a non-profit that builds playgrounds for kids. What's more, before they build, they ask the community, including the kids, what kind of layground they want. The group I live with, Hands On Network, has built a few of these playgrounds and are planning at least two more in Southern Mississipp.

Here's a link to KaBOOM: http://www.kaboom.org/Home/tabid/1829/Default.aspx

Here's one of their stories from Bay St. Louis: http://kaboom.org/MANAGE/News/tabid/2047/ArticleType/ArticleView/ArticleID/83/PageID/35/Default.aspx

And here's a link to a Biloxi Sun-Herald article on why play is particularly important to helping kids cope after a traumatic exprience: http://www.sunherald.com/mld/thesunherald/living/14219654.htm

Thanks, Plaid Adder! K&R, as usual! :hi:

[Kurovski]

15. Cool! have a beer, intheflow.

:toast:

[intheflow]

19. Thanks, Kurvoski. Don't mind if I do!

:toast:

[AuntiBush]

16. Found this site through Katrina's Toyboy

Their email address is not working, but found this: http://www.katrinaaidnetwork.org/

[Kurovski]

17. "Na zdrowie!", AuntiBush! A toast to you with a Królewskie,

a Polski brewski from Warsaw. :toast:

[Kurovski]

18. G'nite..kick...

Gotta..go'ta *hic* bed...

[KitchenWitch]

20. It is SPRING in Minnesota!

Not so cold anymore!

I am proud of my fellow Minnesotans!

[egadsbrain]

21. kick nt

[Kurovski]

22. Katrina's Toybox is also accepting donations of school supplies

for those who are more interested in doing that.

Oy! my head is throbbing! Too much free beer.

[Kurovski]

24. I just remembered: I've got a red BMW roadster sitting around in its box,

I'm sending 'er off to Katrina's Toybox.

I wonder if anyone else has a little "Handy gift box" where you keep new toys handy for gift-giving. If you do, please consider sending one or more off to these kids.

[Kurovski]

25. Almost noon! Time for free beer again!

Belly-up for bottoms-up!

Here's a toast to Plaid Adder. :toast:

[Kurovski]

26. Non-alcoholic beers available upon request.

O'Douls, anyone? :toast:

[Kurovski]

27. Even though I'm drinking here--ALONE--it doesn't mean I have a problem.

So stop saying that.

[Kurovski]

28. Mm-hmmm...

sure it doesn't, Kurovski.

[Kurovski]

29. Wha? Is' Spring break, is'sa hal-aaa-day!

Got sumthin' agins' tha?!!!

[Kurovski]

30. No. Not in the least.

Enjoy.

[Swamp Rat]

31. You nut!

:D :hi:

:kick:

[Kurovski]

37. Swamp Rat, Can you put on a pot of coffee while I tend to this miscreant?

:hi:

[Swamp Rat]

39. Well, I might join the other you in a beer.

It's too late in the day to drink coffee. :D :toast:

[Kurovski]

40. Well, if you must.

Anyone would be hard-pressed to catch up with Kurovski. He's downed about four beers per hour since 11:00 am.

He certainly goes all out for charity. :eyes:

[Swamp Rat]

41. I'm OK with it as long as he's drinking Abita Beer.

Helps out the local economy. ;)

[Kurovski]

42. Shuure, buddee!!! I got'tem all!

Hereyago!!!1! :toast: :bunce;

[Kurovski]

43. Stockpiled with the weapons of your own destruction,

hmm?

[Kurovski]

32. I can' say az I like yer tone...

besidz'...iz' ejucashunal. I'm drinkin' beer from all over tha' worl'!!

[Kurovski]

33. How nice for you, Kurovski...

:eyes:

[Kurovski]

34. Sure!!!! Looka'thizzz...a beer from New Zeeee-lan'

call' "Pitt"!!! Name' affer' DU guy Will Pitt!!! Becha didn' know tha', didja?

Smart azzz!!!!

[Kurovski]

35. Link, please.

[Kurovski]

36. Naaa...Na-ah! I'm on VACAYSUN!!!

No mor homerk...

I need a chimeeechanga...ya got 2 buks u cn lenme??!

[Kurovski]

38. We'll have Chimichangas at your intervention.

You can fill-up there.

[Kurovski]

44. Dude'jer bringin'me down.

I betcherthe type whod send sliderules an' iron-ore ta'a charty askinfer TOYZ!!!

[Kurovski]

45. You need not concern what's left of your rapidly dying brain cells

in that matter, young Sir.

Might I remind you that you are here on Democratic Underground where excellence in manners, courtesy, and decorum are cherished ideals we all strive to maintain?

I would ask you to please think of the children.

[Kurovski]

46. 'kay...s'heavy, dude...

godda...godda go...s'okay, godda go lie...down...needa chimee...
whatimezit??!11

[egadsbrain]

47. we may need an intervention here!

:beer: I'll sneak in a quick one before it starts...

[Kurovski]

49. Yes. Indeed. I can see a double-intervention

on the horizon, young lady. :hi: