Tell me how I can help

...just don't ask me to give money.

Published on September 4, 2005 By dharmagrl In Current Events

After talking with my friends and neighbors over the past few days, I've come to the conclusion that a big chunk of the American population is in the same boat as I am.

I want to help the people who lost everything in the hurricane. I just can't give money. I simply don't have any to give.

I can give clothing, shoes, household goods...I can arrange for some people to be driven out of New Orleans and brought back to shelters in St Louis. I can clothe those people, I can help them find jobs and housing, I can help them get back on their feet...but I can't give any cash.

Look at craigslist.org. Look at all the people who have posted there, offering shelter and assistance in non-monetary forms to the Katrina's victims. My friends and I aren't the only ones who can't give any money but who can help in other ways.

We complain that this country has got itself into the mindset that throwing money at problems is the only way to solve them, yet when things like this happen, we immediately tell people that the only way they can help is by donating money.

I personally think that whilst money is important, human touch and kindness, contact with another person who can say "it's going to be okay, I'm here and I won't let you fall" is sometimes more important than any amount of money.

I want to help.

Comments

MarcieMoo

on Sep 04, 2005

Amen, Karen!

I can't give any money either, and I can't really offer any shelter. I can offer prayers however, and I don't know how much that means, but...I hope that helps a little bit at least.

dharmagrl

on Sep 04, 2005

We can't offer shelter either. We live in military family housing, the rules regarding guests are pretty stringent.

We can offer things like toiletries, pots and pans, clothes, shoes, blankets, linens.....household and personal goods.

Nobody seems to want our help though....

MarcieMoo

on Sep 04, 2005

They will eventually, probably...but then some ungratefuls would rather have the money so they can pick out their "own stuff"...

You know...have you ever heard anyone say "THANK YOU" to any type of aid or rescue? I haven't...

What a dirty rotten shame.

Phoenixboi

on Sep 04, 2005

Nobody seems to want our help though....

Does this say something to you Karen?

Like Ive said Im sure there is some wonderful people out there helping or trying to help out there just like yourself, but the ones who really should be doing something are sitting on their hands. (Im talking about the government)

Why is this so? Now after 6 whole days the relief is getting underway. Where is the manpower? Spread out all over the rest of the world trying to fix up everything else. It is time for America to take stock of its own and start fixing its own. Do you see other countries rushing to your aid?

momijiki

on Sep 04, 2005

I posted a blog about Canada getting ready to help out with the clean-up Link

Hopefully the link will work.

Japan has offered money and Canadian power companies etc are offering manpower and expertise to get electricity up and running.

The interesting thing is that while the offers have been made, they don't seem to be taken up on. Then again, hard to know what you need in the middle of chaos.

dharmagrl

on Sep 04, 2005

Japan has offered money and Canadian power companies etc are offering manpower and expertise to get electricity up and running.

Again, it's the private citizens, the ones who can provide material assistance who are being ignored.

but the ones who really should be doing something are sitting on their hands. (Im talking about the government)

Actually, they're not, and they haven't been. Yeah, they dropped the ball in the first 24 hours, but so did the mayor when he failed to order an evacuation order and mobilize the city's resources in a timely manner. The comedy of errors is far reaching in this disaster.

Besides, why is everyone so reliant on the government? Have we created such a nanny state that folks don't know how to fend for themselves anymore? That they have to be told what to do and when to do it every step of the freakin' way?

...but then some ungratefuls would rather have the money so they can pick out their "own stuff"...

Yep. my used stuff isn't good enough. Doesn't matter that my husband goes and defends their sorry asses every 6 months and that WE make do with used.....they want what they want, when they want it, and by god if they don't get it they'll play the race card.

Phoenixboi

on Sep 04, 2005

Good Point! This needs to be explored further. Are the people ready for emergencies? Are they really ready or are they complaicent?

shadesofgrey

on Sep 05, 2005

Yep. my used stuff isn't good enough.

I'm not sure who you are referring to when you are making this comment, so my answer might be completely off. Many shelters do not take used clothing or household goods because they don't have the resources to sort and store them. Instead, they have arrangements with Goodwill, the Salvation Army and other similar organizations. This allows the residents of the shelter to "shop" at these organizations for free, and the shelters encourage people who call them to donate to these organizations.

The interesting thing is that while the offers have been made, they don't seem to be taken up on. Then again, hard to know what you need in the middle of chaos.

Sec. Rice says that every offer will be accepted, but they are going to take the time to make sure that the resources are used in the best way possible. Makes no sense to accept the offers and then not utilize them well.

*********

I understand the frustration of being told that money is the thing that is needed the most--because you either have it or you don't.

Evacuees are being sent all around the country. Even if they don't make it to your home town--chances are your shelter resources will be tapped to help another local area. Call your local shelters, find out what they need.

Be creative with ideas.

1. Go in to the local school and set up a craft where the kids send cards to the kids who are in the Astrodome to let them know that they care.

2. Get old pickle (or similar) jars and decorate them, ask local business owners if you can put them in their shops to collect change for Katrina (check with the organization that you are going to donate it to to see if they will allow it). You will be amazed at how much you can get in change.

3. Have a bake sale at your kids school to raise money.

4. Call a local shelter and see if they have room for some evacuee families--then start making calls to the Astrodome and other shelters in TX (who are under strain and need to move people). Try to organize transportation to get them up to your town.

5. Offer to adopt one of the animals that PetFinders has rescued (even if it is only temporary until they find its owners).

6. Call a local university and see if they are taking students affected by the hurricane--offer to assist them with the duanting paperwork and transfer problems that will occur. If they dont' have a program, lobby the dean/president to get one.

Sorry this is so long, K. But I also wanted to post this email that my friend sent me--here are some other ideas for you (you can ignore the first one because it is money):

Many of you have asked about our friends in NOLA. Most of them have
gotten out OK. One is trapped and can not get out. Everything she has
tried has failed. Haven't heard from many others. While this is tearing
me up, we're not totally helpless.

A couple of ideas for people who want to help:

1 - Obviously raise and give money ( check with
your jobs--some companies will match your donation dollar for dollar!)

2 - Many airlines will allow you to donate frequent flier miles to the
Red Cross. I donated 17,000 miles. Call your airline and tell them you
want to donate your miles. Some... all... what ever...

3 - Some local red cross chapters are training volunteers to send to
the scene. It won't be glamorous work, but if you can its something to
think about.

4 - Participate in any local program. I donated 300 bottles of water to
a local radio station that is going to drive them down to the scene.
Everyone in my building brought in water for the drive.

5 - Think long term. Once the mayham has passed, NOLA is still going to
need help. We are thinking about doing an alternative spring break...
like habitat for humanities... spend a week in NOLA building a house.

6 - Pass this message on! And add your own ideas!

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