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Please consider supporting these folks
Dec. 2nd, 2005 11:17 pmEmergency Communities is a non-profit, mainly volunteer organization that is trying to help victims of Katrina. They work to provide a clean, warm place for people to eat hot, healthy meals; equipment for local work crews to clear debris, tear out moldy and toxic drywall, and rebuild; child care so parents can work on their homes without fearing for their children's safety; health care and basic medicines; and so much more.
This group was started by people who went South to help after Katrina hit, and gradually met up and started working together to bring in food and supplies. The New Waveland Cafe (Waveland, MS) was their initial meeting place and became their inspiration. The Cafe became a community center where people could meet, have some hot food, exchange news, and trade skills and supplies.
On December 5th they're opening a kitchen in St. Bernard Parish, in New Orleans. In addition to food, demolition and construction supplies, and a safe, clean place to meet, they are also working to provide clothing, coats, blankets, and other supplies necessary to survive the winter. (Yes, it does get cold in the south. Deaths from hypothermia are already being reported.)
For the most part, FEMA has been a complete and utter joke. (Since Bush II has been gutting it since day one, it's to be expected.) The Red Cross is stretched to the breaking point, trying to help cover the huge hole left by the FEMA vacuum. Habitat for Humanity is doing what they can, as are dozens (hundreds??) of other groups. Emergency Communities is one of many, but I think they have a good concept, and they're plainly doing a LOT of good with very little money. One thing I really like is how they're trying to help the communities to rebuild themselves.
I sent them an email asking if they could use any of the clothing and household goods we've been sorting out as we've been moving. We'd planned to drop it off for a local charity, but if they can use it we're willing to ship it. (Ain't a lot, and most of it's no fashion statement, but it's clean and warm.) (And I'm not saying to ignore your local charities and the needs of those nearby - they still need help. We donated other clothes and household items locally last year, and will with these as well if Emergency Communities writes back to say that plain old cash would be more helpful. Planning to send them some cash, anyway!)
[Update 7am Sat: Mark Weiner from Emergency Communities responded very late last night to say that since shipping costs are ofter prohibitive, they suggest giving cash. Just send them a note telling them what you would like them to spend it on (if you have a preference), and they'll do the buying with local merchants wherever possible to help the local economy, and can buy in bulk to get the best deals. (As opposed to giving it all to WalMart or another corporate giant.)]
And folks? In your own commmunity. If you can even spare just a few cents here and there, next time you go to the store grab an extra item - a can or two of veggies (3/$1), some pasta (<$1), flour or sugar ($1-2), a bag of dried legumes(<$1), rice($1), a can of tuna (2/$1) or other protein, a box of gelatine or pudding (2-3/$1) or a cake mix ($1) (everybody should have something fun now and then)- and drop it in the bin for the food shelf. Most groceries stores now keep a bin for the food shelf near the doors year-round.
This group was started by people who went South to help after Katrina hit, and gradually met up and started working together to bring in food and supplies. The New Waveland Cafe (Waveland, MS) was their initial meeting place and became their inspiration. The Cafe became a community center where people could meet, have some hot food, exchange news, and trade skills and supplies.
On December 5th they're opening a kitchen in St. Bernard Parish, in New Orleans. In addition to food, demolition and construction supplies, and a safe, clean place to meet, they are also working to provide clothing, coats, blankets, and other supplies necessary to survive the winter. (Yes, it does get cold in the south. Deaths from hypothermia are already being reported.)
For the most part, FEMA has been a complete and utter joke. (Since Bush II has been gutting it since day one, it's to be expected.) The Red Cross is stretched to the breaking point, trying to help cover the huge hole left by the FEMA vacuum. Habitat for Humanity is doing what they can, as are dozens (hundreds??) of other groups. Emergency Communities is one of many, but I think they have a good concept, and they're plainly doing a LOT of good with very little money. One thing I really like is how they're trying to help the communities to rebuild themselves.
I sent them an email asking if they could use any of the clothing and household goods we've been sorting out as we've been moving. We'd planned to drop it off for a local charity, but if they can use it we're willing to ship it. (Ain't a lot, and most of it's no fashion statement, but it's clean and warm.) (And I'm not saying to ignore your local charities and the needs of those nearby - they still need help. We donated other clothes and household items locally last year, and will with these as well if Emergency Communities writes back to say that plain old cash would be more helpful. Planning to send them some cash, anyway!)
[Update 7am Sat: Mark Weiner from Emergency Communities responded very late last night to say that since shipping costs are ofter prohibitive, they suggest giving cash. Just send them a note telling them what you would like them to spend it on (if you have a preference), and they'll do the buying with local merchants wherever possible to help the local economy, and can buy in bulk to get the best deals. (As opposed to giving it all to WalMart or another corporate giant.)]
And folks? In your own commmunity. If you can even spare just a few cents here and there, next time you go to the store grab an extra item - a can or two of veggies (3/$1), some pasta (<$1), flour or sugar ($1-2), a bag of dried legumes(<$1), rice($1), a can of tuna (2/$1) or other protein, a box of gelatine or pudding (2-3/$1) or a cake mix ($1) (everybody should have something fun now and then)- and drop it in the bin for the food shelf. Most groceries stores now keep a bin for the food shelf near the doors year-round.
