Hurricane Katrina Relief

Maybe the staff at Road Food could start some sort of relief fund? We could all donate and send the money to feed people? Just a thought.

quote:

Originally posted by Theedge

Maybe the staff at Road Food could start some sort of relief fund? We could all donate and send the money to feed people? Just a thought.

Not a bad idea but I've already sent a healthy check to the Red Cross.

MikeS.

Do you feel that there is some sort of void in the disaster fund raising process? I can't count how many people have already organized relief efforts, some more genuine than others, but it sure seems like we might do best to leave relief efforts to the groups that know how to do this and do it best.

SteveKoe says it best. We have had some other inquiries about 'starting' a Roadfood fund for this purpose. Our response has been to work thru the established charity or charities of your choice. We urge all of you to do that in whatever manner and amount suits your needs and abilities. To reinvent the process with a Roadfood label is to duplicate already serving organizations.

I agree with leaving it to the pros.. Though I do have to say that I was quite angry when I saw Thursday afternoon that all they have received is one peanut butter sandwich and 20 oz. bottle of water. Seems they could have expedited the emergency food supplies a bit quicker.

I must humbly but strongly disagree w/ the idea that the "pros" do a better job at disaster relief than grass roots efforts. The Red Cross is second only to FEMA for red tape and delays. Our church collected money locally and sent it to another church in NOLA directly. That resulted in sidetracking the admin costs at Red Cross.

They are needed for the huge disasters such as this one but by no means are the most efficient providers of help. The pros are good at seeing a disaster coming, loading trucks from existing stocks and heading them toward the area.

side note...Last week I was traveling north on I85 and between Greenville, SC and Greensboro, NC (about 180 miles) I lost count at about 250 bucket trucks from various electric companies headed south. I know they get paid for it but I also think they earn every penny.

quote:

Originally posted by V960

I must humbly but strongly disagree w/ the idea that the "pros" do a better job at disaster relief than grass roots efforts. The Red Cross is second only to FEMA for red tape and delays. Our church collected money locally and sent it to another church in NOLA directly. That resulted in sidetracking the admin costs at Red Cross.

They are needed for the huge disasters such as this one but by no means are the most efficient providers of help. The pros are good at seeing a disaster coming, loading trucks from existing stocks and heading them toward the area.

side note...Last week I was traveling north on I85 and between Greenville, SC and Greensboro, NC (about 180 miles) I lost count at about 250 bucket trucks from various electric companies headed south. I know they get paid for it but I also think they earn every penny.

I'll have to agree with ya watching the recent cluster muck.. FEMA hired some trucking companys around here to bring down bagged ice. Once the truckers get down there, they get the run around.. Nobody knows where to go and they keep getting sent in circles. Logistics where not thought out..

In watching the news, and the debacles, I can't help but think I may have been on to something. My donation will be given to some local volunteers who will give it directly to people in need.

Hello All,
Salvation Army is a good place to give. They are usually there day by day with each community and know the needs.
Take care,
Fieldthistle

quote:

Originally posted by Theedge

In watching the news, and the debacles, I can't help but think I may have been on to something. My donation will be given to some local volunteers who will give it directly to people in need.

I took your original suggestion to be that WE (the collective members of roadfood.com) organize our own charity. Frankly, the bulk of the current debacle lays more on the hands of the local, state and federal government than the charities. I still don't know how we would have been able to better effect success in this realm than the people whose business it is to raise money for charities.

My own amazement has come from the stories of personal sacrifice and giving -- not just the check-writing -- that some folks have taken to. Four of the students from my university gave their entire Labor Day weekend, and raised or donated the money to supply their efforts, to help out folks ravaged from the storm. Their story was seen on CNN Sunday morning and they were hailed as heroes. Knowing them as ordinary students, as I do, they showed me a rather impressive effort. If you are interested, the video link is here: http://www.it.fit.edu/studio/broadcast/load.cfm?fn=cnn_student

If you live in the south I would bet there are folks from NOLA in your town or close by that could use a job or help. I live in rural piedmont NC and our high school has about fifty kids from NOLA enrolled for what everyone expects the rest of the year.

Two fathers from NOLA are painting my barn right now and will be rebuilding the chicken coop next week. Trying to think of other work I can get them to do.

By the way...not a single person that left intends to stay away. They ALL want to go back.

quote:

Originally posted by V960

By the way...not a single person that left intends to stay away. They ALL want to go back.

I beg to differ. Many of the folks who made it here to TX (not home, but this is where I am this week) seem to want to stay very much. They have enrolled in schools and sought local employment and housing. Some of the high schools are scouting the evacuee camps for athletes looking to play varsity sports. I think that people with school-age children can only accept so much upheaval in a short period of time.

If you are in an area that is now home to storm evacuees, you might consider a donation to the local schools -- supplies, purchasing some books, etc. I can see that the local public schools here, already overcrowded, will have an added burden -- and one that will be difficult to meet with additional taxes -- who would one tax?

Steve

Oh they're enrolling in schools, getting housing and jobs but only for a year or so. Southerners don't leave home easily for good. I left the south for ten years and NEVER considered not coming back. Of course Wisconsin winters and California everything made it a rather easy choice.