What you have seen on the news coverage of the hurricane disaster is nothing like the real thing. I spent most of the holiday weekend in Waveland, MS where my mother and step-father still own a home (about 1 mile from the beach!). While they were EXTEMELY blessed to still have their home standing, many of their closest friends and neighbors have literally lost everything.

I went down there from Dallas, TX last Thursday morning (I finally heard from them after not knowing for three days whether they were even alive) with a pickup full of food, gasoline for generators, propane for cooking and other miscellaneous supplies. However selfish it might make me, I brought those items down for my family's use only. There is far more need spread across far more people there than my meager checking account can supplant.

In the brief time I looked around, I saw destruction on a scale I have never imagined. It truly looked like a brutal war had been fought in my tiny little southern home town. Entire neighborhoods full of homes were reduced to piles of wood. Large trees were bent, snapped, uprooted, and splintered in groups of dozens. My own brother's home (thankfully rented) was destroyed with only the roof intact and sitting on the ground.

Most of the people who are still in the area as well as the refugees who have been forced out of their homes have had their lives ruined. They have lost homes, jobs, clothing, personal belongings, everything. These are not people from a foreign country, but Americans like you and me (well most of us, since many of us here are also from the UK).

If anyone is interested in seeing some of the photos I took while there, go to my family website at www.patrickandlinda.com later this evening. I will try to get some of the photos posted to a new page.

I'd like to know if there's any possibility of us as a group putting together a contribution for the Salvation Army or the Red Cross. If not, I would like to implore each of you to donate whatever you can to whatever charitable organization you think will do the most good with it.

Daniel, would it be possible for you to set up a PayPal account or something similar where we could all e-mail a few bucks and then have you send that to one of the big charities?

I already gave through the redcross. I think if anything the best thing to do is for Daniel to add a link to the red cross. Why? because these people need the money and stuff now. Adding a pot that later goes to red cross (or something similar) in a month or so would be too late for the people that need it. Also people don't forget, if you bring stuff to the local red cross location they accept more then just money.

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I agree that it is an excellent idea if Daniel would like to add a link to the Red Cross on this site. However, your take on this suggests that these people's needs will be fulfilled on a very short timetable (I think you mentioned that a month might be too late).

The unfortunate fact is that these people will be needing our support for far more than the next month. Our nation will need to provide them with assistance probably for the next year or more.

I believe the greatest challenge facing the affected citizens is not to get donations for the next six weeks, but to be able to keep the inflow of support active until they can genuinely get back to some semblance of a normal life. And that might take years.

agree, but now it is when it is most needed. If they get all that is needed now then they can use it as is needed. Also don't forget if you give stuff directly to the red cross there will still be a need to transfer that money into tangibles that are distributed. All of this takes time on their end so that 100$ given today does not mean that the people will be given a check for 100$ today.

If you know about an other organization that can help people rebuild and stuff go ahead and add the link. But to me the red cross is a known respectable organization and so I feel safe and good giving the money and stuff to them because I t will help the people. I would rather let them decide when, where and even what stuff is needed.


also a good idea is to get on a monthly donation plan, these BIG events are extremely tragic and need their own help, but like you said, as long as it is in the news it is easy to remember there is a need. But in a couple of months when they news crews are away it becomes "out of site, out of mind". So a small monthly donation plan and a when big disaster happens extra giving is a good idea. Not to mention that there are tons of much smaller disasters that don't get on the news but the need is just as bad

Like I said a banner is really all that can be done. But even that, is easier said then done. I donated using www.redcross.ca, the Canadian chapter. Others in the US it is best through www.redcross.org others are in the UK should go to www.redcross.org.uk , in Australia it is www.redcross.org.au…..all of these sites (just to mention a few of the countries that have a few regulars) that is the problem with an international site, it makes everything a bit harder

I have donated to the red cross uk but i wish to do physicaly more .I feel helpless and everyone involved is in my prayers.

I've donated $$, spent 3 days this past weekend(labor day) first unloading and setting up for the arrival of 500 displaced citizens.

Then loading back up because they weren't coming here.

THEN unloading and setting up because they ARE coming here!

Confusing, but worth it.

We've had a handful(30-40) that have arrived before this that are not related to the above confusion.

These people are in need of help(most don't want to ask for it, but they need it!).

It's unfortunate that I will be at Cedia when the 500 or so arrive.

I do feel like I've done my best to prepare for there arrival.
I also feel guilty that I won't be there to help when they arrive!

Oh well, there will still be plenty to do when I get back(it's only for 4 days).

My wife also feels guilty because she is taking her mother back home to Oregon and will be gone for 5 days longer than me.

Oh yeah, we're red cross volunteers! (We've never been shot at:-)

While money will help, nothing can help these people more than giving them a reason to carry on.

The ones I've met aren't rich by any means!(otherwise they would have got out)

BUT; they have a good work ethic and are proud of there acomplishments(even though some have there sights set a little low). Good people none-the-less.

I can't wait to get back!

My advice.

If you REALLY want to help and have the oportunity to do so,volunteer a little time!
Show some compassion and help them find a job.

Nothing will make a person feel better about themselves than knowing they can provide for there family!

By the way, the people shooting and looting are still in the sespool, getting what they deserve.

Please don't judge everyone by the 1% that got all of the news. Yes, I was suprised as well, at first!

Our local contractors' organization here in Florida has challenged each member to contribute $1,000. Even if only half of us do that, we will have $100,000 that we will donate as a group. Perhaps you all can get together with a local organization and do the same. The main thing is coming together with a common goal of helping fellow Americans in need. Let's show the world that we are one nation that helps our neighbors in time of need. Give 'till it hurts. And thank all of you who have helped in whatever way you could.

Just saw on the news about scammers and fake redcross websites. Make sure you go the real one if you donate.