As we've seen on the boards, all levels of staff and members are deeply concerned about the horrific human tragedy caused by a slow response to helping those communities hit by hurricane Katrina.

I've received several inquiries about how ATS plans to participate in organizing aid.

Personally, I've always felt such organized "Help Victims of _____" movements by sites, companies, stores, etc. to be self serving promotional bullsh__t.

Helping is easy, just go do it!

Donate some cash to an appropriate nonprofit (like the Red Cross) if you can.

But most important, if you are in the U.S., do something. And do it now.
Get off the board, get off your ass, and get to one of the distribution centers near you that is organizing relief efforts. If you're in doubt, call the Salvation Army, they have a list. Go. Go now. Shut the computer off. Go do it. And before you leave, gather up some clothes you don't need to take with you.

I just got back from doing just that. You'll feel better... you'll want to do it again.

More than anything else, this is what is needed, people helping. Each individual person that does this turns the tide from images of chaos and looting to images of humanity and compassion.



If you've helped in this way, use this thread to post your experiences. As more and more members read how we're getting off our collective asses to go help... more members will.

We'll see you when you get back.

Question--I live in Ohio. Do you think the Salvation Army in my area would ship things south? If so, I plan on being in Orrville today anyway (that's where it is in this area). Make it all one trip and save gas.

As far as I've heard, every Salvation Army in every state is involved. Many other charities are also setting up distribution centers.

We loaded masses of donations of clothing, canned goods and water from local merchants into 3 18-wheelers. That's just one morning/afternoon.

I went today, just got back there was a pretty long line I think I may have waited an half of an hour. Gave clothing, canned goods and some cash.

I feel like its still not enough.

My donation has been sent to the Red Cross....

I'm all swelled up with pride! The Southern Baptist Churches of Oklahoma have a summer youth camp called Falls Creek. It's like an entire town of cabins that are large (some house up to 200 or so people) each having kitchen facilities and male/female bunk rooms. The place stands empty most of the year and used during the school summer holiday. It's located on 160 acres in the beautiful Arbuckle Mountains in south-central Oklahoma.

Falls Creek will house victims who had been in the Superdome. Southern Baptist Churches across the state agreed to let the victims use their cabins.

Our church has a cabin and this is just wonderful to find out that yet another group of people can be adopted by people who will commit to love them and take care of them long term. WHOOP!

Originally posted by Valhall
It's like an entire town of cabins that are large (some house up to 200 or so people) each having kitchen facilities and male/female bunk rooms. The place stands empty most of the year and used during the school summer holiday. It's located on 160 acres in the beautiful Arbuckle Mountains in south-central Oklahoma.

Our church has a cabin and this is just wonderful to find out that yet another group of people can be adopted by people who will commit to love them and take care of them long term. WHOOP!

I too am VERY HAPPY about this... These people need the basics taken care of FOR them right now. Imagine NOT having a job, home or even an idea of where to BEGIN to find any of the above.

They need to NOT worry about housing, food, clothes and the kids right now so they can focus on working with the agencies that are surely going to be popping up to assist in employment and permanent housing and the like in the near future.

Imagine trying to REINVENT, REORGANIZE and RESTART you whole bloody LIFE living out of a box and worrying about your child's next meal(!) couldn't do it.

I was saying to Val the other night, it would be a FREE, AWESOME, PR coup" for a motel chain to announce they were freeing up 4 or 5 rooms at EVERY property to house refugees for as long as it took.


If only...

I am PROUD to be an American again.

Springer...

Check your local Walmarts and Grocery Stores...such as Publix and Winn Dixie (for those in the south) Both stores are running food, cash and clothing drives.

And seriously go thru your closet and pull out that shirt or dress you haven't worn since last year. Get your kids involved. Have them go thru their toy boxes.

I also last heard on the news that Undergarments were in high demand. New ones of course. So pick up a pack or two and drop it off with your clothing donations.

I heard an idea earlier today, and I wanted to know whom I should contact about possibly having it enacted. All over the country bases have been closed down for years, with former military housing left abandoned. What if the hurricane survivors were allowed to use the old military housing as a temporary solution to give them shelter.

I know one base by my house that was closed about 10 years ago, and every time I drive by the housing, I think of it as a total waste. They could have been used as low income housing rentals.

Does anyone else think that this could help out? Or who I should contact to try and get this thing going?

Good idea, and I think it's already being implemented. Some of the evacuees are headed to Massachusetts, where they will be housed at the OTIS AFB which was recently closed by BRAC.

My husband and I chose the salvation army for donations, we always do, our military base have already a few areas to donate from money to goods, so we are doing what we can.

Donated yesterday

the company that i work for is matching donations 2 for 1, i will make a donation when the office opens on tuesday, they have also donated a truckload of canned goods to help.....