I don't want this to be a contest to see who is the more compassionate or as a way to shame each other or perceived political sides. I believe that all of us are deeply moved by whats going on and are helping out in a variety of ways. Unfortunately though being people who care about our country and who believe that politics matters we can't help but be divided over the political questions. I'm not saying that those opinions aren't valid or aren't important and agree that we need to hold our leaders accountable for problems. At the same time I believe that no matter how much we are divided by politics, race, religion and other issues we all are bound by a common humanity and while we might not agree on what are the best ways to help people we all want to help. I'm asking you to share your own experiences of what you're doing to help so that we can look past for a moment our divisions to discuss what unites us. I'm posting this in the D & D instead of the hangout because I think the mood in here is about as acrimonious as it can get over an issue that should be bringing us together but also because I like to hear an unvarnished view of your experiences with relief efforts, private not governmental, even if that means being critical of major organizations or religious institutions. For instance do you feel that your donations are making a difference? Are you OK with giving money or do you feel you need to do something more direct? Have you been frustrated with the relief efforts you've been involved with? What problems have you encountered with your relief efforts? I think by sharing the good and the bad of our experiences we can all learn how better to deal with disasters like this.
IM donating goods to local shelters in my part of town that are stuffed to the gills. Thought about going into Houston, but I realized that we had plenty of folks right here in Baytown that need help. Cant take off of work since with a small company like ours...there is nobody to replace me..
Driving 9 hours to Lubbock to assist with the job skill training and employment assistance aspect of the HopeFest. It's the least I can do. I feel privileged that I can share even a little insight into a long-term solution type of thing. I hope this inspires me to do more of this- you want to, but then everything else gets in the way.
To get things going I will kick things off with my own experiences so far. Since the disaster started I've been spending a lot of time trying to network with various groups on working on relief efforts. After the tsunami I worked with several local Asian American groups on coordinating tsunami relief events and have been trying to get those groups and other cultural groups to work on hurricane relief. So far that effort hasn't gone as well as I hoped because the Asian American groups I've worked with are pretty strapped from giving so much tsunami relief and other groups just haven't seemed that organized to address this but things seem to be coming around and these groups are now looking at ways they can work together to help out. Beyond the organizing part I've been helping with the Red Cross by working phone banks and doing clerical work and also helped out a relief effort run by a local TV station helping collect donations of water and goods. I was really heartened on Saturday at the collection site when even during an incredibly bad thunderstorm people continued to drive up with donations. One of my greatest frustrations has been with the Zen Center that I go to hear Dharma talks. When I was there this weekend they barely mentioned the disaster and only in regard to saying that some Buddhists groups believe in the path of compassion like helping with the disaster. The Dharma teacher went on then to talk about how Buddhism is about understanding how suffering is caused by the desire and that Zen Buddhism is about training our minds to look past illusory desires. While he wasn't implying that helping others through compassionate works wasn't part of Zen that certainly seemed the impression he was giving. What got me more mad was at the end when they did community announcements they didn't mention relief efforts but instead talked about all of the meditation classes coming up and the when they passed the Dona Basket (collection plate) they asked for donations to support the Zen Center and maintain its programs. That got me mad to the point that I had to speak out and remind everyone there that there was a disaster there and that as people who follow a creed that preaches compassion we needed to help. That as much as some Zen practitioners might frown on the commoditation of religion in the evangelical mega-churches those churches were doing something. I didn't say it out loud but to me the Zen Center was just playing into the worst stereotypes that Americans have of Buddhism that its out of touch with real issues and its practictioners are cultural elites who believe themselves to be above everyday concerns. From being around Zen practitioners I know that's not the case but I couldn't help being frustrated and dissapointed that while all of these religious organizations, including Buddhist groups like Tzu Chi and the Vihara society, were organizing relief efforts the Zen Center was going on like there was no disaster. Thankfully though I think I got through to them and heard from a few after the talk who said they wanted to help and wanted to put together a Zen Center relief drive. Other than those things I'm mostly trying to figure out how best I can give my time. I have to admit I haven't given much money because I'm getting ready to close on a house and have a lot of expenses. At the same time I also feel at times that I haven't done nearly enough to help and wrestle with how much I should do to help out and how much I need to do maintain my own life. Anyway thats been my experiences so far.
SiShir - I appreciate the honesty and insight from your experience at your Center. Personally, I have stayed quite busy with the relief efforts. I encourage all Christians to spend quality time praying.
I rarely venture into the D&D, but well, there was a thread that actually caught my interest. I feel like crap, in more ways than one. I had planned on heading out to the Astrodome or GRB this weekened (Sun/Mon) and donate a ton of clothes I rounded up from my family, as well as myself. With a close family of 15 within a 2 mile radius, if you only include immediate family, and about 30 members throughout the city. I tried rouding up clothes if they still hadn't donated anything. I have a trunk full of clothes at the moment, as well as some clothes at my aunt's house still, as well as a bunch of clothing in the garage. Like I said, my original was to go donate clothes, and stay for anywhere from 4-8 hours helping out if I could on both days. Then, the "once a year knock you off your ass cold" hit me. So, I've been out of comission the past 2 days, and I have to go back to work tomorrow. I still plan on dropping off all that clothes tomorrow, at a JCC near my neighborhood. I feel bad that I wasn't able to go help. Another thing, a friend of mine lived in Kenner, LA and, according to reports, that area was pretty badly hit. So, clothing donations, I don't have a problem with doing though. As for monetary donations though, well, I can't help but feel obligated to help him out, even though it's just one (well, his family, I believe 4 people, plus his cat). Not obligated but, well, I feel kind of like an ******* because well, I know 100s of thousands, if not millions, have lost their homes, and well, I dunno. Tomorrow I plan on going and finding him, cause I know he's in north houston and I have his address now. Thursday after I get my paycheck, I'm taking him and I believe he has some younger sisters, to the movie or well, to wherever they want, for the few hours we have before I have to go work. I've also gotten some friend on another BBS (ga-forum.com) that will be sending me some toys (from Oakland, CA, go Jay!), and another buddy of mine sending canned goods (from NY, NY, Wellington ). They requested to send the items to me and another Houston forum-ite since we would have better access to get stuff to people quickly, rather than them donating to their local Red Cross and not knowing if the money ever even makes it down to Houston/SA/Dallas/Others, and more importantly, Louisiana itself. I think that's my longest post here...ever.
Driving to the North Shore of New Orleans this weekend to help out my family. Any excess room in the trucks will be filled with supplies for shelters in the area. It's gonna be a strange trip. The neighborhood is shattered, water is limited, and no power = no air conditioning = rough nights.
Our family sent money to the Red Cross.....we asked if they wanted anything else, and they simply said to send money. DD
I wouldn't expect a Zen Center to do much. Zen is Zen. These guys are doing a lot. They are Sri Lankan and as you would expect they did a lot for the tsunami relief: http://houstonbuddhist.freeservers.com/
they had to stop taking clothing donations in austin. warehouses are full and they said it would take 2 full days to sort thru all the stuff they got. red cross will always need money though! i donated $100 of my last paycheck and will donate $100 of my next too. loaded up 2 full garbage bags of clothes, underwear, socks, sheets, pillowcases, belt, sandals, towels and dropped them off and wanted to volunteer too, but there were already too many people waiting. im sure when the publicity (for lack of a better word) dies down they will have some slots available for those who want to help out. check back later this week and im sure someone can put you to work.
I am anticipating donating and volunteering for the next several months as the needs change. It was hammered into us in church that there is going to be ongoing efforts for months, even years with this tragedy. So I plan on spacing out donations, meals, and efforts over time. Thus far, I have donated $300.00 to the Red Cross through my church, I raided my closet, my daughter's closet for clothing and toys, etc. We ended up with 5 large trash bags full of good clothing and shoes, etc. So we are donating that. I am on the volunteer list for a few shelters that are rotating people in and out each week. The good news is that the places I have called have said they have waiting lists for volunteers. That tells me many are responding to this tragedy and helping out. Looks like the next effort will be cooking and serving hot meals. I like to cook!! Sounds like a small thing, but anytime I have spare change, I'll drop it into the relief fund buckets that all the stores around here are putting at their cash registers. FOR ALL VOLUNTEERS: Bring your cell phone with you and offer the victims the use of it to call loved ones, family, and friends. They are very very appreciative and it really helps.
Drove to Hattiesburg to pick up a smelly Tulane med student who's sleeping on my couch at this very moment...
I run a small theatre company and quite often get clothes donated for costuming. We went through our storage and pulled out all suitible clothes and working radios, walkie talkies, nintendos, computers, and a wheelchair that we had, but weren't using, and dropped them off this past weekend. As shows spring up around town to raise money I will probably donate my time to help and organize the productions backstage.
Made cash donation to Red Cross. My wife and I will also participate in any of the "drives" organized by our respective employers.
Thats amazing that so many people are trying to help. I'm pretty involved with some local groups and we were all turned away from volunteering at the astrodome. We then pooled our funds together rented a huge U-haul and then a guy drove it down to the New Orleans area to help the surrounding areas as well as we delivered food/water/clothing/baby necessities to the astrodome. Really, the initial pour of assistance will be strong as its plastered on tv every hour. I really think that the true test will be in a month when its not on television that we can continue to help. Once it settles down, I would encourage a program that Rotary does in which families are sponsored. 'Sponsor' doesn't mean give money, but more be there to help with making decisions and assisting in job searches, children's homework and basic information. Many parents can't help their children with their homework because they themselves are not educated. By reviewing homework and giving praise and gifts (rockets tickets!) if they get good grades, you can change the destiny of a family line. Hopefully we'll have a chance to see which families are in need and we can try to be pro-active in our search! Good luck!
$100 to the red cross. we just so happened to call for the salvation army to come the day of the hurricane to pick up a few bags from our house so i'm sure that is being used now.
We gave $250 America's Second Harvest for Katrina victims. We gave ~$100 in food from our pantry to a local Katrina donation drive. We also gave some baby stuff (stroller, car seat, activity center) our boy wonder has out grown. I also bought a CD at cdbaby.com, with all of the artist proceeds (~$10) going to the Red Cross.
i gave some money to a Red Cross through Broadway Cares, and I went to church for the first time in a longtime on Sunday, and gave to UMCOR. i truly believe every dollar counts. but i am compelled to do more, something drastic. it has been very difficult watching all of this take place from up North, watching the news unfold and know that my family is affected. we have about 15-20 family members from n.o. spread out from Kingwood, Atascosita to Sugerland... but what else can I do? i am considering contacting the TEA to inquire if they are going to need more teachers in the future. i am not certified, but i would be willing to move back South and go through a certification process, then work in Houston, Galveston, or even in my home state of Louisiana if that is what it takes... i feel compelled to help bring the children of this disaster out of their hell... i believe we can as a country , help New Orleans rise up out of the ashes and make our country better in the process. if we can implement government housing and jobs for the displaced poor people of New Orleans, why can't we implement the same programs in inner cities all over America?
