What is YOUR community doing???

[MBismyPlayground]

It seems like the citizens of the Unites States are coming together in a united effort to support the survivors of this tragedy. Regardless of how many moan and complain about lack of intervention by agencies, the way it all happened ect...........we all are, in the end, focusing on providing for these survivors.

Im Myrtle Beach, SC, we have had people offer their homes and unused beach condos, houses, ect for these survivors. Robert Brooks, owner of Hooters Air, is donating a 737 jet that will depart Tuesday from Myrtle Beach with food, water and other supplies donated by businesses, churches and individuals.Once those goods are delivered to the Gulf Coast, between 25 and 30 families will be brought back to Myrtle Beach, where they will live free at local hotels.Gary Hadwin of Hadwin-White in Conway has contributed money and a vehicle that the families will be able to use in order to get around the Grand Strand once they arrive.Divine Dining Group, who owns many of the restuarants here, is going to supply all the food for the families during their stay here, and Santee Cooper, the electric company, will donate the electricity for the hotel rooms where the evacuees reside.

[THead]

I posted this in one of the stickies above earlier:

Here's an idea for raising some money for the victims. Our company is allowing employees to dress casual every day of the month of September, by paying $2 a day, or $30 for the month. All proceeds are going to the Red Cross. This is something that could really add up, and hopefully they'll be doing it for future months too.

[tndefender]

Memphis and the surrounding area is accepting at least 10,000 evacuees but more are expected. Homes have been opened, shelters opened everywhere. My church has turned its newest building into a shelter and expects 400 people to stay with us, for as long as its needed, but we are helping many more throughout the community. The schools of Memphis and Shelby County are open to all who come. Planned meetings and events have been cancelled to free up hotel rooms for evacuees. I could go on and on.

[scostorms]

Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts


Many Waterloo Region residents and businesses have expressed a desire to help people impacted by Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi. Here are some organizations to contact to offer your assistance:

Canadian Organizations:

· Canadian Red Cross: 1-800-418-1111 or Canadian Red Cross
· Salvation Army Canada: 1-800-725-2769 or Salvation Army Canada
· Mennonite Disaster Service: 1-866-261-1274 or
MDS Extension Office
306-2265 Pembina Hwy
Winnipeg, MB, R3T 5J3

American Organizations:

· American Red Cross: 1-800-HELP-NOW or American Red Cross.
· Catholic Charities: 1-800-919-9338 or Catholic Charities USA.
· Salvation Army U.S. 1-800-SAL-ARMY or Salvation Army USA.
· Operation USA: 1-800-678-7255 or http://www.opusa.org
· FEMA Charity tips: http://www.fema.gov/rrr/help2.shtm
· National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster: http://www.nvoad.org/

[Stephanie]

A local fire company has been matched up withe town of Aberdeen, MS through an emergency managment coordinator down there. They are currently collecting supplies to send down to that via a tractor trailer, unload, come home and do it over again. I just stopped at the local Dollar Store for some toiletries and dropped them off. I also scoured my cabinets for some unused products to give as well.

The NJ National Guard is collecting cases of packaged bottled water at various sites.

There's a story of a woman in Westville, NJ that held an impromptu yard sale that was strickly for the benefit of giving the money to the Red Cross. She made $220.

In Moorestown, NJ, children were selling lemonade on a corner for the victims of Katrina.

Wawa convenience stores have collection cans inside the stores to go for the Red Cross as well.

[rhendryx]

Our church in Gaithersburg, MD has hired a bus that will arrive at the Astrodome late Friday to bring 50 back to Maryland. Host families and a support system are being organized.

Sometimes out of tragedies comes a miracle. It may be that many families will begin new and better lives than they knew before. And many host families may receive a better understanding of others.

[CajunMama]

We are housing up to 7000 in the CajunDome here. That number doesn't include those staying in hotels and homes. We are donating, donating and donating. Companies are using the TV scroll to advertise available job positions. I will be involved with a "Play Day" for the evacuated kids tomorrow. We're taking them and their parents to a park to help get their mind off this tragedy even though it's for only 4 hours. We are getting the kids enrolled in school. We had boaters go into NO with their boats to rescue. We are housing displaced priest from Gulfport and NO. I probably haven't even come close to posting what all we are doing here in Lafayette.

[MBismyPlayground]

Isn't it wonderful to see all of these people, all of these communities, this melting pot of people of different races, nationalities, social and economic standings, all come together and work towards the same goal??????

Totally AMAZING!!!!!! Now if we could convince the world to do the same.....what a better place it would be.

[soonertwister]

Denver is going to house at least 10 thousand in apartment style conditions at a local closed military base that is in the process of being converted to civilian use. I haven't researched what other communities here might be doing, but I think many cities and counties this far from the disaster probably haven't really realized fully yet what the needs are going to be from this great disaster.

I would hope that as part of the package of assistance, that we provide public transportation passes to all who are relocated to here, and set up additional public transportation as needed to that southeast Denver area location. That will assist people in assimilation back into some semblance of normal life in a reasonably short time.

I'm absolutely confident that our charities and governmental entities in this state and across the country are up to the task, and will offer more aid by far than what will be needed, which will prove once again that Americans will respond with great generosity and vigor in times of national crisis.

[memphisvol]

Memphis has sent several relief teams, tons of supplies, and we have quite a few shelters open here, one of which I've been helping out at

[PTrackerLA]

Like CM said, alot is being done in our city. Almost every business is collecting money for the relief effort and just about everyday I find new things that I can donate for the needy. The mayor is expecting 40,000 new residents in Lafayette. I heard that over 70 homes were sold in one day last week. Keep in mind our population is only about 110,000 and there are virtually no more homes or apartments for sale on the market. I wish I could build some fast for these people!

[Rainband]

The Boy Scouts are at the Mall by my house taking donations of money and household goods, clthes, toys etc. They have a DJ and they are playing God Bless the USA. I donated 10 cases of water and others donated a lot too. They are packing a semi and heading north on Tuesday. All the local Radio and TV stationsd are doing similar stuff. God Bless the USA!!!

[beenthru6]

The city of North Myrtle Beach has a large donation center set up accepting supplies. I haven't talked to one person whose church isn't doing something. My daughter's school is collecting for the Salvation Army.
I hope that more communities/churches decide to sponsor a family. The large scale centers accepting these evacuees is wonderful and I know much appreciated, but soon they will need a more "normal" existence. Many have already stepped up to the plate to accept these families, but considering the large numbers of displaced families/individuals, it will take many, many more.

[mahicks]

The City of Tallahassee has totally opened up it's arms (And EVERYTHING ELSE!) The things that our people in the area are doing is amazing. I've had customers (UNDERSTAND PLURAL) that have come up and said something along the lines of "I've been watching T.V. I want to do something. Here is the Keys to Ryder Truck or Pick-Up I've rented, heres how much I can spend. Load me up with what people might need."

Every Church I know (A bunch of them) are either personally taking supplies down, or shipping them down.

FSU/Miami Fans GIVING UP their hotel rooms for evacuees.

Donation Drives everywhere..

I really feel allot better about living in the Tallahassee area. If you would have asked me a few months ago, most Tallahasseans on this site wouldn't have been too happy with my comments. To me, this is one of those times that people have been asked to rise to the occasion, and GOD BLESS THEM, the City of Tallahassee and surrounding areas have came through!!!!!

[vbhoutex]

Well most of you know what Houston is doing, so I will focus on our church. We have raised $22,000 as of Wednesday, not including a challenge $10,000, so that is up to $32,000 and that is before services today. We are feeding LA families at a local motel and tomorrow we are set up to Feed up to 500 people. We will be doing this each monday in September and further if needed. We are collecting clothing, making hygene kits, volunteering at the Mega shelters we have here in Houston, etc.

I am thrilled to see so many coming together all across the nation. I pray this isn't a flash in the pan due to the disaster we are currently trying to mitigate. Everyone must remember we aren't talking just a month here, we are talking months for most of th evacuees, so let's keep up all the good work!!!

[Raebie]

Charlotte is opening a shelter at the Colosium. Many people are opening their homes to the survivors. I begin as a Red Cross volunteer at the shelter later this week.

[azsnowman]

All the PD's are raising money, Michelle and I kicked in $2k along with another $500 from our K9 SAR Unit, the local FD's are holding fund raisers, Safeway is donating $5 for every $20 spent.......more to come!

Dennis

[Stephanie]

Charlotte is opening a shelter at the Colosium. Many people are opening their homes to the survivors. I begin as a Red Cross volunteer at the shelter later this week.

That's wonderful! Best of luck!

It is wonderful to see all of the reports from all over the country of people donating time, money, goods, etc. to this effort.

[MBismyPlayground]

I was in our local Dollar Tree store today. They said they got so fed up with the lack of attention to MS and outlying areas other then NO, the entire chain is loading a truck for the people of these communities and delivering it to them. Everywhere I look, people are collecting, donating, fund raising......right down to all the local media, TV, radio stations having a joint fund raiser at the Hard Rock Cafe, MB.

By the way, I love Denvers idea of utilizing the old military base. Wish all communites that have them would use them in this fashion.Makes for a little more independent, family type living, with everything available in one area.

Hope everyone keeps up the wonderful support system for these survivors.

[zoeyann]

We have survivors in several shelters throughout Houma right now. Believe me people in my area are being very genorous and helping out as much as they can. Also, Please do not forget, if you area is sheltering people, children may be starting school soon and will need school supplies as well as the necessities and comfort items.