I live in Chicago, more than 800 miles from New Orleans and, I thought, from the nightmare that is Katrina. It turns out that I live closer to the front lines of the clean-up than I would have expected: over the past three days I've been working with a local Red Cross disaster team, struggling to help them keep up with the needs of the thousands of Katrina victims that have been evacuated this far north. Literally thousands more are expected in the next few days and I don't know how we're going to handle the load.
Now is simply not the time for bickering about who dropped the ball and who was responsible for what. Now is the time to get busy making sure that people have a place to sleep, food to eat, clothing to wear and their medical issues dealt with. I'd hope that everyone - especially those who care enough to participate in this thread - is doing something constructive. The aid organizations across the country are, to borrow a phrase, swamped right now and need your help.
Yes, money, certainly, but right now volunteers are just as critical and not just in the Gulf States. Do SOMETHING. There are lots of aid organizations that are helping, though the heavy lifting is being done by the Red Cross, the Salvation Army and the Southern Baptists. Make the call. Today. Then put on some comfortable clothes and come pitch in.
Please.
American Red Cross
Salvation Army
Southern Baptists
Now is simply not the time for bickering about who dropped the ball and who was responsible for what. Now is the time to get busy making sure that people have a place to sleep, food to eat, clothing to wear and their medical issues dealt with. I'd hope that everyone - especially those who care enough to participate in this thread - is doing something constructive. The aid organizations across the country are, to borrow a phrase, swamped right now and need your help.
Yes, money, certainly, but right now volunteers are just as critical and not just in the Gulf States. Do SOMETHING. There are lots of aid organizations that are helping, though the heavy lifting is being done by the Red Cross, the Salvation Army and the Southern Baptists. Make the call. Today. Then put on some comfortable clothes and come pitch in.
Please.
American Red Cross
Salvation Army
Southern Baptists