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I'll be flying stuff in for the Southern Baptist Convention.

Once the airways are clear again.

I have a month's vacation I'm going to use.

Well, I just donated 30 bucks. They can use every penny.

Do you guys know if it's possible to ensure that donations actually go to relief and not get shoved around in bait-and-switch movements?

Jaligard wrote:

ShnickyShnack wrote:

Do you guys know if it's possible to ensure that donations actually go to relief and not get shoved around in bait-and-switch movements?

I'd stick with reputable organizations. However, I am told by my friend at the Salvation Army that this list should not include the Red Cross.

(In a nutshell, the answer to your question is, "No.")

i've heard that the red cross is a bad one to support... they have HUGE overhead and they can divert your money to some other country if they want.

It's all the fault of 9/11!

No, really. When the American Red Cross was collecting money following 9/11, some contributors thought that their entire collection to the ARC would have gone to New York, but the ARC has always taken some of the money collected and put that into a "rainy day" fund from which it can draw until collections come in for the current crisis.

Mars_Attacks wrote:

I'll be flying stuff in for the Southern Baptist Convention.

Once the airways are clear again.

I have a month's vacation I'm going to use.

i'm hopefully gonna be going down there for up to three months.  not sure if i'll be in alabama or new orleans (or both) yet, though.

also - be careful with the red cross.  remember how the money was handled with 9/11.  donate to it if you'd like.  a majority of it will go to good use, but i personally recommend the salvation army.  -  just my 2 cents

Last edited by NokX (2005-09-02 2:38 pm)

If you live in the midwest or south or anywhere there are going to be people who have evacuated, there will likely be multiple places (churches or otherwise) you can help at. 
Next week, many truckloads of people from New Orleans will arrive here in the St. Louis area.  My family and others are planning on opening up our homes.  Also, the St. Louis County Correctional Institution (it isn't used anymore and is now for sale) and many other places will become shelters.  Many people are getting bedding and other supplies this weekend for this.  I know that some convention centers in Houston and the Astrodome are canceling future events and providing shelter for large numbers of people.  I'm sure places such as those could use some help.

I would urge people to think carefully before heading down there to pitch in. Be sure you'll be a help rather than a burden.

In some cases, it might be more help to just donate money.

Schnicky wrote:

I would urge people to think carefully before heading down there to pitch in.

I was thinking along those lines in regard to Mars and NokX, but for a somewhat different reason.  As a person of color, I have strong doubts that persons like them should even be in proximity to most of the refugees.   Considering the enthusiasm with which Mars and NokX have supported assaults on black people by vigilantes and other bigoted behavior, I fear they might be a danger to the weak and depressed people unable to defend themselves.  The thought of people like them coming within ten feet of a little neice or nephew of mine makes my skin crawl.  So, I really think it would be better if they were not to 'help'  the mainly non-white victims of Hurricane Katrina.  If the victims knew their views, I'm sure they would not want anything to do with them either.

AAPL Shareholder wrote:

D'Eyncourt wrote:

It's all the fault of 9/11!

No, really. When the American Red Cross was collecting money following 9/11, some contributors thought that their entire collection to the ARC would have gone to New York, but the ARC has always taken some of the money collected and put that into a "rainy day" fund from which it can draw until collections come in for the current crisis.

This is fairly normal for disaster relief NPOs. They need some money to maintain infrastructure and operations, and they need to stockpile money for the next inevitable disaster.

The Red Cross will use some donated money to fund employees, and they will save some donated money. However, understand that they would not be able to respond quickly if they didn't have paid employees and previously stockpiled money.

The Red Cross is more of a for-profit org, and they have been since WWII. Even WWII vets complain about how the RC charged our battle-weary soldiers for coffee while the Salvation Army was giving it out for free. Salvation Army is the best. Habitat for Humanity is going to need some funds too in the coming years.

Personally, however, it's been a really tough summer and my first paycheck doesn't come for a few more weeks. I know our church and school and everybody local will be asking for money, so I'm holding off for a little while.

debbiedowner wrote:

The Red Cross is more of a for-profit org, and they have been since WWII. Even WWII vets complain about how the RC charged our battle-weary soldiers for coffee while the Salvation Army was giving it out for free.

What do you want to bet the proceeds went to buy morphine?

'Sides - the Red Cross is the only... well, maybe not, but certainly the best... game in town for blood donation/transfusions.

Debbie wrote:

The Red Cross is more of a for-profit org, and they have been since WWII. Even WWII vets complain about how the RC charged our battle-weary soldiers for coffee while the Salvation Army was giving it out for free. Salvation Army is the best. Habitat for Humanity is going to need some funds too in the coming years.

I have mixed feelings about the Red Cross.  It also isn't above manipulating the price of blood.  And, some of its executives have been paid way too much.  But, still, since the Red Cross is the biggest aid agency with the longest reach, donations to it are often the most efficient way to give.

I have stopped giving to Good Will because it has gone really corporate.   Executives for it make out like bandits while low-level employees are paid less than minimum wage.

ARC?  It has gotten pretty chummy with the right to life movement. 

Perhaps someone should start a thread on the merits and demerits of different charities.