Carrie...you ignorant slut.

[Vick]

Sykk - you're missing my point

Help should only go to those who should deserve it

Not a general pool

[SykkBoy]

Originally Posted by Vick

Sykk - you're missing my point

Help should only go to those who should deserve it

Not a general pool

I get the point, but also understand what can be done realistically. I agree help should only go to those who deserve it, but how do we determine who's who?

[Carrie]

Originally Posted by SykkBoy

I get the point, but also understand what can be done realistically. I agree help should only go to those who deserve it, but how do we determine who's who?

It'll be nearly impossible, unfortunately.
Even the ones in the superdome who were doing the gang-raping and murdering have now been evacuated with the innocents, so they're free to go ahead with their lives after the ones they've killed and tortured are laying dead on the concrete in there.

Heard a report on the news that the guy who raped and killed that little 7yr old boy in the Dome's freezer was hunted down and beaten to death by a group of about ten men in the Superdome.
I can only hope they got the right guy.

I've helped organize a relief drive here in my hometown (we got a lot of stuff today, yay!!) and it'll be going down to Mississippi to folks who got bused out or walked out and just dropped off and forgotten there. We've got a list of about 5 locations that have tons of refugees but no help at all. Hopefully our truck will be going out Tuesday night. We all feel that it's way too long of a delay, but it's something.

So that's one thing folks *can* do; if you don't want to contribute to a general relief fund that's okay, there are plenty of local (to Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana) charities and organizations down there that you can contact directly and make donations to. And you get to choose who you're helping.
There are folks all over the nation and world donating to the "big" general funds like Red Cross and Salvation Army (hell, Oprah donated $5million and Celine Dion donated $1million), there are just as many smaller, ground-zero groups/churches/etc that have people to take care of right *now* and need donations (and physical help) as well.

[SykkBoy]

Originally Posted by Carrie

There are folks all over the nation and world donating to the "big" general funds like Red Cross and Salvation Army (hell, Oprah donated $5million and Celine Dion donated $1million), there are just as many smaller, ground-zero groups/churches/etc that have people to take care of right *now* and need donations (and physical help) as well.

I 100% agree.
Everyone knows I'm a bleeding heart liberal who's spent many years in the trenches helping the homeless and less fortunate and one of the most limited yet precious commodities is time and labor. While it's easy to write a check, it also takes people to get physically involved and pitch in and help that way too. I've met some really great people through my volunteerism and have found a lot of stories that don't make the nightly news: the able bodied adults who suddenly become working homeless (there are many more of them in Las Vegas than an city official would ever admit). There are families who've gone through hardships and are merely looking for a hand up. There are families that aren't looking to be on the government dole their whole life, but just need a little help getting some food in their stomachs (and those of their children) and some adequate medical care. I've heard stories that'll break the hardest of hearts. Battered women who've spent too many years with abusive husbands and once they do leave often have no job skills and have no money to get anywhere.

So, for those who are unable to write a check, don't be afraid of getting out and gathering blankets and clothing for those in need. Don't be afraid to get involved locally. Maybe I'm just an old softy who gets this huge lift from seeing desperate people finally getting a little assistance and the big smiles on their faces. One of my good friends was homeless for over a year and after getting a little help, managed to finally get himself back on his feet and is now a productive member of society (and one of my truly most trusted friends) which might not have been possible had he not gotten a little help and was shown that he mattered.

Sorry to ramble no, but I love seeing people getting together and helping out for a common cause and I'm seeing a lot of that through all of this and only wish those stories would get more media attention than some guy looting a couple Celine Dion CDs.