Katrina

Donating to the Red Cross is a fine thing (I did already) and there are lots of victims all along the Gulf Coast who need their help. However, if you're specifically looking to assist New Orleans residents, you might want to pick another charity -- according to the Red Cross' FAQ [redcross.org], the Dept. of Homeland Security is refusing them entry into the city.

Thanks, Phillip. That's awesome that Goats is making a donation. A few alternative charities include the following.

The NAACP [naacp.org] has set up a relief fund.

The AFL-CIO [ga3.org] is taking contributions through their Union Community Fund. There's also more info on what the labor movement is doing and on specific unions' funds here [aflcio.org] .

Oxfam [oxfamamerica.org] America is taking contributions here [ga3.org] .

Finally, I've noticed that a lot of the lists of disaster relief agencies in the news are filled almost exclusively with Christian sites. While I don't dis the amazing work they do, I don't like the fact that other religious funds are absent. So in a small effort at balance, I offer two Jewish funds. One is MAZON [mazon.org] , a Jewish anti-hunger organization. The other is United Jewish Communities/Federations of North America, which you can find here [ujc.org] .

In Response to Nich (#29190):

you might want to pick another charity -- according to the Red Cross' FAQ [redcross.org], the Dept. of Homeland Security is refusing them entry into the city.

Wow ... really flawed premise there.

Just because the Red Cross can't get into the city (which is hopefully about empty by now) doesn't mean they can't/won't help the people who were evacuated from the city.

My wife's parents have nothing but good to say about the aid they received from the Red Cross during their escape from NOLA to San Antonio. It involved lots of standing in line and time when we weren't sure where they were, but they're safe and dry now.

Plus, they got to ride in a helicopter!
 

Let's not forget the Salvation Army [salvationarmyusa.org].

Jon, will you be drawing something for the Webcomic Telethon [webcomictelethon.com]?

The American Humane Association [americanhumane.org] is sending rescue teams down to pull animals that were left behind. Many people were forced to leave their pets behind, sometimes right at the door to the bus or as they climbed onto the boat - and others left them behind even before it was necessary. Not to mention the animals stuck in shelters, pet stores, and farms.

Also, many local groups (I know the North Shore Animal League and Michigan Humane Society) are organizing crews to send down and pull animals from shelters in areas with less damage, so that there is somewhere to put the animals coming out of NO and other flooded areas. NSAL, for example, has pulled dozens of animals from the Birmingham Humane Society so that they are clear to take in hurricane victims (bringing supplies to Birmingham in the process). So check with your local or state-level HS or SPCA to see what they're doing.

Personally, I prefer giving to a smaller group like that rather than to something like the Red Cross. I know both are equally necessary, but I feel like my money is more likely to go straight to supplies, etc rather than to administrative costs.

In Response to Rich (#29193):

Rich, we've made a financial donation instead -- I'd love to draw something for the telethon, but I'm somewhat swamped at the moment.

For those of you looking to help some folks on a more personal basis, I received the following email from my friend Mike:

As you surely know, disaster has struck New Orleans. Our dear friends the Juge family, Denny, Kettye and their young son Jack are refugees from it. They made it safely to Austin and are staying at a motel.
 
They have no idea when they’ll be able to live in New Orleans again, if ever. They assume their home and possessions are destroyed, washed away or looted. Denny has no information about the condition of the Audubon Zoo (where he works/worked), if he still has a job or if he’ll be paid again. Kettye is 7 months pregnant.
 
Their families, refugees themselves, are of limited usefulness in emergencies. Assuming there is insurance money coming to them for their house, it will certainly take months to reach them.
 
They won’t ask for it, so I will: they need help, preferably in cash. We’re asking friends to send what they can. Denny’s birthday is Friday. Imagine you were taking him out for drinks and appetizers, double the amount and write a check. For those of you who don’t know Denny, he REALLY likes drinks and appetizers.
 
If you know friends of the Juges that I’ve missed on the mailing or someone who might want to give directly to a great family in need (rather than a faceless or inefficient relief organization), please forward this email to them.
 
If you can PayPal your help directly to Denny (dj@dennyjuge.com) that would be best. If you can only send a check, make it out to “Mike Kelly” and snail mail it to me at the address below; I’ll make sure they get it.
 
Soon enough, they’ll need staples like baby clothes. If you have things like that that we can collect and send down to them, please contact me. We’ll collect stuff in a big box here and send it down when they have a more permanent address.
 
Mike Kelly
37 West 20th Street, Suite #606
New York, NY 10011
 
917.957.9756
mike@arrowdesignstudio.com

In Response to jon (#29210):

That's fine. I was just curious.

Just to add to the list of places taking donations (and they're still needed!), a few people have referred me to a list of grassroots efforts here [sparkplugfoundation.org] . It looks pretty good, with lots of local community-based efforts listed.

A friend of mine who I trust also spoke with a contact of his in the area, who suggested the Poeple's Hurricane Fund. There's info about it on the website [qecr.org] of a grassroots group called Quality Education as a Civil Right. Or you can read what she told my friend:

Please consider giving to the “PEOPLE'S HURRICANE FUND.”
This fund will be directed and administered by New
Orleanian evacuees themselves. It is being organized by
established progressive community groups that will respect the
people affected by the disaster. They will address immediate
survival needs while also helping the community to build strength
for the longer term struggles for social justice that are ahead.

The fund has been established by Community Labor United
(CLU), a coalition of the progressive organizations
throughout New Orleans. CLU has been working in the
community for the past eight years. This group will ensure
that donations are used effectively, and that people
impacted by the disaster play a strong role in rebuilding
their lives and their communities.

For more information: www.qecr.org

Tax-Exempt donations can be made out to:

              The People's Hurricane Fund
              c/o Vanguard Public Foundation
              383 Rhode Island St, Ste 301
              San Francisco CA 94103

Those were some of the more significant funds I heard about over the past week or so. Hope they're useful.

I know this is a little late, and nobody is probably reading this by now, but I heard that Girls Gone Wild is donating 90% of their profits from the Mardi-Gras series to hurricaine relief.