Katrina

Like everyone else, I am locked to my computer at work, and all I can do all day is hit refresh over and over on my browser. Between the newspapers, blogs, and videos/photos, I am inundated with information. I still can't wrap my mind around the sheer extent of damage to people and the city itself and I can't comprehend how one begins to rebuild an entire city. I feel helpless sitting here, half a country away, and editing product reviews seems stupid and pointless when I know that people are dying preventable deaths as I sit in my comfortable office. And then the politicians...I just...no. Don't get me started. Suffice to say--HATE.

But one obvious thing we can do is give: time, money, supplies. Whatever you can afford will help someone get food, water, clothing, or shelter. This blog, that my friend, Erin, forwarded to me, explains that the Red Cross is already over-funded and how donating to them--good cause though they are--may not be the most effective use of your money. There are plenty of local organizations who have people in place and need money to buy much needed supplies:

Northwest Medical Teams

The Baton Rouge Area Foundation working with the IRC

America's Second Harvest (food)

Operation USA (med aid, directed to the poorest victims)

There are others that are easily found with just a little Googling, too. One idea that I liked, and will be organizing for my extended family, is for us to forego Christmas gifts this year and to donate the money that we'd otherwise use on gifts. We all have homes, our families are relatively healthy and safe, and we don't worry about putting food on the table. Clearly, we have more than enough and can afford to give. Please consider doing the same and talk to your friends and families about what they can do to help the truly needy people affected by Hurricane Katrina.