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The devastation left behind by Hurricane Katrina and now Hurricane Rita and Wilma as well, is like nothing we've ever seen, or had to deal with before. It will probably take years before there is some semblance of normalcy in the southern regions again. Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi need all the help they can get.
Unless you've been through it, you can't even begin to fathom what it feels like to literally lose everything you own, everything you've worked your whole life for. Thousands of people were lucky to escape with their lives, and the clothing they were wearing when they had to leave or got stranded.
We can make a difference, and we can help those who are unable to help themselves. Any monetary donations, or needed supplies will make a lot of difference one person at a time. We can help take care of our own, and we need to rise up and do that.
Unfortunately there will always be unscrupulous people who will try to gain financially during times like these. Below are several links to reputable organizations that will go to the cause they're supposed to. Be very wary of who you donate to. These people do not send emails themselves asking for donations or supplies. DO NOT click on any links to the web sites even if it looks reputable. If it looks like a legitimate company such as E-Bay or Amazon, type the web address directly into internet explorer (such as www.ebay.com or www.amazon.com) and check it out.
If you know of any other reputable organizations taking donations or sending supplies that are not listed below, please do not hesitate to let me know so I can add them.
One of your best options is to donate through your Banking institution. Most banks have set up accounts to accept donations for rescue efforts.
The National Hurricane Survival Initiative - (from the site) "The National Hurricane Survival Initiative" is the nation's most comprehensive and far-reaching hurricane season project ever undertaken for protecting and educating millions of Americans during the treacherously long (six months) hurricane season - an invaluable resource - http://www.hurricanesafety.org/home2.shtml
Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance - investigate before you donate - http://www.give.org/
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) - http://www.fema.gov/
Habitat for Humanity International - http://www.habitat.org/
Network for Good - http://www.networkforgood.org/
American Red Cross - http://www.redcross.org/
1-800-HELP-NOW (1-800-435-7669) English
1-800-257-7575 Spanish
American Red Cross - Credit Card Contribution - https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation-form.asp
Alabama Governor's Emergency Relief Fund - http://www.servealabama.gov/
1-877-273-5018
Alabama Governor's Emergency Relief Fund
P.O. Box 1523
Montgomery, AL 36102
Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation - http://www.louisianahelp.org/
1-877-HELPLA1
Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation
1201 North Third Street, Suite 7-240
P.O. Box 94095
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9095
Mississippi Hurricane Recovery Fund - http://www.mississippirecovery.com/
1-866-230-8903
Mississippi Hurricane Recovery Fund
P.O. Box 3562
Jackson, MS 39207
America's Second Harvest - http://www.secondharvest.org/
1-800-344-8070
Operation Blessing - http://www.ob.org/
1-800-436-6348
United Jewish Communities - http://www.ujc.org/
1-877-277-2477
Adventist Community Services - http://www.adventist.communityservices.org/
1-800-381-7171
B'nai B'rith International - http://www.bnaibrith.org/
1-888-388-4224
Catholic Charities, USA - http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/
1-800-919-9338
Christian Disaster Response - http://www.cdresponse.org/
1-941-956-5183 or 1-941-551-9554
Christian Reformed World Relief Committee - http://www.crwrc.org/
1-800-848-5818
Church World Service - http://www.churchworldservice.org/
1-800-297-1516
Convoy of Hope - http://www.convoyofhope.org/
1-417-823-8998
Corporation for National and Community Service Disaster Relief Fund - http://www.nationalservice.gov/about/donations/index.asp
1-202-606-6718
Disaster Psychiatry Outreach - http://www.disasterpsych.org/default.aspx
1-212-598-9995
Feed the Children - http://www.feedthechildren.org/
1-800-525-7575
Lutheran Disaster Response (Lutheran World Relief) - http://www.lwr.org/
1-800-638-3522
Mennonite Disaster Service - http://www.mds.mennonite.net/
1-717-859-2210
Nazarene Disaster Response - http://www.nazarenedisasterresponse.org/
1-888-256-5886
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance - http://www.pcusa.org/pda/
1-800-872-3283
Southern Baptist Convention - Disaster Relief - http://www.namb.net/dr/
1-800-462-8657 ext. 6440
UJA Federation of New York - http://www.ujafedny.org/katrinarelief
1-212-836-1880
United Methodist Committee on Relief - http://www.methodistrelief.org/
1-800-554-8583
Hurricane Katrina Survivor Locator - Index - http://www.createforum.com/phpbb/?mforum=katrinasurvivor
Weather Channel - Katrina hits Gulf slide show - http://www.weather.com/newscenter/slideshow/katrina2.html
NOLA.com - Everything New Orleans - http://www.nola.com/
NOLA.com - Hurricane Photos - http://www.nola.com/hurricane/photos/
Save the Children - http://www.savethechildren.org/
Central Asia Institute - A nonprofit organization - to promote and provide community-based education and literacy programs, especially for girls in remote mountain regions of Central Asia - http://ikat.org/
Oxfam America - committed to creating lasting solutions to global poverty, hunger and social injustice - http://oxfamamerica.org/
Mercy Corps - Pakistan Earthquake, Central American Flooding, Hurricane Katrina - be the change - http://www.mercycorps.org/
If you have temporary housing, or spare bedrooms, housing is needed in all 50 states. If you want to offer it to others, you can go here - http://www.nola.com/forums/homesavailable. You can easily search the NOLA web site by keyword, City and/or by State.
Better Business Bureau National Charity Reports Index - http://www.give.org/reports
Better Business Bureau tips on donating for Katrina - http://www.give.org/news/disaster_tips.asp
Better Business Bureau Hurricane Katrina Relief Organizations - http://www.give.org/news/katrina.asp
Feedthechildren.org Katrina site - http://www.feedthechildren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=usw_hurricane_katrina
Seedco's Gulf Coast Recovery Guide - find and obtain benefits for individuals affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita - http://www.seedco.org/resourceguide/
Save a pet Katrina - find a pet to adopt - http://www.saveapetkatrina.com/
NICB - National Insurance Crime Bureau - don't be a victim of Hurricane vehicle or watercraft fraud - http://www.nicb.org/index.cfm
Streaming video from WDSU, CBS TV - http://www.wdsu.com/video/4909353/detail.html
AOL Digital City Guide New Orleans - http://aolsvc.digitalcity.com/neworleans/
Katrinaconnections.com - Connecting Friends & Families of Hurricane Katrina - http://www.katrinaconnections.com/
Hurricane Katrina Shelter Listing - http://www.brgov.com/shelter/
Katrina Volunteer & Housing Opportunities - http://www.katrinahousing.org/
OpenYourHome - Helping those who are homeless after Katrina - http://www.openyourhome.com/
HurricaneHousing.org - Hurricane Katrina Housing and Disaster Relief Help - http://www.hurricanehousing.org/
Worldslist resources for Katrina Survivors - http://www.worldslist.com/us/katrina.htm
Craigslist New Orleans - http://neworleans.craigslist.org/about/help/katrina_cl.html
NBC11 News - Katrina Connection Clicks http://www.nbc11.com/news/4920038/detail.html
Welcome to the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund Official Web Site - http://www.bushclintonkatrinafund.org/
GulfCoastNews - http://www.gulfcoastnews.com/
Gulfcoastnews.com - Katrina Survivor List - http://www.bergedalen.com/katrina/survived.aspx
The Salvation Army National Headquarters - http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/www_usn.nsf
New Orleans Refugees blogspot - http://neworleansrefugees.blogspot.com/
United Way of American - http://national.unitedway.org/
RockWorks Foundation - a progressive non-profit organization that engages the entertainment industry in 'construction-production' initiatives to actually do the work, not just raise funds - http://www.rockworks.us
CNN.com Hurricane Katrina Help Center - http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2005/katrina/help.center/
CastleCops fake Hurricane Katrina donation sites and emails - http://castlecops.com/postp616239.html
How to help the victims of Hurrican Katrina - MSNBC.com - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9115520/
TexasOnline: Hurricane Katrina Information - http://www.texasonline.com/page.jsp?language=eng&pageId=donate-katrina
USAToday.com - How to help victims of Hurricane Katrina - http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-09-02-katrina-help_x.htm
Updated - Hurricane Katrina Scams - ScamBusters.org - http://www.scambusters.org/hurricanekatrinascams.html
MiraWebDesign.com - Hurricane Katrina Resources - http://www.mirawebdesign.com/katrina.html
Hurricane Katrina Recovery on USA.gov - http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/PublicSafety/Hurricane_Katrina_Recovery.shtml
The911site.com - Gateway to the Emergency Services Web World - http://www.the911site.com/
Hurricane Katrina Full Coverage on Yahoo! News - http://news.yahoo.com/fc/World/Hurricanes_and_Tropical_Storms
The Salvation Army National Headquarters - http://katrina.salvationarmy.org/usn/www_usn.nsf
1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769)
Aid for animals affected by the hurricane
ASPCA: Donate now to the ASPCA Disaster Relief Fund to help shelters affected by Hurricane Katrina - http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer
American Kennel Club - http://www.akc.org/index.cfm
Petfinder.com Disaster/Emergency Response - http://www.petfinder.com/disaster/
HSUS (Humane Society of the United States) Disaster Relief Fund 2005 - https://secure.hsus.org/01/disaster_relief_fund_2005
Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams (VMAT) - funded by American Veterinary Medical Foundation - https://secure.entango.com/donate/QF49DRBwTtZ
United Animal Nations - Includes updated list of animal shelters - http://www.uan.org/ears/action_report.html
Houston SPCA - http://www.spcahouston.org/spcahouston/Default.asp
AnimalHelp.com - Hurricane updates - http://www.animalhelp.com/library/articlelist.cfm?topicid=60
Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association (LVMA) - http://www.lvma.org/
LSU School of Veterinary Medicine - http://www.vetmed.lsu.edu/
Louisiana SPCA - http://www.la-spca.org/forms/donations.htm
Kathyrn Destriza - 1-504-329-5209
Lorretta Lambertson - 1-504-329-0701
Lafayette Parish Animal Control - 1-337-291-5644
Pet Loss Support Hotline
If you or someone you know needs to talk with someone, please call the Pet Loss Support Hotline run by the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. The toll-free number is (800) 565-1526 and there are people to answer the line everyday from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Pacific Time.
Television, News and Online News Sources
Listings of TV and Radio Stations on the web - http://www.tvradioworld.com/
Internet Radio and TV sites - http://www.virtualtuner.com/
Newslink.org - search for newspapers, stations by call letters and more - http://newslink.org/
News and Newspapers Online - http://library.uncg.edu/news/
Refdesk.com - Newspapers US and Worldwide - http://www.refdesk.com/paper.html
Internet Public Library - Newspapers - http://www.ipl.org/div/news/
Welcome to KTBS Channel 3 of Shreveport, Louisiana - http://www.ktbs.com/
Shreveport KSLA News 12 - http://www.ksla.com/
For shelter information in Louisiana, please call 1-800-469-4828
You can get addresses for donations to shelters at this number.
Places to send donated items needed
Queen of Angels Church
2125 S Union Street
Opelousas LA 70570
First Baptist Church
740 Front Street
Krotz Springs LA 70750
Cajundome Center
444 Cajun Dome Blvd
Lafayette LA 70506
Donation Items Needed
One of the best things you can donate is cash and if possible yourself. Cash goes a long ways toward providing food and whatever else may be needed. If you are unsure about sending cash, there are other items desperately needed. Gift cards and certificates can make a big difference as well.
Panties, Underwear, Pantyliners, Tampons, Maxi Pads, Serenity Pads, Bras, Adult & Baby Diapers, Diaper Rash Cream, Teething Gel, Brushes/Combs Baby wipes, Deodorant, Denture Cleaner and Adhesive, Instant Spray Shampoo found in drugstores (due to contaminated water), Razors, Toothbrushes, Toothpaste, Teething Rings, Pacifiers, Bandaids, Vitamins, Formula, Adult and Children's Aspirin/Ibuprofen, Powder, Mouthwash, etc.
Baby Clothes, Baby Blankets, Socks, Shoes, a Doll, Teddy Bear or Matchbox car, Crayons and Coloring books, Children's books to keep the kids occupied who lost everything and have to sit in a shelter day and night, Baby Bibs, Spit Rags, Magnetic Travel Toys such as Small Spirographs, Etch A Sketch, Checkers, etc. so they don't lose the pieces, Backpacks/Totes, Action Figures, School Supplies...or something a child can hug and and/or play with and call their own.
Anything else you might have an excess of such as Bottles of Perfume or Cologne you never use, old Purses or Totes, Wallets, Shoes, Slippers, Robes, Belts, Ties, Blouses, Skirts, Towels etc. The list goes on and on. These people have lost everything they own, so they have NOTHING. Anything that we may take for granted doesn't exist there anymore. Any donations will be greatly appreciated and needed by someone.
Other things you can do if you live close to an evacuee center, church or shelter
Help with efforts in matching the volunteer host families with the Katrina families.
Offer internet access to or make phone calls for Katrina families.
If you’re strong enough and healthy, contact the Red Cross to donate blood.
Offer to enter Katrina family info onto the websites so that they can secure housing and give them your phone number as a contact.
Contact your local bus company and request and help coordinate free bus tickets for these families to these locations.
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