Here are some links to help people who have lost everything in Hurricane Katrina.
KSBJ, a local Houston radio station, is accepting gift cards for the refugees. They are also networking many people together, so if you are willing to open your home for a dinner or to offer a place to sleep, they could probably tell you where to call. They also have several College Station area churches that are offering shelter listed on their web site. http://www.ksbj.com/
Northridge Baptist Church in Houston is collecting gift cards to send to First Baptist Church, Slidell, LA. The pastor has friends who attend there who will distribute the gift cards to church members. At this point, the church is under 8 feet of water. Please bring your gift cards to Northridge Baptist Church by MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5TH. Try to stick with Wal-Mart, Sam’s, Target, McDonald’s, etc. They may not have the same grocery stores there as we do here. If you have questions about either of the above, please contact the church at 936-756-6596.
Red Cross – If you would like to make a donation to the Red Cross, please call 1-800-HELP-NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may also be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013. Internet users can make a secure online credit card contribution by visiting http://www.redcross.org/ or www.houstonredcross.org.
Houston Food Bank – http://www.houstonfoodbank.org/
West Houston Church of Christ is collecting gift cards (phone, gas, food, Wal-Mart, etc) in any denomination to be distributed to Hurricane Katrina victims in Red Cross shelters in Texas. The collection will extend through the month of September and cards may be brought to West Houston Church of Christ, 17100 West Road, Houston, TX 77095. For additional information, see our website http://www.westhoustonchurch.org/ or call 281-856-0001.
ICNA Relief-Helping-HandP.O. Box 572181, Houston – Texas 77257 www.icna.org
Project Noahwww.projectnoah.org
Starting as a lifeboat for the many home schoolers and other families hurt by Tropical Storm Allison in June of 2001, Project Noah soon became a loving facet of the homeschool community with the mission to help homeschool families in crisis. They are now helping families whose children will be staying home from public school for the next two months due to Hurricane Katrina.
Samaritan’s Pursewww.samaritanspurse.org
Samaritan’s Purse is dispatching its Disaster Relief Units and mobilizing hundreds of volunteer workers to help repair as many homes as possible. Two tractor-trailers loaded with emergency supplies and equipment are ready to roll into devastated communities as soon as the storm passes and it is safe to work.
Baton Rouge Area Foundation Establishes Hurricane Katrina Disaster Funds
The Baton Rouge Area Foundation announced today the establishment of two new funds in response to the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Katrina to southeast Louisiana. Donations are now being accepted. Tax deductible donations to one or both of these funds are now being accepted online at http://www.braf.org/. Donations by check should be made out to the Baton Rouge Area Foundation and the designation of the fund noted on the memo line. Checks should be mailed or delivered to 402 North Fourth Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70802.
And here are more contacts:
Operation Blessing: 800-436-6348
America’s Second Harvest: 800-344-8070
Adventist Community Services: 800-381-7171
Catholic Charities, USA: 703-549-1390
Christian Disaster Response: 941-956-5183 or 941-551-9554
Christian Reformed World Relief Committee: 800-848-5818
Church World Service: 800-297-1516
Convoy of Hope: 417-823-8998
Lutheran Disaster Response: 800-638-3522
Mennonite Disaster Service: 717-859-2210
Nazarene Disaster Response: 888-256-5886
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance: 800-872-3283
Salvation Army: 800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769)
Southern Baptist Convention – Disaster Relief: 800-462-8657, ext. 6440
United Methodist Committee on Relief: 800-554-8583
I had to throw in a comment about the hurricane & lack of help people in New Orleans are receiving. I’ve seen a lot of people on the news (not newspeople, just regular people) saying that this is the government’s fault & such. I have yet to hear, though, of one single international offer of help. When the tsunami hit Indonesia, we were there within HOURS. NO ONE has offered help. You might think that some countries who have oil & such would offer a cut in prices, so our gas prices don’t skyrocket. Nope. You might think that other countries (whom we have helped many a time when they were in need) might send over relief troops or just supplies. NOPE. This morning I watched The FOX Report that Jef taped for me yesterday. At the beginning, I thought, Shep is standing on a road, and there are buses & trucks going by. Why isn’t the Red Cross getting in there? Why aren’t there people posting sign to help the stranded know where to go? But then Jef reminded me that there are millions of people stranded, water everywhere, and we are doing the best we can. Where Shep was was like a high place – I don’t even know if that overpass led anywhere.
Anyways — all that to say – where is the world when America needs them?? We go everywhere to help everyone. We send money, at the very least, and more often send tons of relief in the form of people & supplies. I just found it cynically humorous that the world does not do the same for us.
~Note (9/1/05 5:49PM) ~
Jef told me that America is receiving international aid, and many churches are also helping out. So I am revising my statements above. I am wondering why we aren’t hearing about this help & support on the news?? The news was all over the countries offering aid during the tsnuami. Curious.
