Posted on 08/31/2005 4:16:01 PM PDT by YoungKentuckyConservative
I'm strapped for cash with the gas prices the way they are (and my nasty commute, which I have chosen to inflict on myself), but the better man in me continues to remind me that I have plenty. In fact, I have more than plenty.
I chose to sit the Tsunami-Relief Wave out, fearing the money would end up supporting a terrorist cell, Islamic State, or one of the many villanous despotic leaders of Southeast Asia.
But I cannot turn my back on my fellow Americans. They a grieving, they are needy. They need us. They need the average citizen, who lives fat day-to-day on the creature comforts we have become accustomed to, to dig a little deeper and give. If we all gave just a little, it would mean a lot.
All that said, who does one turn to? What charities have an impeccable record of using every penny on the dollar? What charities have an impeccable record of keeping money away from the blood-sucking vultures of opportunity? Who will really help those who need it?
I, like millions of caring Americans, am ready to give. But I'm trigger shy because we've become so greedy and self-invovled, that you can't even trust a "charity" anymore.
Fellow Freepers...who do you trust? Who do you donate to? Who will legitimately help those who need the help the most?
Thank you for indulging my plea. I'm proud to give, but ashamed of the callous bias I have toward charities in this country.
God Bless,
Young Kentucky Conservative
I'll be sending some funds to the Salvation Army. I won't send a dime to the Red Cross.
I'd like to know of other good organizations that would use something like 95 to 100% of my funds to actually help folks.
Salvation Army. Forget the Red Cross.
Go to the Katrina thread discussions, you will find them there, with links. See up at the top of the page for the link..
I sent 25 to Salvation Army yesterday. Now I think that was good for yesterday, but I'd better send some more today because the resources don't seem to be flowing like they did to Indonesia. Barstards. Today I'm going to send to Red Cross.
http://www.lwr.org/
Why not the Red Cross?
Sal Army/Operation Blessings
I second the Salvation Army nomination. That's one solid, good, efficient charity. Best of the best, in my opinion.
100% of donations goes directly to aid. Administrative costs are absorbed through regular offering receipts from congregations.
Explain please, what's the problem?
Stick with the Salvation Army.....safe!
Can we keep this in News? Better yet, can we make it "breaking"?
Utah rescuers, supplies head to storm areas
ByElaineJarvik
Deseret Morning News
Wed Aug 31, 2005
A convoy of search andrescue specialists pulled out of Salt Lake City on Tuesday bound for thehurricane-ravaged South, one of several Utah-based reliefoperations.
Utah Task Force One, the urban search-and-rescue team madeup of members of the Salt Lake City Fire Department and the Unified FireAuthority, is traveling by trucks and chartered bus to Camp Shelby,Miss., where it will be dispatched to help with water and collapse rescueoperations.
Most of the 28 search-and-rescue specialists deployed fromUtah saw action at the World Trade Center after the attacks of Sept. 11,2001, according to Capt. Gaylord Scott of the Unified Fire Authority.They are traveling with about $1 million worth of emergency rescuesupplies.
The Greater Salt Lake Chapter of the American Red Cross hasalready sent nine Utah volunteers to the South, including three who leftTuesday afternoon in an emergency response vehicle bound for Little Rock,Ark., where they will be dispatched to needed areas, said Mariann Geyer,CEO of the local chapter.
Ten trucks from the Bishop's Central Storehouse in Salt LakeCity have been dispatched to New Orleans by The Church of Jesus Christ ofLatter-day Saints to help with relief efforts.
In addition, because of its past experience with hurricanerelief, the church's bishops' storehouses throughout the southeasternUnited States are well-stocked with food commodities and emergency reliefsupplies such as generators and chain saws, LDS Church spokesman DaleBills said. These supplies, including tens of thousands of hygiene kitsrequested by the American Red Cross, are already being transported to thehardest hit areas, he said.
Local church leaders in the affected areas are coordinatingwith emergency response managers at church headquarters to assess damage,determine needs and coordinate volunteer efforts. Meanwhile, threechapels in Hattiesburg and Jackson, Miss., and in Alexandria, La., arebeing used for emergency shelter.
Missionaries in coastal areas of Louisiana and Mississippiwere evacuated on Saturday and Sunday to safe inland areas where they arestaying with other missionaries, Bills said.
National fund-raising efforts have been mobilized by UnitedWay and the American Red Cross. The United Way Hurricane Katrina ResponseFund will allocate money for both front-line disaster relief andlong-term recovery needs, according to Deborah Bayle Nielsen, United Wayof Salt Lake president and CEO.
According to the American Red Cross, their relief effortsfor Hurricane Katrina victims is "the largest mobilization ofresources for a single natural disaster in our history." The RedCross is preparing 500,000 hot meals a day and will distribute drinkingwater and other supplies.
I donate thru the LDS charities because 100% goes to help with now overhead taken out.
Catholic Relief Services is a good choice. Check it out.
Try this site to see who may use your $$'s wisely.
http://www.charitywatch.org/
Makes you wonder where all the countries who said WE were being stingy are in OUR time of need? I don't expect anything from the countries we aided after the tsunami, after all, they are still recovering . . . but how about those who gave next to nothing while we were knocking ourselves out?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.