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In the aftermath of Camille, the Salvation Army fed many of the victims at no charge. The Red Cross, on the other hand, charged the victims for even the doughnuts that they had. Since then, I have had little use for the Red Cross and nothing but admiration for the Salvation Army.

The Red Cross, on the other hand, charged the victims for even the doughnuts that they had.

I once worked with a man that was in the Army, stationed in Alaska. When they had their huge earthquake (1960's), he was on guard in downtown Anchorage to keep out looters. He said the Red Cross had emergency shelters set up and when he asked (in freezing weather) for a cup of coffee they charged him for it.

OTOH, I had two brothers in the service, both overseas at the same time, one Navy, one Air Force. One was killed while on duty (not war)...It was the Red Cross that got the other home for the funeral.

The home we were living in had an electrical fire and burned the entire understructure of the house. My sister-in-law, who lived on the other side and was "managing" the property for her father, had decided to NOT PAY the homeowner's insurance and kept the money for herself.

She immediately got a place to stay because she had 3 kids. My husband and I could get no help as we only have 6 cats & a dog. A neighbor called the Red Cross and they came down. They put us up in a hotel for 4 days, but we needed to stay with the property for the animals as well as possible break-ins. (we live in the boonies).

We begged the Red Cross to help us get a small temporary trailer; we even offered to pay rent on it...just so we could stay on the property and fix it up. They said, "we don't have those kind of resources". They told us to call them and they would give us vouchers for food & clothing. We called...and called...and called. Nothing. They finally sent us a Wal-Mart voucher for $60 to replace my husband's work boots...that was it. We took the voucher to Wal-Mart and they would not honor it; they said the Red Cross never reimburses them, so they won't take vouchers anymore.

My husband and I moved back in, staying in one room with a woodstove and an extension cord going across 2 acres from our neighbor's. My husband hand-pumped 60 gallons of water a week from the well next door; we used lanterns, camping equipment and propane. We went to a relative's home weekly for a shower...my husband fixed the electric, plumbing and septic guided by a headlight and propane lanterns. We lived like this from February-April.

Oh, and the Red Cross? They dropped off "comfort kits" containing a toothbrush, Scope, Dial Soap, deodorant, a comb, a pencil, 3 sheets of paper, a pair of teal-colored knit winter gloves and a pair of mens white crew socks.

The moral of the story?

To hell with the Red Cross; they are useless. They are nothing more than a symbol. They have stealing and fraud down to a Fine Art.

But my husband?....well...he's a keeper! (I love you sweetie!)

sorry, couldn't help that outburst!