I have a question, beyond the standard "donate cash" issue, which is a given. We know several people who have lost everything in New Orleans, and who are now in our area temporarily. They are taking matters into their own hands in large measure, and local churches are helping to accumulate goods to send back. This seems like a great opportunity to clear out much of the "way too much" stuff we have, but I wanted to ask if I'm off-base on a couple of things. We're going through our clothes, and I can send new or almost new stuff. Most is of the T-shirt and casual pants variety, but I also have a fair amount of stuff that people may find useful getting back to a job. It's just sitting in my closet because it no longer fits my life or style, but it's nice stuff. Will that be useful to send back? I also have a frugal habit of saving clothes that have seen better days, or that I'm just tired of, but are still serviceable for those days of heavy cleaning, or big house projects like painting or something - but in my zeal for frugality, I have way more of this stuff than I need. I'm thinking of making a separate box and labeling it well, that these are clothes suitable for wear while cleaning up. I'm also thinking of sending along a box of rags. I'm guessing even those are in short supply - and desperately needed - and of course I have way more than I need. I'm also going to make up some boxes of winter clothes, because I'm guessing some of these people who are relocating to Chicago area shelters won't be going back anytime soon, and winter can be brutal here. Extra camping gear, grills, kitchen supplies, MREs and so on are a given... I'm guessing many on this list have more experience in disaster areas than I do, and I'd appreciate knowing if these items would be welcomed, or just tossed to the side as not useful at this time....
Paula P Smith <[email protected]> wrote: Dear Silver List, Please donate to the Salvation Army or directly to other groups such as Baptist, Luthern or Menonite Disaster Relief. And don't forget this will be a LONG TERM effort - years and years. I am scheduled to go to Louisiana next week and Helen GA this week. I have been responding to disasters since Mt St Helen. The Red Cross does great things, but the Salvation Army stays till the job is done. The Red Cross literally is there as long as the cameras are there and then their efforts are VERY low key and their people are not as well trained. Also, in Georgia, the Red Cross turns around and calls the GA Baptist Disaster Relief and THEY do the responding and the Baptist are paying for it - 90% of the time. GA Baptist has the equipment and volunteers for preparing meals, debris clean-up, childcare and re-build. Just my 2-cents and I am actually on-scene Paula in N GA
