We can at least donate

[Basil]

I'm watching a special from Staten Island on the devastation in New York and New Jersey. Staten Island looks like an Atomic Bomb went off and the Jersey shore is unrecognizable in many areas. So many people have lost everything and so many areas still without power - and to make it worse, there are homeless people all over the place and the temps are dropping!

If you're like me, you'd like to be there to help somehow, but if we can't be there, I encourage folks to do what you can by donating to Red Cross, Salvation Army or organizations like Samaritans' Purse. Donate directly and beware of scam artists!

 

[JPSmit]

Good point Boss - especially about reputable organizations! Let's also remember Sandy hit the Caribbean too - especially Haiti.

 

[aerog]

I donated awhile ago. I just wish there was a way to donate to a reputable organization that would ensure the money stayed in the US.

 

[Guest]

Samaritans' Purse. Donate directly and beware of scam artists!

Samaritans purse is a good organization. I'd like to hear from Nial if he knows of a smaller local organization or some folks that could get a bigger %'age of aid directly to the folks affected.

After Katrina, some of my online Zcar buddies got together and donated enough $$$ directly to my folks to sheetrock the house. It was a big help considereing they lost everything and didn't have flood insurance.

Mom's STILL got a list of all those guys and the letters they sent.

Every one of 'em got a hand written thank you card too. :wink:

Neat, this electronic box thing and what it can do.

 

[Mickey Richaud]

Not in any way "tooting my own horn", but Episcopal Relief and Development is another safe haven for contributions. www.er-d.org is the website. Designate on the memo line of the check whatever cause you want the money to go to.

 

[aeronca65t]

And since Mickey is tooting his horn, I'll too MINE

(honestly, I'm sure both are fine....plus others that have been mentioned).

 

[DART]

Billy- you have a PM.

 

[Guest]

Billy- you have a PM.

PM received. Will do!

What I'm thinking is maybe the odd ball stuff like low sodium can food. Ya know, some folks can't eat the regular fare. I know of two widows here whom have dietary restrictions. The Pastor requested canned stuff and I'm sure no one is thinking about diet restriction.


I'll go later tonight (24 hr Walmart) to give others a chance to join in.

 

[Basil]

Please keep the focus of this thread on donating. This isn't a contest about which organization is better. We're all adults here - if you're inclined to help, then donate to whatever organization or organizations you personally feel comfortable with.

 

[Guest]

Looks like I'm gonna go right now. I'll have everything packed and there for the truck tomorrow a.m.

 

[Guest]

Billy- you have a PM.

PM received. Will do!

What I'm thinking is maybe the odd ball stuff like low sodium can food. Ya know, some folks can't eat the regular fare. I know of two widows here whom have dietary restrictions. The Pastor requested canned stuff and I'm sure no one is thinking about diet restriction.


I'll go later tonight (24 hr Walmart) to give others a chance to join in.

Still gettin' 'em ready. Got 45 meals (on sale, buy one, get one free!) of pretty decent quality. came out to be just a few pennies more than the canned stuff, so I stretched it out good. A lot better than the canned stuff too. Got REAL meat in 'em! I figured some of them fellas up yonder R pro'bly like me and they'r a hankerin' fer a hunk'a critter. All kinds of flavors, bought a few for home (seperatly of course). Had one fer dinner and they're pretty good. Sure beats Boy'R'Dee.

Jus' cause folks goin' thru crap don't mean they gotta eat it too. :wink:

Sendin' them with some MRE heaters I have here plus some other stuff. Writtin' a little note of encouragement on 'em as well. I had a TON of little instant coffee packs but now I can't find 'em. Hopefully I can before tomorrow morning. I'm makin' kinda redneck MRE's with the extra stuff I've been savin' from the Katrina meals. Toliet paper, spoons, matches, drink mix and the like.
Too bad I can't send some of Tercy's Mexican corn bread and Ms. Mary's ice tea. (Terc' put ground meat, rotel and jalapenos in'na middle.)

Thanks fer lettin' me do this stuff fer ya.

Here thay are before I added the other stuff to 'em.

 

[DART]

Thanks for going to all that effort Billy. PM me with where to send you the $$. And keep your whatevers crossed that this new N Easter doesn't follow Sandy's path this week.

 

[Guest]

What there's ANOTHER ONE ?!?

Got it all loaded on the truck, got pics for ya. Trucks are leaving now. Folks will be very pleased with what you sent. I had some extra room inna box so I bagged up some dog food fer the critters. My ol' hound was none too happy 'bout it. If'fun he knew, he'd understand.

Sent some crystal light drink mix too so folks can flavor their water. Water sucks after day four. Rest assured, you sent stuff that'd never gotten there otherwise.


The only thing comparable to your stuff was maybe some canned gumbo. No, I aint really a fan of any other form of the stuff, but it did look decent in the pitcher (had okra)and I have had some'ma stuff that wasn't all that bad.

I saw pallets of chicken noodle (yeah that kind), vienna sausage and ramen noodle. I understand foks wanting to send as much as possible for the dollar, but dry cat food is cheap too. No sense in sendin' something you won't eat yerself. Might as well send cream of mushroom and cook the neighbor's cat with it.

I hope folks don't get the wrong idea about the doog food I sent. I wrote what it was onna bag. Seeing there's good stuff with it too they should be able to figure it out. Critters gotta eat too. No sense in feedin' the good stuff to them critters as you sent as propp'r supper as a fella could get considerin'.

Thank you my friend! Lemme git u sum pitchers.

 

[Guest]

By far the most impressive thing I saw today was also the simplest. A purple mid 90's Dodge minivan pulled up where we were loadin up. This thing is beat up like you tried to drive it through your front door, no hub caps, bald tires, OPEN EXHAUST (prob'ly cause they sold the converter for scrap) and just plain Missisippi red clay dirty. I didn't look, but it wouldn't have surprised me if there had a black garbage bag where a window should be. This thing was as poor redneck as poor redneck can get...and I'm talkin' DIRT poor!

I mean son...this thing made Honey Boo Boo look like she was Paris Hilton. The fella that gets out of it looked just like the banjo kid from delieverence....seriously; skinny, wierd shaved head and goofy dumb look in his eye.

I figure they're in the wrong place as this is the same place where they give food out to needy families. This guy gets out, open up the back of the van and starts pullin' groceries out of it!. Granted, it's Ramen noodles and bottled water, but the cost of which defintaly cut into their budget. He gets out with a great big smile, happy to do what little he could. I was deeply humbled by this act.


Lotta folks here might not be weathy, but that don't mean they aint rich in other ways.



I still can't believe it, we shoulda been loadin' HIM up.


I guarentee that converter was sold for scrap, I've seen it down here before...and it wouldn't surprise me if he had sold it to buy them groceries.

 

[Jerseygirl]

Hey guys,

If anyone is still looking for a way to help, Governor Christie and his wife have set up a relief fund to help the folks in New Jersey who have watched their homes and/or businesses get destroyed, either by the storm, or by some of the fires that broke out afterward.

Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund:
https://sandynjrelieffund.org/index.html

Sending food and water is great, but temperatures here are dropping and the utility companies are saying that homes on the barrier islands that were hardest hit, may not have gas or electric now for months because the infrastructure is just so badly damaged. Monetary donations will give the relief fund the option to either provide food/water, or begin to help find these people long-term housing so they can survive the coming winter while the islands continue to be cleared, so the rebuilding process can begin.

I'm fortunate that my house came out of this unscathed, but there are thousands more who were not so lucky.

Thanks in advance to anyone who chooses to help!