Talking to "our kids" about Hurricane Gustav turned out to be an interesting and at times rather entertaining discussion. We knew that if they had not already heard about another storm in New Orleans, they soon would, as they hear everything. We felt the best thing to do was to have a little meeting about it so that we could confront any fears that they felt. We explained that "mandatory evacuation" meant that everyone had to leave. If they did not have a car, they could take a bus to a safe place.
Annie: "What about my baby sister?" (yes, their mom had another baby!)
Marquel: "Will Chantal (their mom) come to San Antonio?"
Charlie: "Girl, don't be crazy. You know Father won't let her come here."
We listened to their comments and the underlying concerns and did our best to reassure them that their sister, mom, grandpa and grandma, great grandma and cousins would be OK.
Now that Gustav is dissipating, there are 3 new storms to be concerned about. You will hear lots of invitations over the next few weeks to give to charitable causes.
Prior to Hurricane Katrina and our resulting mission project, we would have thought of the most high profile organizations, Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc.
Following Hurricane Katrina we learned things we had never considered. In the aftermath of Katrina, millions and millions of dollars were given for the victims. This money did not necessarily get to the victims. If an organization's main focus is to see that immediate needs are met, that is where the money is spent, with any excess staying in their bank account for the next disaster.
So how should you decide what is the best contribution to make? First you must consider that money is not the only donation choice. Do you have some time you can donate to a shelter? You might be good at cooking, scrubbing floors, or lending an empathetic ear.
You might be part of a church or civic organization that could use your donation of time or money. There are still many churches sending volunteers to help the gulf coast rebuild from Katrina. They need cash donations to be able to send those volunteers and purchase supplies needed.
Everyone has their gifts and talents. Decide what you have to offer. As the giver, you can do a little research and decide what would be the best option for you.
Last night on the local news they talked to a single mom who had evacuated to San Antonio with her small children. After living through Hurricane Rita, this time she knew had to leave home. She had spent every penny she had on gas to get here. Now how was she going to get home? And she may have been wondering how she would feed her children, and keep up with rent and other necessities.
As we have learned, the trauma and tragedy of these disasters lingers on long after the storm is gone, and in ways that we sometimes don't think of or comprehend. It does no good to think "well, that lady should have planned for something like this". We have to understand that she is most likely doing the very best she can with what she has, just as any of us do.
As I thought about any recommendations I might have, I pulled up a website set up by the RNC - www.CauseGreater.com I think this is an excellent place to start. One of choices is Aidmatrix - where you can choose a state and find links to all kinds of organizations who can use donations of cash or time.
While Red Cross is great at immediate relief, there are 2 church groups that I would recommend for the on-going rebuilding efforts. I have personal experience and knowledge of both of them:
Lutheran Disaster Response
Adventist Community Services
As you go about your daily routine, try to stop and remember those who are not as fortunate as you are. When you are at the grocery store, purchase a gift certificate of what you can afford for the local food bank. They are always in need of cash.
Maybe your church has a family or cause they are supporting. What do they need?
Give some thought to your giving - and you will be blessed in the long run! We know we have!
Stephanie
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