So Where's Disaster Relief Money for the US?

[Fer Echegaray]

He also told us, "Whenever we need anything, we just call up Uncle Sam."

I would dare to say that it's in part fault of the US, not to start an argument here, but Mexican government is all (^@%% up and couldn't care less about their own people.

As long as Uncle Sam keeps giving, they (MX gov) will keep ignoring the people and getting the money on their pockets. On the other hand, I wonder if having an oil rich country south of the border developing out of the 3rd world would be convenient for global balance... But that is too much to speculate...





Back on Topic, donations are preferred in cash, but there's other options:



Michael Brown, head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, urged people Monday to make cash contributions to hurricane relief organizations.

Cash donations "allow volunteer agencies to issue cash vouchers to victims so they can meet their needs. Cash donations also allow agencies to avoid the labor-intensive need to store, sort, pack and distribute donated goods. Donated money prevents, too, the prohibitive cost of air or sea transportation that donated goods require."



FEMA listed the following agencies as needing cash to assist hurricane victims:



* American Red Cross, 800-HELP NOW



* Operation Blessing, 800-436-6348.



* America's Second Harvest, 800-344-8070.



* Adventist Community Services, 800-381-7171.



* Catholic Charities, USA, 703-549-1390.



* Christian Disaster Response, 941-956-5183 or 941-551-9554.



* Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, 800-848-5818.



* Church World Service, 800-297-1516.



* Convoy of Hope, 417-823-8998.



* Lutheran Disaster Response, 800-638-3522.



* Mennonite Disaster Service, 717-859-2210.



* Nazarene Disaster Response, 888-256-5886.



* Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, 800-872-3283.



* Salvation Army, 800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769).



* Southern Baptist Convention -- Disaster Relief, 800-462-8657, ext. 6440.



* United Methodist Committee on Relief. 800-554-8583.

 

[Cory Richards]

Jeff C does make an interesting point, but most of you are right...we don't need it. I would never expect another country to help us out by donating money..that seems a little ridiculous.



Made my donation.

 

[Frank Marano]

I will never give money or blood to the red cross again after the crap they pulled after 9-11. The amount of money that victims familes or the injured received was no where near the mass amount people donated. It went into the pockets of the CEO's at the red cross who make SIX FIGURE salaries...........F-that.

 

[Thomas Rogers]

I will be giving through my church, where I know all (okay, most) of the money will find it's way to the needy. All I have to do is put in an extra envelope in the collection plate this Sunday, mark it "MCC Katrina Relief" and rest assure that it gets to the right place.



TJR

 

[Johnny O]

After hurricanes Hugo and Andrew other countries, including France, offered assistance of one kind or another and our government said "no thanks."

 

[brandon mena]

Q for president!:lol:

 

[Bill V]

I'm not at all saying other countries will offer anything anytime in the near future--but the main hit was just yesterday. I don't think the US responded to the tsunami or any other such disaster that quickly--and I hardly would think that even the best-intentioned nations out there would be able to help us that quickly either.



Regardless of whether you think anyone should help us or not, let's give a little time before passing any judgments...

 

[Mark B]

FMarano,



Blame public pressure for the mishandling of the 9/11 Liberty Fund. I can't speak to any corruption among the Red Cross execs but there was incredible public outcry when the Red Cross said the money might be used or saved for other emergencies. So, they were left to dole out something like 600 million to a relatively few 9/11 victims or their families.



The one thing the Red Cross did allow too happen was the collection of tons of blood that eventually went to waste.

 

[Bill V]

Good point fy10lyny. When there was that public outcry after 9/11, forcing the Red Cross to give millions to the relatively few 9/11 victims and families, my main disappointment wasn't with the Red Cross--it was with the public, for being so short-sighted and mathematically impaired that there would be such an outcry. There was more than enough donations at that time to meet the needs of all the victims then, and the rest could have been put toward the rainy day fund (no pun intended), for use in situations like we are currently in.



At that time, I wrote to the Red Cross after making my donation, and specified that my donation was not specifically for 9/11 relief, but for the Red Cross to use as they see fit. If/when I make a donation at this time, I'll be sure to specify once again that I'm not donating to Katrina relief, but to the Red Cross to once again use as they see fit. If that ends up being Katrina, great. But if they somehow get more funds than they can use practically there, they're free to keep it for other use.

 

[John Mastrocco]

Tom (Caymen) said:

Donations are not only money. Why not donate cloting made in Bangledesh at those bargain basement wages? Shoes make in China for pennies? Food grown in tropical area's? They all could be donated by other countries, but the leaders get to live in lavish compounds while they sit with thier hands out need relief for it's citizans.

Well, since most of those places are funded by US and Large Multinational corporations - like Walmart - why not write directly to the source and ask those big corporations for the clothing donations?



And write the leaders of those countries to stop taking bribes to allow those corporations to take unfair advantage of their citizens like that...

 

[Tim Turner]

Well, since most of those places are funded by US and Large Multinational corporations - like Walmart - why not write directly to the source and ask those big corporations for the clothing donations?

I heard that Walmart was donating $1 million on the Weather Channel the other day for hurricane relief. While I think it's a good idea for places like that to donate food, clothing, etc, money can be more useful in a situation like this IMO.

 

[John Mastrocco]

I heard that Walmart was donating $1 million on the Weather Channel the other day for hurricane relief. While I think it's a good idea for places like that to donate food, clothing, etc, money can be more useful in a situation like this IMO.

For Walmart that's chump change. Heck, Sam's heirs waste more than that on domestic help each month.

 

[Paul Maurer 2]

To compare Katrina to the Tsunami is like comparing a Geo Metro to a Hummer. Over 200,000 dead in the tsunami, and property destroyed over 5+ countries. Also, the majority of those people were poor in a way we can't fathom- our standard of living is so good that you are poor if you don't have HBO and 2 TVs. Also, as a matter of pride, we shouldn:blink:'t accept charity, especially if our nation can spend $5 billion a month on warfare.

 

[Gavin Allan]

Those other countries could give us their oil, or they could agree not to turn on us over the next few years.

 

[Chuck Lake]

I agree that it would be nice if other countries would make a token gesture to offer assistance. I'm sure they have through "diplomatic" channels but am sure it was as hollow as many statements made during a funeral home viewing. "If you need anything, just let me know".. most folks would have a cow if their help was ever requested after making such offer. BTW… I think we sent relief to the Japanese after the earthquakes there and I don’t think anyone would consider Japan a poor nation.



Mount soapbox



Anyhow... I'm also not surprised to see the class envy/warfare come into this either. Just because a country is rich, doesn't mean its citizens are. If you haven't seen rural LA or MS there are some pretty poor living conditions there as well. I was on a multi-national exercise in LA once and the departing OPS officer was from Australia. He said that he didn't know how to describe LA to his fellow countrymen other than to say that the US Army was so great that they created their own third world country



Keep in mind that evil "Big Business" (isn't it amazing that we can demonize anything by putting the word BIG in front of it) doesn't have to give squat to charity or relief efforts. Even if they only give a thousand bucks they should still be applauded. Maybe we just need a system to evenly distribute the wealth in this country so that everyone makes a fare wage, we all can afford everything we need and the government will ensure that no one gets too greedy and makes more money than the next guy.



Dismount soapbox.



He sticks the landing but his scores are brought down by the East German and Soviet judges.

 

[Gavin Allan]

Uh, carfeful Doughboy. Someone might think you are a Communist...

Maybe we just need a system to evenly distribute the wealth in this country so that everyone makes a fare wage, we all can afford everything we need and the government will ensure that no one gets too greedy and makes more money than the next guy.

 

[TomT]

I just want to know where are all the bleeding heart liberal actors and musicians that are always trying to raise money for places we never heard of.

 

[Gavin Allan]

Seems like The Scorpions could lauch a "Rock You Like A Hurricane" tour to raise some cash.

 

[Chuck Lake]

Gavin - Good... I made my point. I was afraid the reference to the "East German and Soviet judges" might be a little over the top.

 

[Josh Langel]

Even if they only give a thousand bucks they should still be applauded. Maybe we just need a system to evenly distribute the wealth in this country so that everyone makes a fare wage, we all can afford everything we need and the government will ensure that no one gets too greedy and makes more money than the next guy.

Disagree.