Here's what we all are doing/have done for victims--it's not all $$

[Rock'n Robin]

Last night I couldn't get DH on the phone for a few hours. Turns out he had been driving home and heard on the radio that an organization had 6 busses ready to go to the south with a bunch of supplies, but they needed volunteers to load them up. So off he went! You may remember he had guillan-barre syndrome in February and he is still not 100%, and his arms are very sore today, but I am very proud of him.
At DD#1's school, they have teams in each grade. Each team has been asked to donate a specific thing for hurricane relief. DD's team has been asked to get school supplies, so we are off to the dollar store today to see what they have left. ONe team has been asked for gas cards or money for gas cards, one team just for donations.
At the school DD#2 and DS go to, they don't have anything specific in place yet, but they are working on it (they have only been in school 3 days).
At my school one class it taking donations, and anyone who gives $1 gets a piece of candy--and the first period class that donates the most gets a donut/juice breakfast. All $ to the red cross. There is also a place in the office for teachers to give.
Myself, since everyone else in my family seems to be giving to the red cross and other relief organizations in one way or another, I'm giving a couple of donations to help the animals down there.
Robin M.

[Microcell]

MY DD's school is collecting pennies Tuesday, Quarters dimes and nickels Wednesday, Dollars- fives, tens and twenties Thursday, and Friday is donate what you want.

There are places with trucks all over town taking water, non parishable food, and other supplies.

People are taking people in:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9178633/

My 2nd grade Girl Scout troop is donating cookie money.

National Guard units are already there from this area.

[shelby_36]

My school has not initated anything yet, that I know of. I think we'd get a better response at my school if people were to bring supplies..but how do you arrange to have it taken there? I'd hate to collect all this stuff and not know where to take it. Would you just drive over to the Salvation Army and drop it off? I think most of those places want $$.

[Galahad]

One of the Symphonic groups I'm in will do a benefit concert next week. Our HOA got a semi trailer and we are filling it with supplies and will drive it down next week. Additionally I just read this:

RELIEF MISSION
No standing on the sidelines: Mannings will fly supplies south


Star report
September 3, 2005


Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and his brother, New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, will board a plane this morning carrying 31,000 pounds of relief supplies for victims of Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana.

The New Orleans natives, who will depart from Indianapolis International Airport, also will visit a Baton Rouge-area shelter after they deliver the supplies to the American Red Cross. The desperately needed relief items include diapers, baby formula, pillows, water and Gatorade.

"Being in Indianapolis and seeing what's going on, it's hard to sit still," Peyton Manning said Friday night after the Colts' preseason game against Cincinnati. "This is personal with me because it is my hometown. . . . The town is like family. It's difficult to watch."

Manning said his family is safe, but they don't know whether their house in New Orleans was spared.

The trip was made possible by the Red Cross and Peyton Manning's PeyBack Foundation, a charitable foundation that the two-time National Football League MVP founded to benefit children in Indianapolis, New Orleans and Knoxville, Tenn.

Peyton Manning, who is a celebrity Red Cross board member, encouraged people to give money to that organization. "That's the most effective way to help," he said.

AirTran Airways, St. Vincent Health, Marsh Supermarkets and Gatorade also helped with aid.

[Rock'n Robin]

Good for the Mannings! I forgot they were from NOLA.
Robin M.

[MinnieM3]

So far, my school is collecting money to donate from now until Sept. 16th.

DS6 got together is nice looking stuffed animals and took them to a church here that's headed out this week to victims.

DH and I bought baby wipes, diapers, soap, bug spray, deodorant, water, granola bars,baby food, and other canned goods and took them to the same church.

Donated my points I'd earaned during Surveys on MY Survey.com to save the children fund for LA and MS.

Put up our extra bedroom on craigslist.com for hurricane victims.

DH works for a Tenet hospital and is ready to go if they call for volunteers.

I want to do so much more. I would REALLY like to just HUG some on those folks. :grouphug:

[MinnieM3]

bumping! Your ideas could spark someone else!

[CourtasanSatine]

I'm going to buy a few things either tommorow or Monday for the collection box at my techinal school. I'm also thinking about supplies since there's a chance we may get some new students since Abilene may get 500 or more from the area

[Galahad]

My company expanded it's matching funds program. We donated, with matching funds, to the United Methodist Center on Relief. A very effective group. They were great during the tsunami. Also, DW's med school is taking 30 med students and 8 residents (probably more residents, but 9 in DW's department) from the med schools that were wiped out. DW will be going down to help with medical stuff in about 2 weeks.

[lbgraves]

Tomorrow I plan to find out which schools in NC will be getting the kids from LA when those families arrive in our state. I want to have our school adopt one of those schools. Initially, we can collect school supplies & clothing. I hope that the classrooms can each be connected to a classroom there and have the kids become penpals offering kind words, pictures, and whatever else they can think of. I am trying to come up with something that will last longer than just one donation. These kids will be here for a LONG time & hopefully this will keep the concern from disappearing in a few months.

[jlw29]

In addition to monetary donations, I'm picking up some extra shifts at work so we can send 4 of our ER docs down to work with the evacuees. Due to my 2 kids, I can't go down for 2 weeks to a month, but I can help here so THEY can go. I'm very proud of not only the selfless docs who are going down but the entire program for pitching in and switching / picking up shifts to free them to go.