We Still Need Help!

[TigerKat]

As a resident of New Orleans, the one thing we need more than anything, is for everyone to know there are several areas, lower 9th ward, St. Bernard Parish, Lakeview, that almost look the same as they did 2 WEEKS AFTER THE STORM! I spoke with someone in Rhode Island the other day, and they said "looks like things are back to normal in New Orleans". Yes, some areas look untouched and vibrant, but areas mentioned previously still are devastated. We are now embarking on another hurricane season in a condition of "DIRE STRAITS". Please contact your representatives PLEASE and tell them that they need to come and see for themselves that we still need a lot of help from EVERYONE!! Thank you to everyone of you who can forward this on to those who are under the impression we are OK down here! God Bless all of you!!!

 

[PixieDustTink]

As a resident of New Orleans, the one thing we need more than anything, is for everyone to know there are several areas, lower 9th ward, St. Bernard Parish, Lakeview, that almost look the same as they did 2 WEEKS AFTER THE STORM! I spoke with someone in Rhode Island the other day, and they said "looks like things are back to normal in New Orleans". Yes, some areas look untouched and vibrant, but areas mentioned previously still are devastated. We are now embarking on another hurricane season in a condition of "DIRE STRAITS". Please contact your representatives PLEASE and tell them that they need to come and see for themselves that we still need a lot of help from EVERYONE!! Thank you to everyone of you who can forward this on to those who are under the impression we are OK down here! God Bless all of you!!!

YES Tigercat, this is a great message to get out there. I saw that Ellen had a show on the on going damage there not long ago too. We've been donating every month since the storm! I grew up going to NOLA every year and it's SUCH a fabulous and unique place. We sooo badly need to help everyone there and get this wonderful city back to being the way it was. One thing that is soooo sad to me is long time family businesses are not coming back. I order andouille sausage and tasso, as well as other items I can't get here and some places are not back yet. Mojo bar b que has not come back...these places are part of the heart of N.O. Everyone needs to do what they can to get these people back to their homes and jobs!

 

[belle&beast]

I would love to donate used clothing, but it seems like the charities around here are just taking monetary donations. Do you know of a good place to donate clothing and shoes?
Edited for typos!

 

[ducklite]

I would love to donate used clothing, but it seems like the charities around here are just taking monetary donations. Do you know of a good place to donate clothing and shoes?
Edited for typos!

Most places won't take clothing and shoes and such because there is so much expense to moving, sorting and distributing them.

Donate to your local Salvation Army thrift store, the SA is working in NOLA and the Gulf coast in general and some of that money will trickle to them.

ANne

 

[agnes!]

Charities that I have heard good things about re: NOLA/Katrina...Salvation Army, UMCOR(United methodist committee on charity), many local churches (relief/rebuilding trips), Habitat for Humanity. I know there are many others, but make *sure* wherever you give any money that it is legitimate. There are a lot of scammers out there who will try to take your money .

Also, Google the NOLA library system...the friends of NOLA Library are accepting $ to help re-build their collections. (Money donations *only*, used books were not being accepted the last time I checked.)

agnes!

 

[arminnie]

As a resident of New Orleans, the one thing we need more than anything, is for everyone to know there are several areas, lower 9th ward, St. Bernard Parish, Lakeview, that almost look the same as they did 2 WEEKS AFTER THE STORM!

That is so true. I had a friend come visit in early April. I took her on a tour of those areas mentioned. She is coming again in a couple of weeks. I told her that we didn't have to go tour again to see the progress because unfortunately in so many areas there has been NOTHING DONE!

One of the things that you can do to help New Orleans is to come and visit. There are beautiful areas that are back to normal looking (90% of the tourist areas), but they deperately need out of town visitors for the businesses to survive.

Even if you can't come gut a house (I can't), you can come spend money, have a good time, and help the city's economy.

 

[dbgardener]

I can't believe our government is so blind to the problems in our own backyard!!! It was an outrage what happened in the first place and now they are still ignoring the problems.

You can be sure I will contact my congressman about this.

God bless
Deb

 

[TigerKat]

I can't believe our government is so blind to the problems in our own backyard!!! It was an outrage what happened in the first place and now they are still ignoring the problems.

You can be sure I will contact my congressman about this.

God bless
Deb

Thank you very much, please pass the word to your family and friends!!!

 

[minnieandtink]

New Orleans is not the only area still a long way from recovering. We went all the way to the Biloxi area and saw miles of nothing - not a house or food. There are actually people still living in pop up tents.
Your continued thoughts and prayers are definitely needed.

 

[makinorlando]

My 82 year old DM went to Pearlington (sp) Mississippi for two weeks during the summer with a church group. They helped with several building projects while there.


She was very moved by the needs of the residents, and came to be loved by some of the locals that called her their Angel - she is planning on going back again in November!
I don't know if I could sleep for two hot summer weeks in a tent... but she did it!!!!

 

[vital]

I recently went to New Orleans on a day trip. I was surprised to see that things in the French Quarter were still slow. I thought that since the word was out that it didn't have that much damage ppl would be returning. If you are familiar with NO, you know the parking lots on Decatur are usually full. I parked in the lot by the aquarium and had my choice of spots. We walked around and ate lunch. I was happy to see a line at Maspero's, well, as happy as a starving person can be LOL! We ended up eating at the Gumbo Shop which had a line, but not a long wait. We stopped in at the LUSH store and the girls there said it has been really slow. One day they only did $100 worth of business. That's horrible. I live in Mississippi and go frequently so I've seen the progress being made however small it may be. I'll agree that the country needs to know about the slow progress in BOTH Louisiana and Mississippi. It seems everyone has forgotten about us! I don't understand how we can send millions of dollars to countries WE destroyed to build it back and can't even rebuild our own cities. Makes you wonder about the priorities of the government. I hope and pray we don't get another hurricane this year. I think even a CAT 1 would pretty much be the straw for the Mississippians on the Gulf Coast.

 

[disneykins]

We are planning to visit NOLA in March 2007. Any tourist ideas would be appreciated and reasonable hotels for us to stay in either in the French Quarter or near the cruise terminal would be helpful. We already have the booklet from New Orleans and we would like to go to a jazz club ,try some delicacies that they are famous for, and visit a cemetary.
Thanks Debbie

 

[Grand2me]

We are planning to visit NOLA in March 2007. Any tourist ideas would be appreciated and reasonable hotels for us to stay in either in the French Quarter or near the cruise terminal would be helpful. We already have the booklet from New Orleans and we would like to go to a jazz club ,try some delicacies that they are famous for, and visit a cemetary.
Thanks Debbie

Howdy!!
As a lifelong resident, I can give you the goods. If you want to stay in the French Quarter, I would go for The W French Quarter, The DoubleTree(right next to Harrah's), The Monteleone or The Royal Sonesta. The later is right on Bourbon Street. If you just want a nice hotel, I would suggest the La Quinta on Camp Street(like two blocks off Canal), The W on Poydras or the HomeSuites on Poydras. The later was recently built before the storm, so it's pretty new. All of these are pretty near the cruise terminal. Jazz clubs are all over the place but I would warn you to watch where you go. We used to go to Sweet Lorraine's but I am not sure if its open again. As usual with food in New Orleans, you can't really go wrong. Try Brennan's, Mother's or one of the Emerils(there are three and two of them are around most of these hotels). Most of the places that I used to enjoy like Dunbar's were locally owned and haven't reopened. I also liked the Cheesecake Bistro, Semolina's(which I really miss right now) and Sweet, Fire and Ice. Cheesecake is on St. Charles, Semolina is on Magazine but Fire And Ice is in Metairie. Also one of the BEST places to eat is Jaques-Imo's on Oak Street but I am not sure if they have re-opened. Forget Popeyes. Next to Zachary's lunch buffet and Dunbar's, they have the BEST chicken in the city. Everything else is really good too. If you find yourself loving your hotel room and not wanting to leave, call Verte Mart for some of the BEST poboys in the city. They deliver. If all else fails, ask your front desk person. If they are a local, I guarantee they will not steer you wrong. If there's one thing that's universal in New Orleans, it's that we LOVE to eat good food.

 

[annegal]

Grand2me, I'm wondering from your avatar-have you permenantly relocated to Dallas-because of Katrina?

Thanks for all the food stuff-you have a few I never heard of!

 

[Grand2me]

Grand2me, I'm wondering from your avatar-have you permenantly relocated to Dallas-because of Katrina?

Thanks for all the food stuff-you have a few I never heard of!

Yes-we are in Dallas for the time being. We settled here after what I like to call "The Award Tour of the South". We can't really go home. At this point, I'm not sure if you can ever REALLY go home. Home has got MOLD(LOL)!!! It's really nice here but the seafood prices are ridiculous. I miss the food and family of home.

OH MY GOD!!! IT'S MY 200TH POST!!!!!!!!!!

 

[annegal]

Grand...what area did you live in?
We used to live in metairie & still have old friends there.

Due to the LA media constantly making shootings in NO a front page issue, we;re relunctant to even visit NO for the day,

 

[Grand2me]

I lived in New Orleans East. Most of my family relocated to Harvey or Baton Rouge. We are just as reluctant as you are. The last time we went to New Orleans, we stayed at the Omni in the French Quarter. It is a very different world. I spent most of my time in Metairie at Borders(lol) and in Bucktown. Matter of fact, every job I ever had, except my last one, was in Metairie. We used to go to Cureton's. I miss CC's. There really is no place like it out here. Everything here is either tacos or BBQ .

 

[disneykins]

Thank you Grand2me for all your info. We will surely be able to put it to good use. We are now checking into cheap airfare from Buffalo or Detroit . I am soooo looking forward to this trip!!!

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Due to the LA media constantly making shootings in NO a front page issue, we;re relunctant to even visit NO for the day,

We were considering spending Thanksgiving in New Orleans this year. I had heard about the National Guard being called in, but thought things would be fine by then. When inquiring about the trip, I received replies from people who lived within a couple hours of the city & suggested we not come yet. They said they wouldn't feel safe being out & about at night. There was also a woman who had been there on a business trip in the last 2 weeks & said most everything shut down early. Apparently, employees wanted to get home before dark. She said the group she was with went out the 1st night they were there, but didn't make that mistake again. NOLA is such a great city & it's sad that things are still this bad.

 

[vital]

Have you thought about staying on the Mississippi gulf coast and driving over to New Orleans for a day trip? The casino's and their hotels are slowly opening back up. It's only about a 40 minute drive over. The beaches are being cleaned but I wouldn't get into the water just yet unless you have on shoes. We need the tourism just as much if not more than New Orleans. You can also go sit on the beach at night and not worry about getting shot.