Prescott College
Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts

Prescott College Community Support | Dan Garvey's Statement

Colleges Providing Support | Essays/Responses

Food Not Bombs--Updated September 22, 2005

Katrina Relief Organizations Based in the Black Community

Grassroots Organizations in New Orleans

Direct Action Recommendations from Randall Amster--New October 6, 2005

MoveOn.org

Veterans for Peace

Project Backpack

From Bill Kopsky from AR Public Policy Panel in Little Rock

From the Natural Resources Defense Council

Centers for Independent Living

For the Animal Victims of Katrina

Craig's List

Providing Relief in Arizona (Arizona Democratic Party)

Labor Unions

Food Not Bombs--Updated September 22, 2005

PLEASE CONTINUE TO HELP! Food Not Bombs provide help for the victims of Katrina. We are in need of volunteers and food to help the people displaced by both Rita and Katrina. Last week Food Not Bombs opened a Community Center in the 9th Ward. We also need as many volunteers in Houston, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans as possible. Tucson and Prescott Food Not Bombs report that there is widespread need in Baton Rouge. Volunteers, food, and personal items such as tampons are needed. A 24 foot truck will be leaving Tucson soon.

We URGENTLY need your support! If you can help cook and serve food, have money you can donate or have the time to call groceries and warehouses for food please contact us at www.foodnotbombs.net. You can make a financial donation on line or mail checks to Food Not Bombs, P.O. Box 744, Tucson, AZ 85702. Please call (1-800-884-1136 ) or email (katrina@foodnotbombs.net) us if you can join us on the bus or help with gas money.

Thanks, Keith McHenry – cofounder of Food Not Bombs.

ADP Student

Katrina Relief Organizations Based in the Black Community

Here's the info on relief efforts based in the black community. Pass this around to people who are sending checks. Please urge people NOT to send money to the FEMA official non-profit relief organizations. One of the outfits FEMA approved to help people in New Orleans and elsewhere is a Pat Robertson group (report at www. democracynow.org), and the millions in private donations made to the big three obviously aren't reaching people (see http://www.sfbayview.com/083105/thisiscriminal083105.shtml and http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0902-06.htm).

Here's the list of "Katrina Relief Organizations Based in the Black Community" compiled by Kevin Powell from www.wbai.org:

Monetary donations can be sent to these outlets, which we have confirmed are REALLY delivering services to folks in need

BlackAmericaWeb.com Relief Fund

PO Box 803209

Dallas, TX 75240

OR you can make an online donation by going to www.blackamericaweb.com/relief This fund has been set up by nationally syndicated radio personality TOM JOYNER.

NAACP Disaster Relief Efforts

The NAACP is setting up command centers in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama as part of its disaster relief efforts. NAACP units across the nation have begun collecting resources that will be placed on trucks and sent directly into the disaster areas. Also, the NAACP has established a disaster relief fund to accept monetary donations to aid in the relief effort.

Checks can be sent to the NAACP payable to

NAACP Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund

4805 Mt. Hope Drive

Baltimore, MD 21215

Donations can also be made online at: www.naacp.org/disaster/contribute.php

FYI, the NAACP, founded in 1909, is America's oldest civil rights organization.

www.teamrescueone.com Set up by native New Orleans rapper Master P and his wife Sonya Miller

You can mail or ship non-perishable items to these following locations, which we have confirmed are REALLY delivering services to folks in need.

Center for LIFE Outreach Center

121 Saint Landry Street

Lafayette, LA 70506

atten.: Minister Pamela Robinson

337-504-5374

Mohammad Mosque 65

2600 Plank Road

Baton Rouge, LA 70805

atten.: Minister Andrew Muhammad

225-923-1400

225-357-3079

Lewis Temple CME Church

272 Medgar Evers Street

Grambling, LA 71245

atten.: Rev. Dr. Ricky Helton

318-247-3793

St. Luke Community United Methodist Church

c/o Hurricane Katrina Victims

5710 East R.L. Thornton Freeway

Dallas, TX 75223

atten.: Pastor Tom Waitschies

214-821-2970

S.H.A.P.E. Community Center

3815 Live Oak

Houston, Texas 77004

atten.: Deloyd Parker

713-521-0641

Ask the hotel you frequent, such as the Marriott or Holiday Inn, to give your hotel points to an individual or family in need of a stay for a night, a few nights, or longer, depending on how many points you have. Be sure to get confirmation that your points have been applied in that way. Encourage others to do the same. Also inquire if your airline Frequent Flyer mileage can be used for hotel stays as well.

Finally, either offer to pay for hotel rooms, or encourage others to do so, including your place of employment or worship or your organization.

Grassroots Organizations in New Orleans

This site http://www.sparkplugfoundation.org/katrinarelief.html is shaping up to be one of the best resource lists for people who want to volunteer with or donate to key grassroots groups based out of New Orleans. There are descriptions of what the groups do and how to contact them or donate to them.

Direct Action Recommendations from Randall Amster--New October 6, 2005

Many thanks all for your support and encouragement during this journey to NOLA and surrounding areas.  Folks have been asking where to contribute so it will actually do some good, so here is a quick rundown on that (note that the Red Cross has been virtually invisible on the ground [in New Orleans], the Salvation Army moderately useful, and FEMA totally inept):

Get Your Act On (NOLA activist network): www.getyouracton.com

Common Ground Collective (neighborhood action in Algiers): www.commongroundrelief.org

NOLA Rebuild Green: www.rebuildgreen.org

Food Not Bombs: www.foodnotbombs.net

LEAN (Louisiana Environmental Action Network): www.leanweb.org

Louisiana Green Party: www.lagreens.org

The People's Hurricane Fund c/o The Young People's Project
99 Bishop Allen Drive
Cambridge, MA 02139

For continuing updates and real info on the situation, check out:

NOLA Indymedia: neworleans.indymedia.org
AZ Indymedia: arizona.indymedia.org
Infoshop: www.infoshop.org

Those of us who worked on the ground these past weeks are also planning workshops and report-backs in the coming days -- dates and times will be posted when the plans are finalized.  Thanks again all for your support.

Blessings,
Randall

MoveOn.org

MoveOn members and others have offered over 150,000 beds to those displaced by Hurricane Katrina. But with more than a million displaced, those spots will be snapped up. If you have space available, even if you're nowhere near New Orleans, you can still help as survivors are relocated.

http://www.hurricanehousing.org/

Veterans for Peace

On September 2, 2005 the Veterans for Peace Bus from Mendocino County, CA took a detour to help the victims of hurricane Katrina. We arrived in Covington, LA with food and supplies that Camp Casey had sent from Crawford, Texas. We are using the school to support Veterans For Peace hurricane relief efforts for the people of the region. We are supporting The Red Cross with power, medical supplies, kitchen service, food bank and distribution, internet communications and trained medical personnel.

Project Backpack

Project Backpack is raising awareness of the fact that the schools in Houston are taking in thousands of students who were displaced from their homes in Louisiana and is soliciting direct shipments of badly needed school supplies. A great project for kids in schools around the country to support those kids in need.

The Babcock Foundation: From Bill Kopsky, AR Public Policy Panel in Little Rock

According to the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation, there are some progressive groups in the gulf region hit by the hurricane who have relief funds. You might consider donating to these to more ensure that the relief funds are spent with progressive values and low-income people in mind. It has contact info for relief efforts by: Enterprise Corporation of the Delta; Louisiana ACORN; Southern Mutual Help Association, and a few community foundations in the region. I'm not endorsing any of these efforts, but I believe in the judgment of our friends at Mary Reynolds Babcock.

The Babcock Foundation letter and list of organizations follows:

Dear Colleagues,

If you are like us, you are wondering how to help in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. We are hearing from grantees and community foundations in or near the devastated areas who are positioned to help with emergency relief and long-term recovery. We are passing this information along to you. If you wish, pass it along to others who may want to contribute to effective nonprofits with track records of service in the Gulf Coast region.

We will pass along information on other groups as it comes to our attention. Our intent is to help nonprofits we know get the word out about their relief and recovery needs, and to give our colleagues options for your giving. If you know of nonprofits to be included in future communications, please send us information about them.

Babcock Foundation staff List of Organizations

1. Enterprise Corporation of the Delta:

ECD is a strong CDFI based in Jackson, with credit union branches in New Orleans and Gulfport. It has set up a Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund for anyone willing and able to make a contribution to help the region recover. ECD will coordinate its lending and relief efforts with the Red Cross, state and municipal governments, CDFIs, and others.

If you would like to make a contribution, please send your check to:

Enterprise Corporation of the Delta

c/o Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund

222 North President Street

Suite 220

Jackson, MS 39201

You can contact ECD at (601) 944-1100 or you can go to their website for more information (www.ecd.org).

2. Louisiana ACORN

Louisiana ACORN is a statewide community organizing group with local members throughout LA. It is affiliated with the national ACORN org.

Anyone who wishes to make a contribution, send in your donation to:

ACORN Hurricane Recovery & Rebuilding Fund

739 8th Street SE

Washington, DC 20003

You can also make an online contribution at www.acorn.org.

3. Southern Mutual Help Association, Inc.

Southern Mutual Help Association in New Iberia, LA has an urgent call out to any organizations and donors that can assist them with helping the survivors of Hurricane Katrina. SMHA has a solid track record of working with rural people and communities in Southern LA.

Please contact Lorna Bourg, smha@southernmutualhelp.org or by phone (337) 367-3277, with any assistance or contributions.

4. Gulf Coast Community Foundation

The Gulf Coast Community Foundation in Biloxi, MS will have a mailing address to receive contributions. In the meantime, they are using the facilities of www.networkforgood.org. Just type in Gulf Coast Community Foundation and Mississippi.

5. Greater New Orleans Foundation

The Greater New Orleans Foundation has established a fund to receive on-line contributions for hurricane relief in that community. Go to the foundation's website (www.gnof.org) and click on Hurricane Katrina Recovery Fund.

6. Baton Rouge Area Foundation

The Hurricane Katrina Displaced Residents Fund ? will benefit those individuals evacuated to Baton Rouge from the hurricane impacted areas in Greater New Orleans, who are now unable to return for what maybe an extended period.

The Hurricane Katrina New Orleans Recovery Fund ? will focus on the rebuilding of infrastructure to provide basic human services to residents of these devastated areas.

If you would like to make a contribution, please send your check to:

Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund

402 N. 4th Street

Baton Rouge, LA 70802

You can also make an online contribution at http://www.braf.org and click on Hurricane Katrina Relief Page link.

From the Natural Resources Defense Council

Dear NRDC Member,

I know you join me in sending our thoughts and prayers to our 40,000 Members and activists who live in the hurricane-stricken areas of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. Many members of the NRDC family -- and millions of others -- are in urgent need of assistance as they struggle to emerge from the terrible aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. If you are moved to donate, we recommend the following two websites that list highly-rated charities assisting in the relief effort:

http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/content.view/catid/68/cpid/310.htm

http://www.networkforgood.org/topics/animal_environ/hurricanes/

Thank you for helping at this very difficult time.

John H. Adams

President, Natural Resources Defense Council

Centers for Independent Living

As you may know, the Centers for Independent Living (organization that creates opportunities for independence for people with disabilities) in Biloxi, Mississippi and New Orleans have been gravely affected by the hurricane. In fact the Biloxi, MS center was totally destroyed. Many of you are asking how you can help. Here is what we have learned from colleagues in those states.

Sending money is the first priority. Sending supplies to those centers is helpful too but NOT RIGHT NOW, because they can't get through the water.

Here are the suggested options for right now:

1) Send a check or credit card payment to the Red Cross and designate it for Hurricane Relief, or designate it for people with disabilities in the Biloxi/Hattiesburg or New Orleans areas.

2) If you want to send money for the CILs that are dealing with this disaster directly, here are your options:

For the Biloxi Center, mail the check (payable to LIFE of Central MS and designated for the Biloxi Center) to:

LIFE of Central Mississippi

754 North President Street, Suite 1

Jackson, MS 39202

For the centers in Louisiana (make checks payable to Resources for Independent Living - this is a branch of the N.O. center – and designate for the New Orleans center)and mail to:

Resources for IL

11931 Industriplex Blvd. Suite 200

Baton Rouge, LA 70809

We have also learned from Mack Marsh of the Shreveport Center that centers in Shreveport, Baton Rouge, and Lake Charles are assisting evacuees. Mack says they would also appreciate supplies if there is any way to get those supplies to the centers. His list includes: manual wheelchairs, hospital beds, adult diapers, bed pads, catheters and other supplies. The address for the Baton Rouge center is shown above, addresses for the Shreveport and Lake Charles centers follow.

Southwest LA Independence Center, Inc.

Mitch Granger

1202 Kirkman, Suite C

Lake Charles, LA 70601

New Horizons, Inc.

Jerry Kidwell

9300 Mansfield Road, Suite 204

Shreveport, LA 71118

We will keep you informed of any additional ways that you can help. Feel free to forward this information to other people interested in the needs of people with disabilities affected by this disaster.

Dawn Heinsohn

IL NET: ILRU/NCIL National Training and Technical Assistance Project

ILRU Program

2323 S. Shepherd, Suite 1000

Houston, TX 77019

713.520.0232 ext. 130 (v)

713.520.5136 (TTY) 713.520.5785 (fax)

Worldwide Web Site: http://www.ilru.org

ILRU is a program of TIRR (The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research),

For the Animal Victims of Katrina

Transport Provided to Anywhere - Room Desperately Needed!

There is transportation provided, with people ready and waiting, for upwards of 200 dogs and 150 cats so far rescued from the devastation of hurricane Katrina. What these animals need is a place to go. Kennels, boarding, vets offices, shelters with any extra space, foster homes and rescues. Even one or two open kennels would greatly help. From what we know, all animals have been vaccinated and are in good health considering the conditions. There are dogs and cats of every breed and size. Some are in groups of two, three or four, hailing from the same family, while some are solitary. ANY KENNEL SPACE AVAILABLE CAN CERTAINLY BE USED. These drivers are willing to move these animals ANYWHERE they need to go. Absolutely anywhere. The current safe houses for these animals are being inundated and some of these pets will have to be euthanized if they are not moved to make room for the incoming animals. Please feel free to pass on this information everywhere. Every forum, every list, every community.

REMEMBER THESE ANIMALS WILL BE TRANSPORTED TO YOU.

If you know anyone, anywhere, that is willing to take in even on a cat or dog, please have them contact Lynda at the information provided below. They are also asking for ANY kind of donations for the animals - money, food, bedding, water, etc. Please Contact Lynda V. at: 203 515 3024 (cell) Home: 203 227 5308 Email: Lynda@portone.com

Craig's List

Check here for a number of database, including lists of resources on donations and housing, as well as messages about missing people. http://neworleans.craigslist.org/about/help/katrina_cl.html

From the Arizona Democratic Party

How You Can Help Katrina Evacuees

As you have most likely seen in the news this week, the state of Arizona is joining in the relief effort for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.  Governor Napolitano agreed to house over 1,000 evacuees as well as make plans to set up long term housing for many.  Currently, evacuees are finding shelter at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Central Phoenix, the Tucson Convention Center, and in the homes of gracious Arizonans.

There are a wide variety of ways Arizona Democrats [and all Arizonans] can aid in the relief effort and support the victims of this disaster.

Donate Personal Items

Personal items should be dropped off at:

The Salvation Army

2707 East Van Buren

Phoenix, AZ 85008

These personal items include:

• Bottled Water

• New unused clothing for men, women and children.  Including underwear, socks, hats, t-shirts and athletic shorts

• New shoes including athletic shoes, flip-flops, sandals and slippers

• Children's activity items

• Hygiene Products that include: combs, brushes, shampoo, disposable razors, toothbrushes, toothpaste, wash cloths, hand towels, bath towels, shaving cream, deodorant, nail clippers, soap, feminine hygiene supplies, mouthwash, Q-tips, etc

• Backpacks, duffel bags and tote bags

Donate Household Goods

St. Vincent de Paul's is accepting household goods that can be dropped off at:

St. Vincent de Paul's

400 W. Watkins

Phoenix, AZ 85003

These household items they are currently accepting include:

• Furniture- sofas, chairs, dining, beds, dressers

• Cooking Utensils - pots, pans, etc.

• Dishes and Silverware

• Bedding - sheets, towels, blankets

• Toiletries

Post a Job for an Evacuee

Along with donating personal and household items, Arizona Democrats can also post jobs for an Arizona evacuee at www.jobing.com.

Donate Housing

The Arizona Department of Housing is collaborating with Red Cross personnel to match evacuees with long-term housing in Arizona.  If you wish to donate housing please visit www.az211.gov or www.housingaz.com  to register.

Donate Money

If you are interested in making a monetary donation, both chapters of the Arizona Red Cross are accepting online donations.  Please visit www.arizonaredcross.org or www.tucson-redcross.org. to make your contribution.

Volunteer with an Organization

Finally, to avoid the confusion and complication of walk-in volunteering, the best and most efficient way to volunteer is to sign-up with an organization.  To register with an organization, go to www.az211.gov.

Thank you for your help and concern in this matter.  If you have further questions about donations or volunteering, please contact the various agencies listed above.  Please do not bring donations directly to the Coliseum as space is extremely limited. 

Labor Unions
Joseph Catron compiled this list of unions coordinating hurricane relief.

AFL-CIO*
https://secure.ga3.org/08/UCF_Katrina_Relief

Air Line Pilots Association
http://crewroom.alpa.org/DesktopModules/ALPA_Documents/ALPA_DocumentsView.aspx?itemid=1847&ModuleId=803

Amalgamated Transit Union
http://www.atu.org/docs/about_atu/about_announcements.html

Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union
http://www.bctgm.org/Special/FH_IDRF%20letter05.htm

Communications Workers of America*
https://secure.ga3.org/08/cwa_katrina_relief

International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts
http://www.iatse-intl.org/news/pr_090105.html

International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers
http://www.ironworkers.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=243

International Association of Fire Fighters*
http://daily.iaff.org/083105KAdd.htm

International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers
http://www.boilermakers.org/hurricane.htm

International Brotherhood of Teamsters
http://www.teamster.org/05news/hn_050830_2.htm

International Longshoremen's Association
http://www.ilaunion.org/LetterFromJohnBowersKatrina.PDF

International Union of Operating Engineers
http://www.iuoe.org/cm/training_site/relieffund.html

International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
http://www.iupat.org/news/relief.html

Laborers' International Union of North America*
http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=94825

National Air Traffic Controllers Association*
http://www.natca.org/mediacenter/hurricanekatrina.msp

Seafarers' International Union
http://www.seafarers.org/HeardAtHQ/2005/Q3/sdrf.xml

Service Employees International Union*
https://secure.ga3.org/08/katrina

Sheet Metal Workers International Association
http://www.smwia.org/news/index.cfm?fa=viewArticle&id=231

UNITE HERE
http://www.unitehere.org/hurricanerelief.asp

United Steelworkers
http://www.uswa.org/uswa/program/adminlinks/docs//Katrina%20Letter%20-%20United%20States.pdf

*Accepts immediate online donations.

NOTE: Although the information above comes from reliable sources, no guarantee is made for the accuracy of information or integrity of those organizations identified here. Readers are encouraged to do a little research before making any donations.

Prescott College Community Support | Dan Garvey's Statement

Colleges Providing Support | Essays/Responses

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This page was prepared by Prescott College faculty member, Joan Clingan. Suggestions for additions or corrections are welcomed. Please check back as this page will be updated daily for as long as it is useful to do so.

Last updated October 7, 2005.