The Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina: How you can Take Action!

"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment, And the second is like unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." --Matthew 22:37-39

Given the wake of the tragedy, destruction, and despair impacting families in AL, LA, and MS, it is our Godly duty to take action to help millions of families in need. There are so many lives impacted by storms of Hurricane Katrina and so much work to be done. There is something for everybody to do. I challenge every one to pray to God and meditate on scripture to determine how best you can be a vessel of love and support. Here are a few ideas on how you can take action:

*Are you in a position to share your financial blessings?
1. Make a monetary contribution with one of the following organizations:
http://www.redshield.org/crisis/ (Helping families via chapters in AL, LA, MS)
http://www.blackamericaweb.com/relief (Tom Joyner Morning Show)
http://store.yahoo.com/redcross-donate3/
http://www.redcross.org/ (Helping families via chapters in AL, LA, MS)
http://www.crwrc.org/
http://www.convoyofhope.org/ - (Helping families in Picayune, MS)
http://www.churchworldservice.org/news/archives/2005/08/317.html (Helping families in Baton Rouge, MS, AL)
www.NAACP.org ( make donations of housing or anything else) You can also send checks to NAACP Diaster Relief Fund at 4805 Mt. Hope Drive, Baltimore, Maryland 21215.


2. If you live or work in the DC/MD/VA area, make a monetary contribution to Operation Healing by calling 410-945-3000, x3015. This is a coalition of local churches partnering with Harbor Bank in Baltimore to raise $110,000 in 10 days!

3. Ask your Pastor/Bishop to donate your Sunday offering to the victims of LA, MS, or AL.

4. Ask your family members or co-workers to pool their money to make a special monetary contribution to one of the efforts listed above.

*Are you temporaryly out of cash? Don't worry if you don't have money to give. Do you have household items (unopened and almost new) to donate. Now, let me say a word here about donated items. I'm not talking about those dirty tennis shoes that you been meaning to throw out or the jeans with the holes in them. I'm talking about clean and quality items that are in good condition (unopened lotion, soap, diapers/pampers, blankets, shoes, clothes, jackets, etc.).
1. Call 410-889-0100 to find out if they are collecting donating items;
2. Check the Internet to get the address to the Housten Astrodame and pack your items in a box and send it through UPS, FEDX, or US Postage.
3. Check the Internet or call 411 to get the address to a shelter in Biluxi, MS, pack your items in a box, and ship it using UPS, FEDX, or US Postage.
4. Check the Internet or call 411 to get the address to a shelter in AL, pack your items in a box, and ship it using UPS, FEDX, or US Postage.

*Are you a prayer warrior?
1. Stay in intercessory prayer for the people in LA, AL, and MS.
2. Stay in intercessory prayer for the relief workers, police officers, national guard, volunteers, and others who are dedicating their time to this effort!
3. Stay in intercessory prayer for our elected officials that they do everything possible to assist our people!
4. Stay in intercessory prayer for the young people from Solvivaz Nation who are en route to Atlanta, GA to assist displaced 48 families from New Orleans who are staying at Atlanta hotel.

*Do you have access to the telephone, Internet, or U.S. Postage mail?
1. Call/email/write your elected officials asking them to do everything possible to provide relief to the citizens of LA, MS, and AL.
2. Call/email/write your elected officials asking them to investigate why people were left to die from starvation and dehydration. Demand to know why the least among us, our babies and elderly were left to die!
3. Call/email/write Mayor O'Malley and other mayors to see if your local officials can provide resources to displaced citizens of New Orleans by housing some residents in New Orleans.
4. Call/email/write President Bush and Members of Congress demanding that they investigate and reorganize FEMA to ensure that ALL citizens (especially the poor) are protected during national emergencies.

*Do you want to volunteer and help make a difference?
1. Call 410-889-0100 and find out how you can support Solvivaz Nation in their on-going relief efforts for the families of New Orleans.
2. Contact your local Red Cross, Salvation Army, or church to find out how you can volunteer.
3. Contact a local shelter in your community and spend some time helping the least of those in your own city.

Visit the following site to find loved ones displaced by Hurricane Katrina:
http://www.mirawebdesign.com/katrina.html