Red Cross, or Habitat For Humanity, or ????

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If this has been discussed elsewhere, sorry...

Does anyone have an opinion on where best to donate to Katrina relief...where the $$ will do the best good?

I usually donate to the American Red Cross, but have been holding back this time hoping to learn what is best for LONG TERM help...reconstruction of housing for the poor, etc...

Any opinions?

Jimmy Carter''s Habitat for Humanity sounds really interesting...does anyone know any thing about them?

Thanks!
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[ame]

My husband and his mom and I are all discussing the Habitat option. We have already donated to Red Cross but we feel like financially isn''t enough. We have been trying to get involved in Habitat now for a while (can you believe they don''t need volunteers here?! What a load) and I hope this helps us get into it.

That project will be so rewarding.

 

[MissAva]

I have done stuff with Habitat for Humanity and it is worth all the effort and sweat you put in. Nothing feels quite as good as helping others. They always need more volunteers and more money. Also if you go to churches I mine is doing both short term stuff, paying for hotel rooms, food and clothing... and long term stuff like trying to help people find work and places to live.
The only thing I would warn AGAINST are phone solicitors...I have already gotten call, it is shameful how little of the money goes to the needy. Ask before giving, I do this with police and fireman as well better just to go down to your local.

 

[blueroses]

I gave to Red Cross, 2nd Harvest, ASPCA, and HSUS. You raise a really good point, though, about LONG-term help. I was really thinking IMMEDIATE need with those groups. Hmm.


(edited to correct HSUS from USUS....that'd be the HUMANE SOCIETY of the US, not the US of the US!!!!!!)

 

[pearcrazy]

Salvation Army here. They are a wonderful organization and have one of the lowest administration overheads of any of the charities. More dollars going directly to food, shelter and clothing.

 

[onedrop]

I will be giving to both of those organizations over time. To the Red Cross because they are amazing with immediate need, and Habitat because they are amazing with long-term need. In addition, I plan to gather some tangible items for donation because we had some evacuees and come to our area yesterday. I think they anticipate being here as little as 90 days so I plan to do that after the first wave of donations dwindles. The initial response from citizens and other organizations has been heart-warming and speedy. I just hope we will keep giving 6 months to a year from now when the first wave of donations runs out.

 

[Maxine]

I was first introduced to Habitat back in the 80''s by a co-worker. She was a small, soft-spoken woman who introduced the concept in our area. She asked my Dad to help on the first local house. He agreed - a "one shot deal" for him!!! Well, at his memorial service 13 yrs. later, even I was surprised to learn that he was the only person to have worked on all 30 of our local Habitat homes!!! At that time, our family received a gracious thank you letter from Millard Fuller, the founder of the organization.
I usually donate around my Dad''s birthdate in his memory.
I like the idea that the prospective homeowner actually donates sweat equity in the construction of the home. They work together with the volunteers, and they pay a mortgage. And now, with the increased price of property around the country, the need is even greater.
So what they do WILL be important in the long run for some people......the Red Cross is meeting a more immediate need.....both are important.

 

[widget]

Thanks, everybody!

I decided to stop "thinking" about donations and start "makiing" them! I just gave to the Salvation Army and Habitat.

I haven''t entirely neglected the Red Cross this time...a local grammar school has been having a lemonade stand drive with proceeds going to the RC...and I''ve been drinking a LOT of very expensive lemonade lately! I just can''t resist those cute kids.

Added bonus is that I''m giving my bladder a good workout

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[fire&ice]

All I can say is that Habitat and such groups like that are going to need some deep pockets. Hubby said supplies are going through the roof. The price of wood nearly doubled.

That being said, don''t throw anything out! If you have a kitchen remodel, send the old countertops to habitat. The one in our NC area stockpiles & also raises money by selling the excess that people have. For example, if you tile a floor you usually have leftovers. Save a few for repairs - donate the rest of the box.

Good for you Widget. Don''t think. Just do! In the immortal words of one local wealthy 92 year old business man "you can''t take it with you!" He walked in the day after Katrina, stroked a check in the amount of 1 million, proclaimed that quote & walked back out.

Finally, I do think it is important 6 months, 1 year from now to make sure and remember these folks. Put is on your calendar!!!!!!!

 

[Maxine]

Date: 9/7/2005 6:33:04 PM
Author: fire&ice
All I can say is that Habitat and such groups like that are going to need some deep pockets. Hubby said supplies are going through the roof. The price of wood nearly doubled.

That being said, don''t throw anything out! If you have a kitchen remodel, send the old countertops to habitat. The one in our NC area stockpiles & also raises money by selling the excess that people have. For example, if you tile a floor you usually have leftovers. Save a few for repairs - donate the rest of the box.

Good for you Widget. Don''t think. Just do! In the immortal words of one local wealthy 92 year old business man ''you can''t take it with you!'' He walked in the day after Katrina, stroked a check in the amount of 1 million, proclaimed that quote & walked back out.

Finally, I do think it is important 6 months, 1 year from now to make sure and remember these folks. Put is on your calendar!!!!!!!

Good point, F & I!!!
Our local Habitat thriftstore makes more than $15,000. some months by selling clothes and household good that people donate.....so even if YOU are short on funds, you can always clean out the garage or the closets and donate things you no longer use....Habitat will sell them and use the profits to put toward their new homes!!