This diary will get swallowed up quickly but I wanted to just follow up the diary I posted Thursday concerning my day at the Astrodome.
First & foremost: THANK YOU. Sincerely. The dedication & empathy you all displayed was pretty F'ing amazing this weekend.
There's 250,000 evacuees (not refugees) in Texas & their able to eat, sleep, be clean largely thanks to you all & the country pulling together (when AGAIN their gov't let them down)
2ndly: Apologies. I was not on this board much & so did not respond to the many requests & offers from people. I passed what info I got to other volunteers/coordinators concerning who's offering homes, can help, is missing people, etc... Between volunteering & being sick & Nyquil I wasn't online much. I apologize to the Texas KOS group espeically.
Random points:
I received about 250 emails since Friday & making my way through them.
Houston Food Bank:
Think your $5 won't go a long way? The Houston Food Bank is able to give $25 of food for every ONE dollar you give. That's $125 right there.
http://houstonfoodbank.org/
Animals/Pets:
Neglected to mention that I volunteer with the pound & got a few emails on Snowball. There is an effort to do something for the animals that came here La & they have need volunteers. Also, b/c so many animals have come here, it's bursting at the seems (which it always is doing). A great vet works at the pound & spends much of his meager city pay doing things for free. If you're able to help, adopt, donate, etc.., check the site out. SPCA is also in need: http://www.spcahouston.org/spcahouston/Default.asp
Sadly, I do not have any info on Snowball.
Houston Area Red Cross:
Could use help & has set up 26 shelters:
http://www.houstonredcross.org/cgi-bin/NewsList.cgi?section=&cat=General&rec=161
Volunteering in Houston:
Bulletin ( 9/6/05, 8:25 a.m.) After a great volunteer turnout over the Labor Day weekend, there is currently a SEVERE SHORTAGE of volunteers on site at the Reliant complex.
But don't forget the George R Brown Convention Center also.
http://volunteerhouston.org/
I'm going to try to take photos while working - if you guys want to see them, let me know.
I'll update this diary if it gets any attention.
Again, thanks,
Oh yeah:
Don't let the right-wing DROWN the conversation on who's to blame either!!
George Bush = Dead Americans everywhere!
It's pathetic that Canadian emergency personnel were able to jump on a plane & get to Lousiana faster than our own damn government! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9156612/