Originally Posted by
quiltmau
the big problem with money is it doesn't last-things(quilts) do. In my time on this earth I have lived thru hurricanes, tornadoes, fires, floods, earthquakes, and tidal waves-the thought, time, energy and goodwill lasted a lot longer than the handouts from the government.
I have found that the givers are not aware of how the money gifts are being used. When we went thru a hurricane the Red Cross charged us for water and basics. We were not rich and were living in a mobile home at the time with a small child. No motel, no food, in a home with no electric, heat or water. The help we received from local volunteers was most appreciated. Giving with no strings-just because it is the right thing to do.
Sorry to burst your bubble-but unless you have been there - the best help is the help from the heart-the local and concerned citizens.- regardless of the government or large organized drives. And no I don't give to the Red Cross-as far as I am concerned they just add to the horror.
quiltmau,
AGREE ... IF people have never been through a natural (or man-made) disaster, they have NO IDEA of how our government and national charities TRULY operate.
When Hurricane Ike hit the Houston-Galveston area in 2008 (this was 3 YEARS AFTER Katrina and Rita) people got FAR more immediate and ACTUAL HELP from LOCAL city & county governments and church groups than from the Feds or Red Cross etc. We had utility linemen, construction workers and volunteers come from all over the US to donate their help. College students & churches helped with the elderly and disabled, and we who lived here went to work - neighbor helping neighbor, helping OURSELVES.
We knew, after seeing what happened with FEMA in Katrina and Rita, that we had to depend on OURSELVES, not the Fed or State governments. When their help did arrive, paperwork and red tape took months and even years, for people to wade through. FEMA has even SINCE contacted some who were given funds to rebuild and asked for REPAYMENT - even from elderly and disable homeowners ... !!
We have also never donated to the Red Cross (even before the hurricanes) because of their overload in admin positions, ridiculous salaries and holding of donations vs. putting the money into action for those it WAS INTENDED FOR ... !!!